Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-11
TRANSVAALQUIET.
London Advices Say the Situa.
ton Is Improved.
DEFENDS UPON PREs1DENTKRUeER

Whose Diplomatic Skill Efforts Admfra.
tion Even from the British-His Message
tn the Queen - General Feeling That
Many Details Of the Trouble Have Not
Been Published-Rumor That England
Has Bought Delasoa Bay.
LONDON, jan ll.-[Copyrighted, 1890, by
Tho Associated Press. There is a feeling
abroad in London that there are many de-
tails Of the complications in which the for
eign affairs Of the empire have been placed
which have not been published, and much
speculation is INDUCED in by the public.
So far as official information goes the sit
uation seems to be improved. The mys.
tory Of the naval preparations occupies q
large place in the public mind, and the
conclusion arrived at by the public after
thinking it over is that the tremendous
activity displayed does not appear wholly
necessary on account of the condition of
relations with Germany. 1t is also felt
that it is difficult to see to what point the
flying squadron Is destined.
Transvaal Situation Improved.
The situation in the Transvaal is I'M
doubleday greatly improved. and unless
President Kruger has made extraordinary
demands, such as for tho complete indie.
pendence of his republic and freedom from
the suzerainty of Great Britain, and has
received the support of Germany in favor
of these demands, such a powerful fleet as
is being prepared will not be needed at
4 lr1 1,n,, To- l. ga, -
South Africa now depends upon the ma
turc of the demands made by President
Kruger, whose response to the queens
message addressed to him in the third per-
sor through Colonial Secretary Chamber
lain is, to say the least, not ELUSIVE. In
fact it virtually declares that the presi
dent will hold DIR. Jameson and the other
members of his expedition who were taken
with him as hostages for the disarmament
of johannesburg, whose time of grace for
the surrender of the arms held by the
Citianders expired ut q o'clock last even.
ing.
Kruger a Great Diplomat.
Those of the Uitlanders who have not
yielded their arms at that time are to be
excluded from amnesty to bc granted to
those who participated in the uprising.
The indemnity demanded by the Trans.
vaal government from the Chartered
South African company is variously stated
Mt from G5JO,Uo0 to E2OJO,QU. One effect
of the present crisis has been to impress
Englishmen with q sense of the marvel
Gus diplomatic scent of Paul kruger, tho
Beer president. The admiration felt by
Englishmen for the South African execu.
tive finds abundant expression, even in
the face of their hearty admiration for DIR.
James IN. Sir Charles Dixie declared in a
speech that President Kruger has few
rivals among modern diplomats.
The Message kruger Sent.
Following is the message referred to in
the foregoing as coming from Kruger to
Chamberlain: After acknowledging the
receipt of the queens message President
Kruger says: 1t is my intention to hand
over the prisoners so that DIR. Jameson
and the British under him may be pun
ished by her majesty's government.
will make known to your cxccllcncy my
final decision IN the matter as soon US 10.
hannesburg shall have reverted to con-
ditlon of quietness and order. In tho
meantime 1 request your cxcellency to as
sure the queen of my high appreciation of
her words and in proffering my respectful
good wishes to express my thanks for the
same"
What England Should Remember.
The Times says: 1.-The main point for
England to remember is that in time of
peace attempts have been made by an os-
tensibly friendly power to induce another
friendly power to depart from its neutral
policy in order to facilitate an attack upon
British interests in South Africa Great
Britain must also remember that unless
the whole German demonstration ut Lo-
renzO Marquese is to bear the illusory and
ridiculous char acter now assigned to it by
the German press, We must suppose that
there was more or less settled determine.
ton to cross Portuguese territory, oven in
the face of "a Portuguese refusal"
Two of the Latest Reports.
1t is n treaty stipulation between Portu-
gal and England that when Portugal is
ready to dispose Of Delagoa bay England
is to have the refusal thereof. 1t is per-
sistently reported here that Portugal has
disposed of the bay to Great Britain, but
it is as pcrsistently denied in official cir
cles. Another report is from Johannes.
burg to the effect that twenty-five men,
hers of the reform committee. including
Colonel Rhodes, brother of Cecil Rhodes;
Sir Drummond Dunbar, Lionel Phillips,
and DIR. Sauer have been arrested on the
charge of treason and taken to Pretoria.