The record-union., 1899-10-10

election upon the DrOad issue or the
Government policy in South Africa.
The real intentions of the Premier,
the Marquis of Salisbury, may be ex-
pected to develop shortly. AS at pres
ent arranged the work of the session,
which will begin October 18th, will con-
sist of the Queens speech, dealing ex-
clusively with the African question,
and the voting of credit. Owing to the
drain on military resources, all colonial
reliefs have been stopped for a year.
The Secretary of State for the Colo
nies, Mr.. Chamberlain, returned to Lon
don this morning.
From thee ointment comes an uncon-
firmed report that preparations are be-
ing made for an organized attack upon
the mines by natives and the destruc-
tion of the plants.
A report is in circulation here of the
organization of a corps of volunteers
to aid the Burghers, but it lacks con-
firmation.
The Duke of Devonshire, Lord Pres
ident of the Council of Ministers,
speaking at Sheffield to-day said that
the deduction made from his recent
speech at Manchester regarding the
Transvaal situation had warned him
that member of the Government
could not be too careful. Matters
have not become more critical during
the last few days. remarked the
Duke, land l trust this interval for
reflection may conduce to a pacific set
tlement''
His grace added. however, that he
was afraid the only hopeful sign was
the fact that the Government of the
South African Republic did not ap-
pear inclined to precipitate any acts
of aggression upon the British terri
tory, such as their previous prepara-
tions led the British Government to
anticipate as within the possibilities
No doubt the longer such an attempt
should be delayed the less would be
the probability of even a temporary
success.
Although the Government does not
consider it right" said his grace, Ito
relax any measures deemed necessary,
and although preparations for the pos
sible campaign are still in full pro-
gress, think I may say that the coun-
try may rest assured that no irrevoc-
able step will be taken until the
Transvaal has received and has had
opportunity to confer those demands
which the British Government consid-
ers necessary to protect the rights of
their fellow citizens and to safeguard
British interests in South Africa. In
these circumstances there is. a chance
that wiser counsels than have hith-
erto prevailed may assert themselves.
Il do not complain of the speeches
of independent politicians although it
may be doubted that such utterances
tend to peace, but a different kind of
responsibility rests upon those directly
connected with the Government.
Though do not regret anything 1 said
on former occasion dealing with this
question, yet the handle which that
speech has given to certain irresponsi-
BILE negotiators to open communication
on their account, has warned me that
at the present time a member of the
Government cannot be to careful of
what he says and that the wisest thing
is to abstain even from good words.
There is no reason, in my opinion, to
apprehend that matters have assumed
a more critical stage, and 1 trust that
the interval for reflection may con-
duce to a settlement which all the ar
guments and persuasion hitherto en-
ployed have been unable to effect"
The Duke of Devonshire, referring to
the attempt that has been made to
deduce from my speech at Manchester
some indication of differences of ten
dency, if not of opinion and policy be-
tween members of the Cabinet" said
that such differences that seem to have
been inferred had no existence what
ever.
HOW A PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT
MAY BE ATTAINED.
NEW YORK, Oct "a special to the
world" from London says:
The correspondent of the World"
hears that the British High Commits
sioner in South Africa has been au-
thorized to notify President Steyn of
the Free State that "a peaceful settle
ment of the Transvaal difficulty can
be made if President Kruger will dis
arm his people, grant the desired fran
chise to Uitlanders and pay Great
Britain indemnity for the cost of her
military preparations, which would be
less than $1,000,000."
Rumors are again prevalent that
Lord Salisbury is working for peace
The evident determination of the
Beers to act strictly on the defensive
coupled with the knowledge now that
the British army corps cannot advance
on Pretoria before the middle of De-
cember, is exercising a calming infiu-
ence on the public feeling, the war
feeling engendered by the jingo press
is subsiding, and the feeling is becom-
ing general that hostilities may be
avoided after ALL
An act of aggression on the part of
the Beers would change the whole as
pect of affairs, but at present the ten
dency is toward the resumption of eff
forts to obtain a pacific solution of the
difficulty
Sir Henry Campbell -Bannerman's
declaration that diplomatic means are
not exhausted is sinking into the public
mind, and when Parliament meets Mr..
will be severely pressed to
justify his conduct of the negotiations.
With the long lapse of time unayoid-
able before British operations can be-
gin, the chances of a settlement obvi-
ously are considerable.
Forty Persons Drowned.
n