Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-22
THE B0ER ENJOYS
Received in the Blue Room by Pres
dent Mckinley.
SIMPLY AN INFORMAL TALK
Secretary Hay Expects No Further
Communication.
THEIR PROBABLE PLANS
THEIR PROBABLE PLANS

sual honor was accorded the visitors in
the fact that they were received in the
blue room, otherwise known as the diplo-
matte room. In this respect there was just
the faintest touch of diplomacy to the re-
ception, which lasted about fifteen min
utes.
The three ENJOYS were unaccompanied,
riding to the White House from their hotel
in a carriage. Secretary Cortelyou and
Col. Theodore A. Bingham were with the
President.
The conversation for a few minutes
turned upon everyday matters. The Pres
ident then took the Beers to the south
piazza of the Executive Mansion and the
conversation turned to the White House
itself, this leading up to the home of the
Boer president, Paul Kruger. Dr. Fischer,
the Boer spokesman, said that President
Kruger lived and transacted official busi-
ness in his own home, preferring that to
the house provided by the South African
government.
Strict Neutrality.
President Mckinley led up deity to the
action of this government in rendering its
good offices to bring about settlement of
the war. He said that the position of this
government was one of strict neutrality,
and would be maintained to the end. All
lHlS LOOK pldCe DeIOTe lf1S BOefS naQ maze
any statement or request, and consequently
placed them in position of having received
an answer to exactly what they wanted.
The President expressed pleasure at meet
ing the visitors. and said he would be glad
to have them call again. This ended the in
terview, and the Beers departed. DR..
Fischer said that he and his companions
did not care to discuss their interview until
after they had returned to their hotel.
No Further Communication Expected.
The State Department does not expect to
have any further communication with the
Boer delegation now in this city. Such in
terchange as occurred was purely unof-
ficial it is stated Indeed, 1t could not
have been otherwise for if the Boer dele
gates had any credentials giving them an
official status they failed to present them,
or even to refer to them in the course of
their talks with the officials. The only sign
of the possession by them of diplomatic
powers was the inscription on the cards
presented by them. indcating that each
one of the delegates had been sent out as
minister plenipotentiary by the Boer
republics.
1t is surmised that If they have creden-
tials comforting diplomatic powers upon
them the delegates have purposely re-
Trained from presenting them, in order to
avoid dtslocation of their plans for the
future. Having had reason to anticipate
the declination of the United States gov
publics. and having thus failed in the prim-
ary object of their mission to the United
States. 1t Is surmised that the delegates
refrained from endeavoring to establish a
diplomatic character in order to reduce the
liability to interruption in the propaganda
they are about to conduct in the country
at large
Although the United States government
has, beyond doubt. the power to stop this
propaganda at any point and dismiss the
delegates from the United States. yet it
can be stated that there is no likelihood of
any such action being taken long the
agitation Is conducted by private indi-
viduals. But, it is said at the State De-
partment. the precedent established in the
case Of Genet, the agent sent to this coun-
try by French revolutionists would require
the government to peremptorily stop the
prosecution by fully accredited diplomatic
agents of a belligerent nation of efforts to
aid their cause within the United States
through public demonstrations.
Boer Enjoys Disappointed.
1t is evident that the delegates made a
deep impression upon the officials of the
government with whom they came in con-
tact yesterday. and it was only the plain
demands of neutrality. as laid down in Sec
retary Hays response to the Boer represent
tations, that prevented the return of an
answer that would have been much more
satisfactory to them 1t was evident that
the delegates were disappointed at the re-
sponse made by Secretary Hay, indicating
that up to the last moment they had cher
ished a hope that the United States govern
ment, the last of the great nations to re-
ceive their appeal, would be favorably
moved. Now, however. that the answer is
returned, it is expected that the delegates
will go at once about the second branch OF
their business and begin a series of mass
meetings and public demonstrations in the
principal cities of the United States with a
view to affecting public sentiment and, per-
haps, indirectly influencing the terms Of
the peace which will conclude the present
war.
1t is gathered that the Beers are ready At
the last extremity to sacrifice everything
for which they have heretofore contended:
To let In the Utlanders to equal privileges
with native Beers in the Transvaal and
Free States; to abandon the much-talked-of
dynamite monopoly, and, in fact, to make
any concession, If the victorious British
will but allow them independence. They
hope that the American people will bring
such moral pressure to bear upon the En-
gllsh that that object can be attained
May Aid In Bringing Peace.
Meanwhile 1t is the opinion in official cir
cles here that the prompt action Of the
State Department in dismissing the Beers
application for intervention has indirectly
gene far toward bringing about a speedy
termination Of the South African war 1t
Is assumed that the delegates here will
find some means to communicate the I'M
favorable reception of their appeal to Pre-
toria In fact. it is intmated that the con-
trolling British censors would not stop any
such message from passing over the cables
to Lourenco Marquee, whence 1t might
easily be forwarded to Pretoria.
The State Department has not yet been
addressed by any Of the powers signatory
to The Hague convention asking this gov
ernment to Join with the twenty-five pow
ers party to the peace conference in an
effort to bring about peace between the
British and the Beers. 1t is doubted here
whether more than a very few of the pow
ers are in a position to act thus. no matter
how inclined. because, so far as the State
Department has been informed, not more
than half a dozen in all. including the
United States. have yet given in their for
NAL adherence to the peace convention.
An Early National Experience.
In connection with the proposed public
canvassing Of American voters by the Boer
delegates, both before and after their in
terviews with the government, an old dip
lomat. speaking with a representative of
The Star. recalled an early national exper-
ience of the same sort with a representa-
tive of France. The French were strug-
Cling for q republic and were at war with