New-York tribune., 1896-03-29
VAR BOER INDEPENDENCE?
THE ALTERNATIVE THAT SEEMS TO CON-
FRONT GREAT BRITAIN.
WHILE PRESIDENT KRUGER PRocRAsTINATES

WHILE PRESIDENT KRUGER PR0CRAsTlNAItS
THE rRANsvAAL is FAST becoming IN
PEEGNABLE-TRUE SIGNIFICANCE OF
AN UPRISING IN SOUTH AFRICA.
London. March 2s-Joseph Chamberlain, Sec
retary Of State for the Colonies. recently de-
inanded OF President Kruger Of the Transvaai
that he Immediately accept or reject the lhVl-
tation Of Mr.. Chamberlain to visit London Tor
the purpose of settling the questions that nave
arisen between Great Britain and the South
African Republic. In response TO this demand
President Kriger has teegraphed that the de-
c!sion does not rest with him, but with the
volksraad, the Parliament OF the Republic. and
that the latter will only assent TO his going TO
London on condition that the Anglo-Boer conven-
tion of 1884 be amended that the full inde-
pendence Of the Transvaal Will be recognized
and guaranteed by Great Britain and the other
Powers Mr.. Chamberlain declined last night to
tell the House Of Commons how the negotiations
stood at present but within .he Ministerial circle
the gravity of the position is known.
A high official has told the representative OF
the United Press that Mr. Chamberlain had
from the outset OF the negotiations. distrusted
President Kruger and had not failed TO draw
accurate conclusions from his delayed accept
ance Of the invitation to visit England. Mr.
Chamberlain still hopes. however. to obtain a
pacific settlement of the questions at issue with
ont President Kruger coming here. and without
acceding to a revision OF the convention.
The Ministers seem to be more sanguire than
the facts warrant. they probably not desiring to
alarm the country until the last resources Of
diplomacy are exhausted. The NOlksraad does
not meet until April A. President KRUGER VIII
then have dallied over Mr. Chamber.ainr invi-
tation, which was sent early in February, FOR
three months. during which time he has formed
an alliance with the Orange Free state, prepared
Afrcander insurrection In Cape colony
and reorganiZed tie forces of the Transvaal,
especially the artillery
That the issue Of the negotiations would be
war has been contemplated by the British Gov
ernment for some time This fact was pointed
out In this correspondence on February 10 last
at which time /: was said that the War Office
acting under instructions from the Government
had prepared TO send army corps OF 10000 men
to South Africa or this force 1t was intended
that q large contingent should be drawn from the
Indian cavalry artillery ard infantry There is
reason to believe thai th.s project has not been
altered, but time has been on the side or the /
Beers. The tact and energy Of President
Kriager have made successful invasion OF the +
Transvaal by 10000 British troops almost impoa- /
sible 1t is not the Transvaa! alone that the /
British forces will have to face but the united /
Dutch peoples of the whole OF South Africa.
That strictly non-sensational paper. THE Man b
chester Guardian" published yesterday auihorl- I
tative letters from Cape Colony In which II was
said that war against the TransVdal wouid I
mean civil war, the British against the DutcA +
facing each other from Pretoria TO Cape Town. f.
The conquest OF the Dutch would require as
many troops werc sent to the Crlmea. 1t IS /
not known accurately at the War Once what the T
vNrth ~ tka n la
ready TO take the field. The representative o. !
the United Pres learns from an official source
that within three months 200 Germans are est
mated to have entered the Transvaa as inlini-
grants and these known to be obtaining
Transvaal money. The force Of zulus trained
and commanded by BOer and German officers is
estlma ted to number $4,000. Though their tribal
fidelity 10 the Beers is doubtful. they be 7
trusted to fight against the British.
Viewing the whole situation, including the /
troubles In Egypt and elsewhere. the English
people are not likely to approve the gigantic i
task Of conquering the Transvaal. yet they must
face that or the declaration OF independence
from the Transvaal the Orange Free State, and
probably Cape Colony. which would form the F,
United States Of South Africa.
To-day's advices confirm the Importance OF the
Dutch agitation for the independence OF South |
Africa. A letter received here from member
OF the Cape Parliament says that the English
and Dutch political leaders concur In the belief
that the position threatening in
the Transvaal. The heads of the movement are
first amply providing for their own security
against British attack. Many newcomers who
are seen In Pretoria known TO be German
soldiers They look TO be ready TO jostle the
English off the sidewalks. Ever? steamer calling
at Cape Town Durham and Port Elizabeth brings
groups OF so-caed prospectors, who nre unable
to conceal the stamp OF the disciplined soldier
who is still under military command. Besides
the Germans. the Beers are recruiting a foreign
legion. The letter concludes with the statement
that everybody knows that there Is war ahead
and that plenty Of British and Dutch blood Will
be shed ere the summers grapes ripen