Evening star., 1902-03-11
Boer Delegates Received by
the President.
ARE NOT SEEKING AID
WANT ONLY A FAIR AND HU.
NAME FIGHT.
Of French Embassy Calls
Capt. New Declines to Be Assist
ant Postmaster General.

long talk with President Roosevelt today,
at the conclusion Of the cabinet meeting.
They called to pay their respects and to
say goodbye, inasmuch as they will leave
for Europe about the Goth of this month.
after visiting Chicago and several other
places.
In the course Of their interview they
stated that they wanted particularly to
make it known TO the President that they
neither asked for, desired nor expected in-
tervention on the part Of this country or
any other country.
"A number Of mistakes have been printed
about our mission in this country since we
came to Washington" said Mr.. Vessels
and the worst one Is that we are trying to
get Intervention. We know that this Is not
possible. and as matter of fact we don't
want 1t. What we do want however, and
what We have laid before the American
government at each Of our interviews is
request that civilized warfare be insured In
South Africa. That is all we want now. We
have not put before the authorities any re-
quest that this or that plan be adopted to
insure the carrying out of the rules of civil
lied warfare, but we will leave that wholly
to the government to take whatever steps
it sees fit. We want a fair and square
fight.
I'VE are confident that we will be able to
keep this war going for a number Of years
yet, and we think that all civilized nations,
especially the United States are interested
out. If the Beers hit below the belt then
we will not complain if they suffer for 1t.
If the English do this then they ought to
be made to understand that 1t cannot con-
tinue. We can point out numerous IN
stances Of foul work. 1t Is particularly
noticeable that the English press itself
comments on the probability that Gen.
Methuen will be given decent care and at
tention by the Beers who captured him a
few days ago. Yet what did they do with
Gen. Scheepers and number of others?
They shot Scheepers without chance.
That story from England points it's own
moral and an important one, too
Not Seeking Intervention.
president Kruger is not seeking inter-
vention in Europe, and all stories Of that
kind may be denied whenever they are.
seen. The Beers have nothing to lose and
all to gain by keeping up this fighting.
They may call it guerrilla warfare if they
want, but it Is at least humane warfare"
Mr.: Vessels was asked about the dis
patches that the Beers who captured Gen.
Methuen and his force were attired in
khaki uniform. II guess that IS true" he
said. Our soldiers have not been able to
procure clothing Of any kind for year
now, except what they have captured from
British conveys and soldiers. They must
either go naked or wear what they cap
ture.
$50 they wear the uniforms OF the British
soldiers in preference to going naked.
Whenever they can procure buttons they
change those on the uniforms and put on
their own. Even the Boer women have to
make clothing for themselves out of horse
blankets. We do not deny that our SOL
dlers are wearing khaki uniforms, but we
do say that it is absolutely impossible to
get anything else"
Kindly Received.
Mr.. Vessels said that he and his col
league had been most kindly received by
the officials Of the government. They had
been received privately, it is true, for the
reason that they had not attempted to pre-
sent their credentials.
We knew that we could not and would
not be received officially" he said. 1--WE are
isfied that this great country will do the
proper thing"
Mr.. Vessels was greatly pleased with the
Boer victory In South Africa, and predicted
that 1t would be forerunner Of others
The Cabinet Meeting.
The cabinet discussed at length today the
Philippine legislation and the necessity for
preserving the "open door" features Of our
policy in the Philippines exactly as we ex-
pect to have them preserved in China and
through the east
cussed. It Is, of course, understood that
the effort to secure reciprocity with Cuba
Is an administration measure; that Presi-
dent Roosevelt Is carrying it out In pur-
suance not merely Of the policy but of the
promise of President Mckinley and with
the most hearty belief In 1t, as being NOR
ally called for; that this administration.
like the administration the policy of which
1t Is continuing. Is pledged to the relief of
Cuba.
The Rochambeau Statue.
Jules Boeufve, chancellor Of the French
embassy, left at the White House today for
the President some papers bearing upon
the resolution now before Congress direct
ing President Roosevelt to invite the great
grandsons of General Rochambeau to be
present at the unveiling of the monument
in this city to General Rochambeau, who,
with Lafayette, did so much during the
war of the revolution for the independence
Of the United States. The resolution, which
will probably pass Congress, it is said. pro-
vides an appropriation to pay the expenses
Of the French guests. who are to include,
besides the two Rochambeaus, a represen-
tative OF the French army and one of the
navy. The proposition is said to have high
official sanction.
The statue to General Rochambeau is to
be placed In the west end of Lafayette
Square. opposite to that OF General La
fayette. The statue is to be unveiled Nav
"a with imposing exercises. It is q replica
OF the monument near Vendome, France
not far from the Chateau de Rochambeau.
the home Of this famous French family for
hundreds Of years.
How He Missed the Guillotine,
General Rochambeau died at his home in
1907. at the ripe old age Of eighty-two, but
he missed death on the guillotine before
that by an act OF courtesy. During the
French revolution. the story goes. General
Rochambeau. as the head OF one OF the
great French houses. was arrested and put
In prison. He was ordered to be guillotined
One morning the cart drove up to take
away its load Of victims for the horrible
French machine. General Rochambeau
who was then over seventy years old, was
about to step In the cart, when he saw a
fellow prisoner. who had not entered. Bow
ing low and gracefully, General Rocham-
beau motioned to the other Frenchman to
go first and said he would follow He was
getting into the cart last, when a rough
guard seized his shoulder and pulled him
back, saying: Get back, citizen; the cart
Is full; your turn will come tomorrow"
That day Robespierre was killed and Roch-
ambeau escaped the guillotine, afterward
being released from prison. The bed In