The record-union., 1896-04-12
President Kruger Not Ready to Take
Definite Action.
The Government Proposes That the
Commons Shall Commence Sitting
In the Morning on Tuesday Next,
With q View to Expedite Business
SO as to Enable Parliament to be

LONDON, April 11.-(Special cable
letter by United Press.)-The communi-
ca ations that are passing between Cham
berlain and President Kruger will,
when published, be found to be models
of frank and direct statement on the
part Of the former and Of diplomatic
finesse, veiled with an air Of simplicity
on the part Of the latter.
The representative Of the United
Press is able to predict, on thoroughly
reliable information, that Mr.. Cham
berlain will come out of the negotiations
with a high reputation. Throughout
the communications he has not budged
from his public declarations to adhere
tc the Anglo-Boer Convention OF 1854,
while respecting the internal indepen-
dence Of the republic.
Whether the country will ultimately
confirm Chamberlain's policy is doubt
full, but it is impossible that the devel-
opments will show him to have been
duped by President Kruger. The pres
ent clause empowers the Transvaal to
conclude treaties with foreign Powers,
subject to the veto Of Great Britain
This clause Chamberlain has sought to
have altered by making Great Britain
party to the treaties on lines similar
to those existing in the case Of Great
Britain and her colonies. With regard
to the protection of foreign residents Of
the republic, Chamberlain continues to
recommend that franchise be given to
them after five years, and also recon-
mends autonomy for the Rand. the
measures there adopted to be subject
to the veto of the President.
To Of lC "a
dent Kruger definitely assented
The proposition just misses dead
lock through the stiffness of the Pre-
toria Government. A report is cred
tied that Chamberlain has asked the
assent Of his colleagues to a proposal
not to wait for the decision Of the
Volksraad regarding the visit Of Kru-
ger to London, but to send g. plenipo-
tentiary to Pretoria as last effort to
arrange the terms Of settlement.
In introducing the education bill in
the House Of Commons, Sir John Gorst.
Vice-President OF the Committee OF
Council on Education made an admir-
ably distinct and lucid speech. In
dealing first with the deficiencies in the
elementary school system he rather
laid stress on the weakness of some of
the smaller school boards than on the
financial needs of voluntary schools.
He contrasted the system OF rural ed
ucation in France and Denmark, which
produces farmers capable OF beating
British farmers in their own markets.
with the results of rural education in
the eastern counties, where about 10 per
cent. Of the lads who have passed
through school appear, few years
later, to have forgotten everything they
have been taught. Passing to second
cry education, he show ed that it was too
late to protest against State interfer-
ence, for already the State. through
several departments Of the imperial and
local Government, did take ALI active
part in secondary education.
Lastly, he said there was the educa-
ton department itself, which much
needed reform. From such indications
as his summary of the existing difficult
ties suggested, members were able to
form an impression Of the probable
scope Of the bill.
The opposition to the measure grows
more formidable every day. A confer
ence Of the National Teachers Union
has passed the resolutions. the effect Of
The Education League of the Free
Churches has issued circular declaring
that the bill renders impossible the en-
ployment, as teachers, Of Methodists
Baptists, Presbyterians or Congrcga-
tiOnaliStS.
The Tablet says that the measure is
m;serably inadequate.
Consols yesterday touched 110A, the
highest price on record, and were hard
to secure at that figure. Indian per
cents. were quoted at over 11O, which
was also a record price. These values
would have been held incredible a year
ago. The rise in consols is largely at
tr:butable to the buoyancy Of trade, as
shown in the Board of Trade returns,
and the increase in the imports and ex-
ports. The strength Of the Indian Sc
cUrities leads to the expectation Of a
conversion operation
The death Of notable member of So
ciety, Alfred Montg omery. is largely no.
ticed by the press. Mr. Montgomery
held the post in the Queens household
OF Gentleman Usher and Quarterly
Waiter, twenty officials Of that 6esigna-
ton being attached 20 the court, at the
nominal salary Of ESQ yearly, with the
coveted privilege Of entree at court for
their families. His manners were
ceurtly and his appearance distin-
guished. His daughter married, in
1856. the Marquis, Of Queensberry
which marriage was dissolved in 1887
Family troubles hastened his death
The Queen was represented at the fu-
neral by Sir Spencer Ponsonby- Fame
Comptroller of the Accounts, and the
Prince of Wales by Major-General Ar
thur ELY, one Of his equerries.
The Government proposes that the
House of Commons shall commence Sit
| ting In the morning. beginning on Tues
day next, with a view to expedite busi-
ness SO as to enable Parliament to be
prorogued In the middle of August. The
proposal is not acceptable with the Lib
erals. who suspect that the early clos
| ing OF Parliament means giving the
Government free hand to carry out
its plans to extend its operations in the
Soudan. Neither does 1t meet with the
approval Of the Irish members. who
| rightly calculate that it will delay con-
sideration Of the land bill
Gerald Balfour, Chief Secretary for