The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-09-29

both unnecessary aud undesirable
The proposed conference. ~ op
posed To the Joint commission ~ In
quiry, this Government IL likeNirs
not unwilling 10 enter upon, but tbs
difhsnlty IN that an acceptance thefs
of 10 made dependent upon the accept.
ance. on the side of the Transyaal. ol
precedent conditions which this Gov.
ernmcnt does not feel at liberty "a
submit to the Nolhsraad. and, more.
over. the subjects TO he discussed al
the conference remain underlined.
This Government ardently desires
and gladly accepts arbitration. ss its
firm Intention In to adhere to the terms
of the London convention Of 1885,"
The dispatch concludes by trusting
that the British Government, on re-
consideration. may not deem IL fit to
make more onerous or new proposals,
but will adhere To Great Britain's Il
proposals for a Joint commission of
inquiry, as previously explained by the
Secretary of State for the Colonies TO
the Imperial Parliament"
PRETORIA, Sept. 1S.-The Volks-
raad today re-adopted the mining ar
ticle on the gold law eliminated last
year. empowering the Government to
confiscate the claims and mines be-
longing to people convicted of treason
or conspiracy against the State, and
empowering the Government to order
that the mines be worked and IL their
instruction Ia disregarded to work
them through their own agents. The
re-adopted article comes into force
Immediately.
The Transvaal State Secretary, +.
w. Eeitz, in the course OF an interview
today declared that the Government,
the Volksraad and the people were
unanimous regarding the attitude
which the Transvaal has assumed and
that there was no foundation what
ever for the reports Of differences.
Mr.. Reitz asserted that the Transvaal's 3
decision was arrived at in conjunction
with the Orange Free State.
LONDON, Sept. 19.-The special
dispatches from South Africa confirm
the report telegraphed yesterday that
the Beers are massing artillery in po-
sitions commanding Laings Neck.
Small Boer detachments occupy posi-
tiOns above Buffalo river.
The members of the Afrikander
Bund In Cape Town intend to convene
the Bund in congress to consider the
| situation.
LONDON. Sept. 19.-Mr. Chamber
lain came to London from Birming-
ham yesterday afternoon and spent the
evening at the Colonial Office. While
there he received dispatch from
Lord Salisbury. who is at Hatfield
House, and sent a special messenger.
There has been lively interchange
OF dispatches between the Foreign,
War and Colonial Offices, but no sum-
mons has yet been issued for a Cabi-
net Council.
Long dispatches were sent last even
ing to the Viceroy of India, Lord Cur
Zon, and the British High Commission
er in South Africa, Sir Alfred Miner
General Sir Garnet WOlseley, mar
| shal and commander in chief. re-
| turned to London yesterday and i'm
mediateiy repaired to the War Office,
where he remained busily employed
the greater part OF the day.
War risks on cOnsignments to the
Transvaal were quoted at premium
OF so per cent yesterday, and all the
markets were very sensitive and ex-
cited.
1
morning that the Orange Free State
would probably better serve'the Trans
vaal by remaining neutral than by
active assistance, because the easiest
route for marching troops to Johan-
nesburg and Pretoria lies between the
Orange river and the Vaal.
! The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily Chronicle says: 1T Is reported
i hne sI,A
British diplomatic agent at Pretoria.
fears that an attempt will be made to
| dynamite the British agency"
| The Daily Telegraph publishes a
communication from military corre-
spondent, who, In discussing the ef-
feet of the Free State throwing its
lot with the Transvaal, says: "ln the
event of war this will greatly increase
our difficulties and will lengthen the
duration OF the campaign, but the
work will be accomplished, and the
Union Jack will float over consolida-
ted South Africa between Zambezi and
the Cape
"The principal danger which besets
the British position is a sudden out
break OF hOstilities, enabling the Beers
to score few minor successes, which
would bring down upon us every
Dutchman In South Africa and prob
ably the statement that the Beers are
sending compressed forage to the bor-
der seems to signify that they will not
wait for new grass. but are preparing
for an immediate advance.
For this we certainly are not yet
prepared. II is doubtful II the few
troops and volunteers now in Natal
could even maintain the defensive.
The Cape frontier from Mafeking to
Kimberly, including the diamond
fields is practically defenseless. and
combined attack by the Orange Free
State and the Transvaal might result
In disaster and the retreat of our
forces toward Durham, leaving the bor-
der towns in the hands of the enemy.
Small wonder Is II that these towns
are alarmed. The movement OF Brit
ish troops into Natal has not begun
moment too soon"
Pr .clOtls Ha ~ u,