The herald., 1896-04-29
Hammond and His Companions
Sentenced to Death
CLEMENCY is REQUESTED
President Kruger Is Expected to Com.
mute the Sentences
The Transvaal Statesman Very Firmly De-
clines to Visit England to Discuss
the Uitlander Grievances '*f
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
LONDON, April 2s-The secretary Of
state for the colonies, Joseph Chamber
lain, announced in the house of commons
today that the FIVE leaders Of the re-
form committee of Johannesburg, J..
H. Hammond, Francis Rhodes, George
Farrer, Lionel Phillips and Charles
Leonard, have been condemned te
death. Chamberlain added upon hear
ing the news he cabled the governor of
Cape Colony, Sir Hercules Robinson, to
communicate the following to President
Krueger: THE government has JUST
learned that the sentence Of death has
been passed upon five of the leaders Of
the reform committee. They feel no
doubt that your honor will commute
the sentence, and have assured parlia-
ment that this is your honors inten-
tion.''
The sentence of the reform commit
tee to death has caused a great sensa-
ton in London. In we'll informed cir
cles, however, the sentence has caused
little surprise. 1t has long been UNDER
stood that very severe sentence WOULD
be passed, in order that the clemency
that President Krueger Is certain to ex-
ercise might appear greater. 1t Is
thought that the sentence of death will
be committed to short term of impri3-
onment and a big fine, unless Mr..
Chamberlain's dispatch to President
Krueger, read in the house of commons.
should irritate the chief magistrate OF
the Transvaal into greater severity than
he would otherwise exercise.
Mr.. Chamberlain's telegram Is re-
garded here as being precipitate, and
as leaving President Krueger no time
to act on his own account, ana as nav
ing, moreover, the ring of dlctation.
The trial of DR.. Jameson. the Trans
vaal raider, and his associates in that
undertaking was resumed IN the Bow
street police court today. After 1mrla-
terial evidence had been presented, the
trial was again adjourned until June Ii,
in order to permit Of the arrival OF sew
eraI important witnesses from South
Africa.
CAPE TOWN, April 2S The text OF
President Krueger's reply to the invita-
tion of the British government through
the secretary of state for the colonies
to visit England and discuss matters
connected with the Transvaal and It's
future is voluminous document and
plainly indicates the firm attitude as
sumed by the Boer statesman.
The president begins by stating that
his visit to England has depended upon
the settlement of basis of discussion,
and he regrets that the basis has not yet
been reached. Continuing he says:
"Tn friendly spirit, but from the very
first the government clearly saw and
recorded it's opinion that no foreign in
terference in the affairs of the republic
could be allowed. Mr.. Chamberlain ad-
mits the justice of this position, yet he
intimates that Great Britain desires
that particular International measures
be taken by the Transvaal. The latter
cannot allow to pass unnoticed the ex-
preston admitted grievance and ex-
press regret that having intimated it's
desire for reconsideration of the Lon
don convention. in consequence Of the
inroad of DR.. jameson. the position
should be assumed that in the discus
sion of the so-styled admitted griev-
ance. must be included as a sine qua
non, in the event of reconsideration
of the convention being agreed to-
krueger adds that the South African
republic has always been prepared to
serve and consider in friendly spirit
the private suggestions of the imperial
government regarding the interests of
British subjects. although it has never
admitted the existence Of the so-called
admitted grievances" and must deny
on that account that the right exists to
create rebellious movements.
1T appears to be wiser" he says. mot
to press the question of my proceeding
to England any further at present, but
to leave it open, especially in view Of the
coming session of the volksraad, and the
desirability Of my presence during at
least portion of the session, when i'm
portant measures are to be considered,
is apparent"
In regard to Mr.. Chamberlain's pro-
posal to guarantee the Transvaal pro-
lection from outside attack in exchange
for a remedy of the Uitlanders' griev-
ances, President Krueger says: Some
thing is offered the South African re-
public which 1t already possesses as the
obligations Of the South African repub-