The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-09-28
Beers APPEAL
FOR MEDIATION
Petition to Permanent Council of
The Hague Court.
WANT The WAR TERMINATED
SAY ENGLAND IS VIOLATING
RULES OF CIVILIZED POWERS.

New York. Sept. 27.-Charles D. Pierce.
representative in the United States of
the Orange Free State, has received a
copy OF an appeal made by the Beers to
the administrative council OF the perma-
nent court of arbitration at The Hague.
The appeal which is dated The Hague.
Sept 10, begins by reciting the fact that
The Hague convention of the 18th of
July, 1872 provided way for the peace
Iul settlement of international differ
ences whereby the jurisdiction of the
permanent court could be extended 10
dlnerences between powers which had
not become slgnatories, as also between
powers which had become and those
which had not become signatories The
appeal continues:
Immediately upon the receipt of the
communication, notification was made In
Dehalf OF the government of the states
represented by the undersigned, to his
council, that these governments would
be pleased il the war being waged in
south Africa could be terminated by the
arDltratlon OF this court
Now that this war has gone on for
nearly two years, without any prospects
OF an end thereto, except in the way
only recently acknowledged as being the
most efdcacious and at the same time the
most equitable means of deciding inter
TO arbitration, the desirability, mutually
Tor such peaceful termination cannot
put become more and more acknowl-
The states represented by the under
signed. therefore consider that they
should repeat the proposal made by
them before the war, but rejected by
England, to submit to arbitration the
differences which gave rise to the war.
In this they particularly have in view
the question whether England is right in
alleging that any action was taken by
the republics which had for its object
the suppression OF the English element
or its expulsion from South Africa, and
generally whether the republics have
made themselves guilty Of any act which.
principles. would give England the right
to deprive them of their independence.
Charges Against England.
The Undersigned, moreover, allege
that England already at the outbreak OF
the war commenced, and has continued
TO act, in contraVention of the rules OF
war between civilized powers as gener-
ally, and also by England herself, ac-
knowledgeds and as solemnly confirmed
by The, Hague convention OF the 18th of
July, 1889, concerning the laws and usages
or warfare by LAND, while England has,
moreover quite recently by proclama-
ton, issued by Field Marshal Lord
Kitchener, at Pretoria, and dated the 9TH
day OF August, 1901, virtually notified US
that she intends shortly TO take action
in contraventlOn OF article 20 also.
The governments of the states rep
resented by the undersigned are fully
thereto shall be afforded them, to sub
stantiate the allegation herein made by
setting forth and proving the particular
facts to which they refer.
Since England sees fit TO deny this
continual violation by her of the laws
of warfare, the states represented by
the undersigned consider that they also,
in regard to this difference, seek a de-
cision Of the permanent court of arbitra-
ton.
The undersigned and their govern
ments are aware that in order to obtain
such a decision the consent Of England
is required. They, therefore, take the
liberty of soliciting your council to ap-
ply for such consent or to endeavor TO
n "a me- IL n nv
the governments represented by you
Should the English government give
unfavorable reply it will thereby be
manifest that they dare not submit them
selves to the judgment of a conscien-
tious, learned and impartial tribune.
They will then, moreover, continue to
bear the responsibility lor the prolOnga-
ton of a war as terrible as it is unneces-
sary, and they will have tscitly acknowl-
edged that the manner in which they
have carried on the war is in conflict
with the demands Of humanity and civ
liza ton as confirmed by themselves
The appeal is signed by W J. Leyds,
A Fisher and A. d. Wolmarens. pleni-
potentiaries of the South African re-
public, and A. Fisher and c. H. Vessels,
plenfpotentiaries of the Orange Free
State.