The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-15
ITS NATURE NOT KNOWN
BELIEVED TO BE UNSATISFAC-
TORY TO ENGLAND.
ORANGE FREE STATE BACKS TRANsvAAL
The Afrikander Bunds Organ Urges the Trans
vaa to Renew its Offer Regarding
aConference, Strengthening
DefenceS of Pretoria.
Defences of Pretoria.

| London, Sept. 14.-A forecast of the
| first draft of the TransvaaTs reply u
| the last note of the British Secretary Of
State for the Colonies, Mr. Chamberlain,
now under discussion by the Volksraads.
has been received by Mr.. Chamberlain.
but its nature is not yet known.
At the Colonial office a reporter of the
Associated Press was informed that
nothing will be given out for the present.
1t was regarded as significant, how
ever, that the mature of the Boer reply
was communicated to the Commander
in-Chief, Field Marshal Lord Wolseley,
who immediately summoned General Sir
George Stewart White, V. c., former
Quartermaster General, the prospective
commander of the British forces i'll
natal.
The tension now existing here and at
the Cape may be temporarily settled at
any moment by the publication of Pres
ident Kruger's reply. On the othcr hand,
it may he several days before the gem
eral public learns what answe. the
Transvaal has made. If President kru-
ger has answered defiantly, it does not
necessarily mean the immediate break
ing off of negotiations. The British
would probably reply with an unfnis-
taxable ultimatum. 1t is scarcely to
their advantage to bring about hostll-
ties until the reinforcements are nearer
the scene of action than they are at pres
emit Whatever the nature of President
Krugers reply it is probable that sever
al more stages of diplomatic processes
will be gone through with before there
is definite war or peace, unless, of course,
President Kruger should take the initia-
tive and raid Natal. 1t is the possibility
of this move that makes definite news
of his reply so eagerly and anxiously
awaited.
The Consul General of the South
African Republic, Mr.. Montagu White,
said to a reporter of the Associated Press
today:
Il have good authority for believing
that the Transvaal reply will be unsatis-
factory to the British Government"
The Morning Post, in a second edi
ton. prints special dispatch from
Pietemnaritzburg, capital of Natal, say
ing the reply is ''truclllent, loquacious
and blasphemous.'
The Manchester Guardians CORES
pondent at Cape Town telegraphs that
the outlook is of the gloomiest character.
The Cane Town papers themselves take
more hopeful view of the situation,
basing their belief on the probable ac-
ceptance by President Kruger of the
.anchise measures suggested in Mr..
Chamberlain latest dispatch. But e9en
they admit lit is impossible to learn or
X
toward suzerainty of Great Britain,
which after ALL is still the main issue.
Bloemfontein, Sept 1.-The members
of the Raad of the Orange Free State
have been notified to be ready to be
summoned for an extraordinary session
at a moments notice
The Burghers of the Orange Free
State, at a meeting just held, passed a
resolution to stand shoulder to shoulder
with the Transvaal in case of hostilities.
While the staff of the Foreign Of
fee will maintain continuous communi-
cation tonight with Mr. Chamberlain at
Birmingham it is not believed now
that the result of the debate in 1he
Volksraad will be received before Fri
day. Dispatches from Cape Town, da-
ted midnight attach great Importance
to an article in the Onsland, the organ
of the Afrikander Bund, which urges
the Transvaal Government to renew
its offer regarding a conference, de-
claring that there is no reason why
the Transvaal should not accept Il con-
ference amid calling attention 20 the
fact that the word ''suzerainty'' Is not
mentioned by Mr.. Chamberlain, and that
therefore, there is nothing 10 Indicate
any obligation on the part of either
Government to abandon its views on
this subject.
This article is understood TO be the
outcome of an important Afrikander
caucus held to discuss the Chamberlain
note, and it is understood that the argu-
ment has been fortified by strong mes
sages to Pretoria, urging the Nolksraad
to forego the suzerainty objection and
TO concede the British proposals. There
is every reason to believe that Mr..
Hofmier the Afrikander lander has
wired President Kruger to the same eff
feet and similar representations have
been telegrahphed from the Orange Free
State.
The Pretoria correspondent of the
Daily Telegraph says:
THE members of the Volksra2d re-
ceiyed Mr.. Chamberlain dispatch def
antly today Thursday, individual metnr
hers declare that Great Britain must
moderate her demands
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily News says:
"A Thousand men are engaged in
strengthening the defenses of Pretoria.
Uef@pees are being eXcavacated and
earthWorkS constructed. 1t is reported
that both Raads will adjourn mt the end
of the week to enable members to con-
suit their constituents ON the questions
raised III Mr.. Chamberlain dispatch"
DISCUSS REPLY TO NOTE.
Preoria, Sept 1.-THE discussion of
the first draft of the reply 10 the Brit
ish note ended this evening. President
Kruger having left at four o'clock and
not having returned.
1t is understood that the Government
will draw up the reply in its final form