The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-19

We are in receipt of the following let
ter, the text of which will fully explain
its purpose:
"To the Editor of The Times:
The Great Powers, being mighty only by
having always tried to crush the weak, it would
be childish to entertain the least hope mat
they will be inclined to render any assistance,
material moral, 10 the heroic Beers.
ut is. therefore, left to the peoples who re-
fuse TO look on passvely at the slaughter OF
another people. to offer IT the assistance which
the Governments will give it.
with view to this / have promulgated IN
1'lntrsnsigeant, Of which ! am the political
editor idea whic. has already met with
numberless syTnpathizers in France
ut suggests the formation Of sort OF Eu-
ropean or rather International committee, com
posed of the principal journalists of the whole
world, and the presidents of all the committees
formed TO support the which the admirable
Kruger has to defend here.
''lf you approve OF this plan, it is my lntell.
tion that we shall meet in some town of Central
Europe where we may consider the means OF
raising a subscription. the amount of which no
doubt would be considerable that it would
render effectual assistance TO the Beers in the
struggle for their final triumph, their indepen-
dence.
IF you wish to be a member of this League
for Justice and Liberty should be very much
obliged il you would professionally give in your
adhesion at the offices of the Intransgeant, IA,
rue Montmsrtre, Paris
after that we shall inform you when and
will secure the independence of the South African
republics
HENRI RoCHEFORT.
"Paris 20 Decembre 1907
There is no doubt that NJ Rochefort has
the correct notion regarding the SYM
patty, general throughout the civilized
world for the Beers in their heroic strug-
gle against the British Empire for liberty
and independence. Motives underlying
this sympathy may vary. FoTeeSsmple it
is PROFESSIONALLY true that the leaning
Of American sentiment toward the under
dog in the fight is based on national tradi
ton and principle. and is not specially
referable to ennity toward England;
while, on the other hand, there is a wide
spread suspicion, the justice of which we
need not here consider. that the French
people are actuated more by Anglophobia
in the premises than by any abstract love
for the South African Dutch. In Ameri-
ca we should not be too ready to accept
such a theory as sufficient TO account for
the pro-Boer attitude of the French mass
es; since it is but just for us to remember
that at the time of our struggle for indie
pendenee, there were many noble French
men who FASTENED to our assistance. and
who were induced to do so by their pure
devotion to the concept of popular in
stitutions and the brotherhood of man.
Yet this happy memory, again, cannot
obscure the facts of recent history in
France. Unhappily We have seen the
principal official and social forces of that
country almost soIidifed in an effort to
hound the patriot Dreyfus 10 everlasting
disgrace and infamy, that unutterable
French traitors and miscreants might be
shielded and go unwhipt of justice.
No doubt any means or method of set
Element that would give peace to the
people of South Africa, and their homes
and the blessings of self-government TO
the Beers of the Transvaal and Orange
States, would be welcomed by friends OF
justice and humanity on all the CONT
nents and Islands of the earth. 1t is a
question, however, if any proposal looking
TO an amicable adjustment of the differ
ences between Great Britain and the At
rican Republics would be kindly received
by the former particularly were it 10
emandle HON france. II Is quite GER
tain that the American people would
treat with resentment and scorn even a
suggestion from England intended to af-
feet our policy or conduct in connection
with our occupancy of Cuba, or the re-
pressive measures We do or might fee
it necessary to take in the matter of the
rebellion in our Philippine possessions
In the same way, We feel confident that a
movement of a popular character in
Europe, such as VI. Rochefort advocates
and is endeavoring to promote. could
only end in Irritating British sentiment
and probably result ultimately in max
ing harder terms for the Beers than
otherwise, might be granted them. With
this consideration in view, We are unable
to think that an international meeting OF
editors at some town in central Europe
as proposed in the above letter, would be
productive of the slightest good.