New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-09
THE WAR CLOUD IN THE TRANSPAAL.

VIEWS OF AN AMERICAN RECENTLY FROM JoHAN-
xEsBt;RG-GRIEvANcE OF THE UITLANDERs.
Washington MAY (SpeciaD.-Joseph Story Curtis.
an American citizen who has lived for several years
in johannesburg and has mining interests there, Is
spending few days In Washington, Discussing
the apparently hostile attitude OF the Boer Govern
ment toward Great Britain and the grievances OF
the Uitlanders in the Johannesburg district MT
Curtis said to-day; There is treaty between Eng
land and the Transvaal, commonly called the con-
yention. II the Transvaal has broken that conVeh-
ton England is excusable for taking measures look
ing 10 war. Recently under the press law. Inc
African Critic was suppressed. Then followed the
suppression of The STAR which IS now BENG IS
sued as The Comet This press law is stringent
and arbitrary and allows the suppression OF papers
for criticisms of the Government or ior pohticdi
offences Then there is the alien expulsion law
which allows aliens 10 be e%peiieu LOT Poi'i0"i Va
fences without trial
..rhe Government has recently purchased many
arms for the ostensibe purpose of preventing an
other Jameson raid. Don't for one moment suppose
tina, Is So 1t was done for fear OF an attack from
England 1t has been the desire among the Boers
for long time to break the treaty and declare com
plete independence. see IN noIIiis paps ~ -
now in this country. says the standing army Is
Composed of 400 artillerymen There are however
SoVs from twelve years old UP TO men OF sixty
Thoroughly armed with improved riies IL "a o[ conid
easily be avoided by recognizing the necessities ana
rights of the foreign populdtloii coHihoIiy
TIE ITitlanders To these people Is Que entrey the
Sevelopment of the mining Industry IN the lTaiS
val and the present wealth OF that country. Al
tboueh there are now in the TransVaal more maze
f-itIanders than burghers. they are allowed 70 Hts
M voice in the management OF the government u
ne colntry They pay almost all the taxes, put
Gro allowed no representation. Win tne cAcePtiol
~ partial representation in the SANITARY board'
~ governing body OF the town or JOHANNESBURG
'orSe mining Industry turns out annually t3ovoWV
rha C;ovcrnnent revenue. which is derived aiimOSS
aan,ireiv from this source is about ti.bUW9. ms
Saayca the mining companies about t4orVc Win
nh;cb to nav dividends and work the mines. inc
Sann-Iovel conpanies which have been Incorporated
~ rWork the main reef outside OF and below IN"
hounds of the outcrop companies, have expended =
epeat deal of money in sinking shafts some, OF
SSbich have already reached gold deposits. put
Most of them have still to continue hundreds OF
Tel deeper before they can reach the reefs. me
nresent state of uncertainty in the Iransvaal mas
Entirely dcmoralized the market Tor oeep-IeVeI
etnnk The grievances of the foreigners in the
Transyaal are no sham. and any one VINO VISITS
49, country and sees the disabilities under WHEN
The mining industry suffers must admit that II Is
almost Impossible at the present time 10 carry on
the process of the development OF the country WIN
yrodt 10 those who the chief workers III is an
we'll enough for the Beers 10 say that the country
belongs TO those who took 1t from the kaiirs anc
that foreigners have no rights whateyer. II mus
ne remembered nevertheless, that TO the iorersheTs
alone is due the present prosperity OF the Ifahs
vaal and that these same foreigners are eh'iueu
10 consideration and fair treatment