The Irish standard., 1900-02-10
DIR. A. T. LEYDS
The Transvaal's Representative is /:
Catholic.

Dom Paul Kruger, who is credited
now even by his enemies with no small
amount of craftiness and foresighted-
ness, did an excellent thing for the
South African Republic, when, before
the outbreak of the present hostiities
with England he commissioned DR.. w.
T. Leyds, young Hollander, to act as
the Transvaal plcnipotentiary in Eu-
rope. While British influence has
availed to deprive Dr.. Leyds of any
official recognition by the European
courts, he has, nevertheless, accom-
plished a great deal for the South Afri-
can Republic in other ways.
1t may never be known-it is GER
tainly not now known-just how much
assistance in the shape of arms and
munition DR.. Leyds has sent the Trans
vaal by the way Of Delagoa Bay; but
nobody questions the fact that he has
made the most of his opportunities
Again, it is generally believed that the
doctor has sent more than one volun-
teer eager to fight against John Bull
down to Lorenzo Marques, whence he
speedily found his way to the fighting
line. And not to be overlooked are
the good services which DR.. Leyds has
rendered the Transvaal by contradicting
in public print many calumnies regard
ing the Beers, which England has cir
culated since the present war began. To
him is due the credit of disproving, in
part at least, the statements which have
long been current to the effect that
Catholics enjoy no political or
civil rights in the South Afri-
can Republic. And, finally, DR..
Leyds is at present busily engaged
in securing hospital corps for the Boer
army-he says the Beers have now all
the soldiers they want-and it is stated
that he is soon to send one corps, in
which fifty Chicago men will be includ-
ed, from Antwerp to Lorenzo Marques.
General O'Beirne, it will be remem-
bered, was appointed the Transvaal's
representative in this country.
Some notion of the power possessed
by the Beers may be gathered from the
statement that DR.. Leyds is given near
ly 100000 per annum to spend in his
work abroad. 1t appears that the inn
mense quantity of barbed wire pur-
chased to "fence in the Netherlands
Railway" in the republic was never in
tended for such a life-saving purpose.
1t is being used now to stop the British
from advancing from their own terri
tory.
The fact that DR.. Leyds is Catholic
disposes of the assertion that the
Transvaal confers no Offices upon
Catholics.
At Brussels, the other day he was in
terviewed by World reporter who
cabled this message from the Trans
vaal Envoy: I'm view of the new and
critical phase into which the war is now
entering, I send to the people of Amer
lea few words on the subject of any
eventual proposals in regard to the sus-
pension of hostilities, desire for which
appears to be gaining strength on both
sides of the Atlantic.
"Let me say at the outset that 1 am
as confident as ever of the ultimate tri-
umph of our cause. A temporary sue
cess of the British arms would merely
have the effect of infusing fresh vigor
into our men and Strengthening their
determination TO hold out at whatever
cost.
"While the actual fighting strength of
both forces is only now about equal,
England might even double her army
now in South Africa without crushing
our powers of resistance.
"But, however resolved to continue
the struggle, we have ever been de-
sirous to take advantage of any turn in
affairs which might leave the door open
to terms of honorable settlement"