The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-09-14
kRUGER'S REPLY.
The Text viii Probably Be
Received in a Few Days
Its Tenor Known.
by Gable TO The Associated Press. /

LONDON. Sept a. 1S9s-The Trans
walls reply to the last note of the Brit
ish Secretary of State of the Colonies,
Mr. Joseph Chamberlain has been re-
ceived but its nature is not yet known.
At the Colonial Office, a reporter OF The
Associated Press was informed that moth
ing will be given out for the present. It
was regarded as significant. however, that
the nature Of the Boer reply was COM
municated to the Commander-in-Chief
Field Marshal Lord wolseley. who imme-
diately summoned General Sir George
Master-General. the prospective Comman-
der of the British forces in Natal.
The South African advices continue
most conflicting regarding the tenor of
President Kruger's answer to Mr.. Cham
berlain.
The Morning Post" in a second edition.
prints a special despatch from Pieter-
maritzburg. capital of Natal, saying the
reply is "truculent, loquacious and bias
phemous.''
The Manchester 'Guardian's" corespon-
dent at Cape Town telegraphs that the
outlook is Of the gloomlest character.
The Cape Town papers themselves take
a more hopeful view of the situation,
basing their belief on the probable accept
ance by President Kruger of the fran
chise measures suggested in Mr.. Cham
berlain's latest despatch, But even they
admit it is impossible to learn or fore
shadow President Kruger's attitude to-
wards the suzerainty of Great Britain,
which, after all, is still the main issue.
The tension now existing here and at
the Cape may be temporarily settled at
any moment by the publication of Presi-
dent Krugers reply. On the other hand
it may be several days before the general
public learns what answer the Transvaal
has made. If President Kruger has an
swered defiantly, it does not necessarily
mean the immediate breaking off of nego-
tiations. The British would probably reply
with an unmstakable ultimatum, but 1t
is scarcely to their advantage to bring
about hostilities until the reinforcements
are nearer the scene of action than they
are at present. Whatever the nature Of
President Krugers reply it is probable
that several more stages of diplomatic
processes will be gone through with be-
fore there is definite war or peace, un-
less, OF course, President Kruger takes
the initiative and raids Natal. 1t is the
possibility of this move that makes def
mite news of his reply so eagerly and
anxiously awaited.
The Consul-Genertl Of the South
African Republic, Mr.. Montague White,
said to a reporter of The Associated
Press today
81 have good authority for believeing
that the Transvaal reply viii be un-
satisfactory to the British Government.
The news recrsged by Mr.. Chamberlain
today it is now said was probably infor-
nation regarding the nature of the Boer
reply Whether this came from President
Kruger or was merely the British agents
forecast it is impossible to say. The text
of the reply will not be received, in all
for several days.
The latest advices from Pretoria say
the Transvaal Government has completed
the first draft of the reply. which was
then being considered by the Raads in Sc
cret session.
fBy Gable to The Associated Press.l
BLOEMFONTEIN, Orange Free State,
Sept. II, 1sss-The members of the Raad
of the Orange Free State have been noti-
fed to be ready to be summoned for an
extraordinary session at a moments no
tice.
The Burghers of the Orange Free State.
at meeting just held, passed a resolu-
ton to stand shoulder to shoulder with
the Transvaal in case of hostilities.