The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-10
rlediation in South Africa

ton of the Democratic campaign
n managers to manufacture politi-
cal ammunition out of the visit
of the Boer peace commission to
the United states, by representing to
the country that the administration
is unfairly partial to England and in
different To the Beers, il may be time
" to consider just how the attitude
Of the United states government with
reference to the bclliGerents in South
Africa squares with the requirements
of international law.
1t has been announced that the Boer
peace commission comes to this Coun-
try to invoke the good Offices of the
United States government with a view
to bringing about peace in South Az
rica and it is asserted that the United
States government may under the pro-
visions of the general treaty negotiated
at The Hague peace conference put
forth it's good offices without subject
ing itself to the charge of unfriendl-
ness toward either belligerent. Arti-
Gle Of that treaty provides that
powers. strangers to the dispute, have
the right to offer good offices or me-
diation even during the course of hos
tilties." and stipulates that the exer-
else of this right can never be regard
ed by one or the other Of the parties
in conflict as an unfriendly act" 1t is
| to this section which the Boer COM
missioners refer.
| Article of the same treaty dispels
| their hope by saying distinctly that
| "the functions of the mediator are at
| an end when once it il declared, either
| by one of the parties to the dispute or
| by the mediator himself, that the
means of reconciliation proposed by
| him are not accepted" In March last,
at the request of the Boer government,
a request which had been declined by
| every neutral power in Europe, the
| United States approached Great Brit
ain with a proffer of it's good offices
in mediation and was informed in un-
mistakable terms by the British prime
| minister, Lord Salisbury, that Eng
| land would not accept the Intervention
of any power. This notification eX-
| hausted the possibilities of friendly
mediation. There remains but one
other kind: intervention by force.
The United States intervened ir
Cuba by force upon the ground thai
the atrocities Of Spanish rule so neal
at hand constituted an insufferablt
source of annoyance, irritation and of,
fence. Had the same atrocities beer
a few thousand miles distant the idea
of forcible intervention would probabl!
not have taken serious form. Sucl
atrocities dc not figure as cause!
of the South African war except in 81
far as the Beers are alleged to hav,
made sweeping and unjust discrimin
ations against the English speaking
elements within their territory Th
immediate cause of the present wa
was an act of invasion committed h,
the Beers upon territory indisputabl.
under British sovereignty. such 4 sit
uation does not appeal for American
intervention by force; nor, If it did
have We at present the force eithe
military or naval, 10 make it effective
With the remnants OF war still o.
our hands in the Philippines it doe
not appear likely that the Democrat
politicians can work W enough gro
Boer excitement in this country t
drive us into another aimed at a powe
of the magnitude of Great Britain.
There are powers having neighborl
interests in South Africa where "
have none, ana they are neutral. The
would hardly recognize our right {
set up as regulator of South Al
riCan affairs.