Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-31
Kruger Receives an Answer
From Sec'y Chamberlain.
IT is AN ULTIMATUM.
British Secretary for the colonie. sends
to Pretoria His Rcjoinder to the
Counter Proposal orTrans.
vaal Government.

Pretoria. Transvaal, Aug. 31.-The
British diplomatic agent here,
Conyngham Greene, has handed to the
secretary of state, +. w. Reitz, the re-
ply of the British secretary of state for
the colonies. Joseph Chamberlain,
to the Transvaals alternative propos-
ais to the joint commission suggested
bv Great Britain to inquire into the
effect which the proposed franchise re-
form measures will have upon the out
landers.
Mr.. Greene afterward had long au-
dience of the state officials.
The nature of the dispatch is not
disclosed, but was subject to the consid-
GRAFTON of the executive yesterday az
ternoon.
1t is understood that another confer
ence may occar at Cape Town. The
result is anXiously awaited.
Amounts TO an Uitimaium.
London, Aug. 3l.-The Times saws
editoriaily this morning:
There is the best reason to believe
that the recent note of Mr.. Chamber
lain will be almost the last occasion
on which Great Britain will ask Presi-
dent Kruger whether he>is in earnest in
his promises of concessions.
The note undoubtedly called for an
answer, and when reason
aole time for answer has elapsed Great
Britain will no longer pay much at
tention to Kruger's words, but will
form her judgment by his actions.
THE Beers should bear in mind
that. throughout the whole controver-
sy, the Cologne Gazette has warned
the Transvaal that ii was placing it.
self in an unfavorable position and
that in the event of war nobody would
lift finger to prevent the destruction
OF the republic."s
The Preforia correspondent of the
morning Post says:
The Boer officials. after reading the
cabled reports OF Mr.. Chamberlain's
speech. consider that war
is inevitable. The speech has undoub,-
edly unnamed the war spirit here. The
Boers are now all armed except those
in Johannesburg. Their commissariat
is fairly good All the forts are amply
The Johannesburg fort has
been strengthened with several quick
firers.
The ammunition, which Mr.. Schrein-
er allowed to pass through Cape Col
one, came direct to Pretoria. 1t was
never intended for the Orange Free
State.
President Kruger does not hesitate
to express the view that war is almost
inevitable. He has stocled the presi-
dency with ample supplies of provisions
TO secure his own person from priyation
and ne is often heard repeating the
eighty-third psalm.
The Daily Mail says it learns that a
large consignment of cartridges. man.
ufactured in England for the Beers.
has recently been shipped through Ger
man agents.,
Cecil Rhodes Sensation.
Cape Town, Aug. 31.-There was a
violent scene in the Cape house of as
sembly yesterday when Cecil Rhodes
repeated his non-conviction that the
Transvaal secret service fund was
largely used during the last Cane Col
ony elections for the expenses of the
Afrikander candidates. He said he
hoped that in the forthcoming Trans
vaal settlement, the secret service pay
lnent list would be destroyed. as other
wise many Cape Colony families would
feel uncomfortable.
Several ministerialists were after
ward reproved from the. chair for
retorting against this state
ment.
he government has refused to pro.
vide facilities for women and children
to leave Johannesburg.
fhere is great activity at the Simons
Town dockyard in drilling men on
shore and overhauling vessels.
1t is said in Afrikander circles here
that in spite of the persistent warlike
rumors there are good prospects of
peace. 1t is believed that several
strongly worded communications have
been addressed to President Kruger,
of the Iransvaal republic, urging the
desirability of using every effor, to
obtain peaceful solution of the trou-
BILE.
The Hon. William P. Schreiner. pre-
mier of Cape Colony, has teleeraphed
to President Steyn, of the Orange Free
State. earnestly expressing the hope
that peace will be preserved. and de.
clarng his confidence that he prcsi-
dent Steyn) would do his utmost to
this end.
At meeting of Scandinavians OF
Johannesburg, just held. only two OF
them voted in favor of forming a vol
nniser corps in ease OF war.
a depntation OF outlanders has call
ed on the Rritishsagent at Pretoria re-
garding the trade depression. A mer-
chant whose stock is valued ut e40.-
900 said his daily sales were now about
,eS.
Europe to Remain Neutral.
rer!in, Aug. 3l.+-The Neuestc Mach.
richten. Which reiterates its dselara-
ton regarding European neutrality il,
the event of hostilitics in the Trans.
.vaal. says:
m 4