The Agents sent by President Kruger to Europe to see
if any Power would intervene on behalf of the Boer Republics have been most " sympathetically" received in Holland, but have evidently satisfied themselves that no European Govern- ment will run the grave risks involved in complying with their prayers. They are therefore proceeding to America as a last resort, trusting that in the conflict of parties, which will continue till November, the wrongs of the Boers may make a good party cry. To prepare the way for themselves they have issued a manifesto from the Hague, in which, besides the usual phrases, they make a definite offer to submit their whole case to American arbitration, insisting only, and this only by implication, that the award must preserve their independence. They argue that their case is identical with that of the American Colonies, forgetting that the Americans did not fight for but against unjust taxation, that they did not invade British territory, and that they won the battle in the field. There is no fear that the Americans will be taken in, more especially as it is very doubtful whether the delegates —or whatever they call themselves—have any power to bind either President Kruger or the Volksraad.
Previous page
