New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-08
FACES SET AGAINST PEACE.
BOER REFUGEES IN HOLLAND STILL
CRY FOR WAR.
NEW FICTION DISPLACEs OLD ILLUSIONS
AS TO ENGLAND'S COMPLICATIONS
KRUGER BROKEN DOWN.
Copyright; 1902: BY The Tribune Associstion,>

Copyright: 1902: BY The Tribune Assocation-)
Especial to The Tribune by French Cable.l
The Hague April There is little faith
among the Boer sympathizers here that peace
is imminent in South Africa. Hearts are
hardened in consequence of the conferences held
here and at Utrecht and the Boer ENJOYS and
refugees are asserting in a louder key than
ever that the will last four years longer
and that there can he no peace without lnde-
pendence Tie credulfty of the burghers in
South Africa is matched by the assumption OF
their agents here that their deliverance is COM
ing from Englands foreign complications when
there is not a cloud in the sky.
When the three BOer commissioners were sent
to America it was assumed that good case
would be made out for investigation of the
military conduct of the war and the shipment OF
supplies of horses and mules from the United
States would be prohibited These illusions
were dispelled when the delegates returned. puI
a new fiction has been supplied The Boer ad-
,ocates are asserting that England is fatally
embarrassed by her alliance with Japan, anu
will certainly he drawn into a war or reneh-
dous magnitude in the Far East The boer
sympathszers are consequently Justifytng an in
definite continuance of the guerilla warfare, and
forcasting the ultimate triumph of the cause
of independence when British troops cannot be
SHARED from the larger theatre of European
operations.
There is apparently. limit to Dutch Gre
dulity when anti-English feeling is aroused
The Dutch were once the most astute neutrals
in the world They now the most aggressive
partisans When the Radical Government was
in power the ministers were honest enough 10
confess that the future Of Holland might be
irnperiled by the bitter hostility displayed
against England. Some OF them were frlght-
ened by the fact that Utrecht had become
base of operations against England, and that
Mr Kriger had brought to Holland what gold
remained in the Transvaal treasury and was
using It for the purpose of maintaining hosule
operations and promoting foreign intervention
They were charged with lack of sympathy
for the Beers when they asserted that the pres
ence of Mr. KRUGER kept Holland in a state OF
excitement. and that it would be good thing
If he were to leave the country. Premier
Kuvper's Conservative Government has been
committed from the outset TO a more active
support of the Boer cause but its bolt was shot
when the Prime Minister vaguely suggested the
experiencv of granting the Boer agents a safe
conduct to South Africa Nobody supposes that
he had diplomatic errand to Berlin. or that
he can do anything except to pose before the
country as the active champion of the Boer
cause
There are the strongest reasons for believing
that Mr Kruger and his associates have not
been In direct communication for long time
with the burghers fighting in the field. Kruger
himself is old enfeebled and worn, and takes
little interest n the negotiations now in prog
ress His associates control the action Of the
broken old man except in money matters He
retains strong grip upon that which remains
In the war chest. l. n r