Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-05-16
IMRS. BOTHA 6oES TO
EUROPE TO SEE KRUGER
Wife Of the Boer COMMANDMENTS
Chief Will Urge Dom Paul
to Yield.
HER EFFORTS AS pEAcEMAKEH
She Worked Hard to Bring About Meet,
ing Between Her Husband and Kitoh-
ener, But tho Conference Was
Failure.

Durham, May 15.--MrS. Louis Botha,
sife of the Boer commander-in-chi
who has obtained consent to interview
sailed today for Europe on the steamer
Dunvegan Castle.
London, May 13.-Mrs. Louis Botha,
who Is on the way to Europe to urge
Kruger to accept the British TERMS has
been conspicuous as peacemaker for
several months past in South Africa.
1t is said that her efforts We're at first
frowned upon by her husband, the
communicated of the Beers. who,
when he heard that she was coming to
the front to urge him to make terms
with Lord Kitchener said: II shall
be happy to see her as my wife, but
cannot receive her as peace envoy
Botha apparently changed his mind
afterward, as Mrs. Botha was the i'm
termediary between her husband and
Kitchener In the peace negotiations
whose failure was recently announced
by the government. A few days ago 1T
was again reported that Mrs. Botha
was carrying on negotiations between
the two commanders, but there was no
official confirmation of the report.
An Engllsi, Writer'S View.
In speaking of her efforts to bring
about peace the London Chronicles
Cape Town correspondent said during
the Kitchener-Botha negotiations:
What her efforts meant in sacrifice
of pride and race prejudice, what in
tensity of devotion moved her 10 the
attempt, she alone could tell. The in
flucIce of her lf-fogetfulness is
traceable throughout the interviews of
the two great leaders, 1T touches every
provision of the armistice and turns
the tide of good feeling of the two ma
tions toward each other.
Mrs. l3otha thought she saw the
Beers UNFOLDING a lost cause and real
lied the devastation that must surely
follow. While President kruger, De-
Wet and Steyn cried for vengeance and
a continuance Of the war; Mrs. Botha
let fall the seeds of peace. She found
vast sentiment among the followers
of her husband for speedy settlement.
Surrender with honor was plainly an
idea not unpleasng to the men who
step by step had opposed Buffers prog
ress to Lydenburg.
Satisfied that her course would be
approved by the majority the brave
woman found means to communicate
with the English. She intimated that
the Boer forces would not oppose q
cessation of hostiities We're the con-
ditions to their liking. The reply was
conciliatory. and the finale OF many
messages was a seml-ofiicial summons
to Cape Town to confer with Lord
Kitchener.
Descendant of tho Emmcts.
Nov, Mrs Botha is an Irishwoman.
| The blood of Robert Emmett, the Irish
patriot. flows in her veins; and the
| thought Of treating with her country's
foe stirred all the patriotic antagcnisln
of her heredity. But she remembered
the four children who called her
mother. the beautiful farm in Vryheid,
whose spreading acres bounded the
horizon, and her happiness, and set
out upon her journey.
Kitchener made 1T plain to Mrs
Botha that he would meet the Beers
half way and a messenger was at once
dispatched to the general But hard
ship and suffering had made Botha
doubtful of British clemency. His am
swer was half-hearted and the wife
who had braved so much almost de-
SPARED
"Once more she set out upon the
road, this time to Isotha's camp. She
Pleaded With her husband for their
home and little ones. She painted the
horrors that war had already brought
to the faithful burghers and their fam
flies. Nothing is dearer to the leaders
heart than that bit of country where
he can lay aside all thought of tho
world outside and live surrounded by
his loved ones.
Her Husband Almost Persuaded.
Mrs. Botha won. Back to Kitch-
ener she sped with the news. She had
scarcely known sleep. She was worn
with anxiety and feverish with hope
but she did not leave the British gen
eral till meeting between the leaders