New-York tribune., 1901-06-09
MRS. BOTHA IN LONDON
CONJECTURE RIFE AS TO THE ORJECT
OF HER MISSION.
RELANDs POPULATION STEADILY DECIJN-
ING-MME. BERNHARDTS SUBTLE
FRENCH COMPLIMENTS


FRENCH COMPLIMENTS.
Copyright; 1901: BY The New-York Tribune)
IBY CABLE TO IRIBUNEl
London, June 8. 1 a. m.-The arrival of Mrs
Louis Botha in London has been the signal for
q revival Of peace rumors. She speaks English
well and has Informed reporters here and at
Southampton that she has no communications
make respecting her mission here Mr.
Fischer, who accompanies her. is equally en-
phatic in refusing to mpart any information.
They had little to say to their fellow passengers
during the voyage from the Cape. They met one
or two sympathizers when the ship reached the
dock, and drove quietly to their lodgings from
the station, taking pains to conceal their ad-
dress. The rumor mongers have little but sheer
guesswork to go upon when they draw the in
ference that she has come to London to deliver
messages and proposals from her husband re-
specting a suspension of hostilities and that as
she has consulted with Lord Salisbury
and Mr.. Chamberlain she will go to Holland and
talk with Mr.. KRUGER. This inference is nat
ural enough, and is the easiest possible guess
and there the matter ends for there is no au-
thority for any rumor respecting the disposition
Of the government TO entertain any proposals.
Mr- Chamberlain and Lord Miner who dis
agreed two points when at opposite
ends of the cable, talk across the table
and their decision viii be final. Mrs. Botha is
a grim looking woman, with an earnest face and
a quiet manner Military men and members of
Parliament have little faith in the success of
her mission. They assert that the Boer rally
in the Transvaal will encourage KRUGER and
Leyds to offer strenuous resistance TO General
Botha's proposals, and that the sudden revival
of rumors of European intervention is early
proof of their -acquiescence in premature
peacemaking. They also apprehend that the
Obiecr of the apDea rance of Mrs BOtha
and Mr.. Fischer in England is to make futile
suggestions and revive the pro-Boer agitation
in and out of Parliament.
The preliminary report Of the census or Ire
land reveals a decrease of over per cent dur
ing the decade. The decline is distributed even
ly through the counties with a few notable ex-
ceptions The pathos of Irish history is re-
peated decade after decade without reference to
political or agrarian agitation. The moral which
the old Tories will draw is the necessity for
redistribution of the seats in Parliament and a
reduction Of Nationalist representation.
Nine Bernhardt's friends are incredulous re-
specting the American rumors that she will play
Romeo to Maude Adamss Juliet in English and
French. They assert that her stage arrange
rnents are already made for the next twelve
months and that she has no intention of going
10 America. She has talked about playing with
Ellen Terry Mrs. Campbell and other actresses
in the past, but nothing has come of it. 1t is
considered subtle French method of compl-
nenIing English or American actresses
Julian Ralph after being severely i'll in Lon
don, is now recovering slowly at Carlsbad.
Under strict dieting and medical care he is de-
cfdedly better. He writes with grim pleasantly
of his German experiences, and is eager to re-
turn to London. l. N r.
MRS. BOTHA REFUSES TO TALK.
London. June S.-Mrs. Louis Botha, wife of
the Boer cornmandant-gene arrived at South
ampton this morning on board the British
steamer Dunyegan Castle from South Africa.
She refused TO grant interview, but a son of
ex-Secretary Of State Fischer, who accompanied
her said that Mrs Botha going straight to
London, and later would proceed to Holland and
Belgium but that the date Of her departure for
the Continent had not been fixed Mr.. Fischer
was unable to confirm deny the report that
Mrs Botha had come to Europe on peace mis-
sion He was released parole in order that
he might accompany her.
The British War Office knows nothing or the
alleged request of General Botha for a confer
ence with Lord Kitchener at Standerton, on the
Johannes burg Durham Railroad. The oft1cials
here point that if anything Of the KIND mao
occurred Lord Kitchener would have immedl-
ately informed the government.