What Mr Kruger did in Paris.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11659, 19 January 1901, Page 3

What Mr Kruger did in Paris.

Mr Kruger has (the Saturday Review of December 1 says) been in Paris during the week, receiving deputations and ovations, accepting a sword of honour for General Cronje, making 10-minute visits to the President, the Prime Minister, and the Foreign Secretary, ascending the Eiffel Tower, driving in the Bois, drinking milk at champagne banquets, translating the Latin of the motto of the Citj Arms, explaining to the antt-Dreyf osards who objected to the attentions of Dreyfuaaids that he could be happy with either were the other dear charmer away, giving fatherly advice to the enthusiastic young students on patriotism and endorsing their statesmanlike appreciatioa of the advan tages of " L'arbitrage," and finally weeping over a resolution of sympathy of the French Chamber. It would be too long a story to tell of all the diverse forms of enjoyment that the Parisians have derived from the visit of "Monsieur lei President" and from the "Krugerinades" — the apt word coined by the "Paix" to describe the gush of which Monsieur has been the recipient. It is much easier to describe the outcome of it all — nothing that makes any difference ; this the sensible Paris papers have given Mr Kruger to understand. " L'arbitrage" will not come of it he may be sure. He has the money to spare for futilities we have not. Apropos of Mr Kruger's official reception as President of the South African Republic, many people just now are talking as though there were no precedent for annexation without formal diplomatic communication of the act to the other Governments by the annexing Power. Thai is not the case. The precedents are few, but they are precedents. In 1866 Prussia annexed Hanover, even after a reverse in the field, and Hanover had to accept annexation as a fact. No formal communication was made to the otibet Powers by Prusaia. Similarly, la British did not diplomatically announce the annexation of Burmah in 1835. In both these cades the diplomatic world has recognised the fact, though never communicated in official form.