The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-02
CHAMPIONS OF
BOER FREEDOM
ARRIVE IN N. Y.
Ten Pleaders for Tndepend-
ence Are on Way to Peace
Conference.
% DAY TRIP ENDED
Will Lay Their Case Before
Lloyd George and POSI-
bly, Wilson.

bly, Wilson.
Ten Beers. rsprssmtins the Nation
alist Party Of South Afrsoa and on
their way TO Paris to confront the
Peace Conference with the claims Of
the Union Of South Africa 20 inde-
pendence from Great Britain, reached
New York yesterday on thu Dutch
frcighter Bawean, twsnty-eisht days
from Cape Town.
They will lay their case before David
Lloyd George. ana II he turns thsm
down they will appeal to President
Wilson. whom they picture a. their
champion because Of his utterances az
TO the rights Of small nations.
Specifically they win lombard Lloyd
George with this declaration Of his:
mo peace II possible until repara-
ton has been made for violated rights
and liberties and until the principle Of
nationaiities and the Independent ex-
tstence Of small states Is recognized"
Application Of P.inoiSis.
The Boer delegates figure tina. this
exactly nts tho case Of the two South
African republics annexed by Great
Britain after the last Boer war, and in
deed the whole of British South Africa
II they reach President Wilson they
will remind him that he said clearly
defined national aspirations must be
satisfied" and II that doesn't win him
70 their side they have many para
graphs from his other speeches to
quote from
The delegation 10 headed By Gen J.
B. M Hersos. . Bosr war veteran who
was formerly Attornsy-0snerai and
Director OF Education and later MIN
ister Of Justice Of the Orange River
colony. He and his fellow pilgrims are
implacahls political foes Of Gen. SHUTS
and Gen. BothA. who are In Paris and
will oppose svssy contention they may
make.
Gen. Hsssos's Companions.
Accompanying Gen. Hsrsog. who IL =
member Of the South African Parlia-
mont, in which the Nationalist party
gained thirteen ssatn In tho year 1s17.
are N. c. Havenga, also an NJ p.
these two representing the Orange Free
State on tho trip 70 Paris: Senator A.
d. w. wolmarans and DR.. II. Rsitz Of
the Transvaal, DR.. d. y. Malan. n p.
and F. w. Beyers. NJ p. K c.. Caps
Province: A. T. Spies and Il. @. Jansen.
Natal: DR.. Guy van PittiuA. secretary
Of the delegation Most Of them are
veterans OF the Boer war. Mr.. Ha-
venga bears the soars Of nine wounds.
They are carrying resolutions for ma
tional independence adopted at Blosn-
fontein on January II last At . joint
congress Of the Nationalist party and
resolutions to the same effect adopted
BY party delegations from Cape Colony,
Orange Free State. Trnnsvaal and
Natal
As their ship could not get . pier
until to-day they were landed at Quar-
antine. They arrived Mt the Hotel Penn
sylvauia last night
There DR.. van Pitttus told OF the
troubles they had In leaving South AZ
rica- In the first place Gen. C. n. Dc
Wet, Q famous Boer fighter. and p. q.
w. Groebler were appointed as delegates
20 the Peace Conference, but British
passports were denied them because they
had taken part IN the South African re-
eellion OF 1914. Substitutes were chosen
and passages direct to England were
booked by the Durham Castle, which
lsft Cape Town on February Is.
Refused to Convey Them.
eat the last moment" said DR.. van
Ptttius, who u a big, rudy man with
whom the South African climate obvi-
ously agrees, the fremen and crew OF
the vessel instigated thereto by the en-
smies of the Independence movement. re-
fused to convey the deputation. More
ever. the deputation were authorttatively
carry them. An Offer Of passage 20
Dnstand by the British warship Minerva,
subsequently, made by the Admiralty
vas first accepted. but the acceptance
was withdrawn on It appearing to the
dsputation that their presence on board
would DO unwsloome.
'-The deputation had almost given Up
hope of being able to proceed to Europe
on their mission when the Bawean Of
the Nsderiand Line arrived at Cape
Town. Capt. Vollewens and the officert
kindly agreed to convey the deputatior
to New York, whittier the Bawean wal
bound and whence It was felt there
would be greater opportunity of crossing
over to Europe.
These circumstances sufficiently ex-
plain the presence Of the deputation In
America and in view Of the fact thai
the deliberations of the Peace Confer
snce are now far advanced II stands &c
reason that the stay Of the deputauor
Will probably be very BRIEF
Stay Here to be Brief.
The officers Of the freighter turned
thsir cabins over to the travellers The
British authorities in Cape Town sped
them on their way to the extent OF SPEEDY
granting OF passports. The Beers will
stay here only long enough TO Arrange
for passage to Europe, probably on q
Holland-American steamship.
The spokesman for the party contendat
that Great Britain had been able to alb
serb South Africa by enforcing thu
doctrine of might IL right He said:
The clear utterances Of Presiden
Wilson and Of Mr.. Lloyd George regard
ing the right OF all nations. great an,
small alike, to restitution of injure,
rights and self-determination has con
WINGED Dutch-spsaiSing South African
bat their case deserves earnest con
ssAsratiop and mat they have an equa
right with all other nations to the prac
tioal application OF the principles o.
clearly enunciated.
Accordingly 1t was felt to be tn
duty which they owe to their individual
existence as q nation 10 their past his
tory and their future. to urge the Jus
tice OF their cause before the Britisl
Government and the Peace Conferenc
and not allow this unique opportunit,
% pass without stating their case.
"Tho Nationalist marty certainly rem