The Portland daily press., 1899-09-23

| ne neeu not expect German aid that
IL is scarcely possible to attach credencs
to that Inference. It IL much more prob
able that the,question Of Dslagoa bay was
discussed II the despatch presented by the
Pioneer, of Allahabad, saying that
negotiations had been concluded by Great
Britain for taking possession OF Delagoa
Bay, November 1, is orrect.
THE CABINET COUNCIL.
London, September 22.-Tbe much ex-
peeted cabinet council was held today.
The cabinet ministers were loudly
cheered, the Secretary of State for the
Colonies, Mr.. Joseph chamberlain, re-
ceiying the lions share Of the applause.
Tbs Pail Mall Gazette prints the follow
ing as result Of the cabinet council:
The council grants the conclusion that
nothing OF supreme Importance was de-
cided and suoh we believe to be the fact.
Information in their possession Is to the
effect that 1t was an interim cabinet
summoned to consider an interim de s.
patch.s 1t is believed that this paper,
which met with the unanimous approval
OF MIR. Chamberlain's colleagues Will be
published as soon as received by the Boer
government on Monday or at the latest
on Tuesday.
The Pail Mall Gazette says that another
meeting OF the cabinet will take place
next Thursday or Friday, when the issues
will be presented In a more serious shape.
NOT SO INFORMED.
Pretoria, September s2-The govern
ment denies that State Attorney SHUTS
has informed Mr.. Conyngham Greene
that further British mobilization will be
regarded as an unfriendiy act.
State Secretary Reitz says that when
martial Law is proclaimed 1t will apply to
the whole country.
Mr.. Reitz has replied to an application
made by certain Outlander5 to remain In
johannesburg in the event OF war that
all who desire may do so.
Commandant General Joubert replying
to numerous requests on the part of jour
nalists for permission to accompany the
commands, said that applications were
premature
NO AMERICAN INTERVENTION.
London, September 2s.--Ihs United
States ambassador. MIR. Joseph II.
Choate, visited the foreign office today.
1t was understood that his visit was in
relation to the Alaskan negotiations. In
IN interview with q reporter of the Asso-
ciated Press. Mr. Choate said: "Of
course Lord Salisbury did not discu IS the
Transvaal crisis with me. / can say
that the United States had made no rep
resentations of any kind regarding the
Transvaal and the same applies, so far as
l know, to Germany. I hope there will
be no war, but things are quite uncer-
| tain.'
MIR. Choate returned to Scotland this
evening.
SER NO GROUND FOR FEAR.
Pretoria, September 22-Presidsnt
Kruger has been In selsgraphio confer
ence with President Steyn this afternoon
regarding the situation and the decision
of the Raad of the Orange Free state is
awaited with interest.
/ Large numbers of local Germans,
Frsnchmen. Hollanders and Americans
have offered their services to Command
ant General Joubert in the event of hos
tilities.
The elder burRhers still fail to see the
grounds of oasds belli. but If Mr.
Chamberlain makes what they would
characterize as ''humiliatIng demands''
such as for instance disarmament. war
would be inevitable.
RAIDS SECRET SESSION.
Cape Town, September 2e.-It is under
stood here that the secret session Of the
Raad Of the Orange Free state win con-
tinue until the beginning of next week.
A CONFLICT OF AUTHORITY.
Pretoria, September ga green book
has been issued containing the report OF
State Attorney Smnus Co the government
on the pour parlers between himself and
the British diplomatic agent, Mr. Con-
yngham Greene, lending to the condition
al five years franchise proposal.
| Mr.. Smuus asserts that the proposal
was the result of private discussion
and an arrangement that both govern
ments should informally decide about the
offer and its acceptance before the offer
should be formally submitted. He also
contendssthat the exact draft of the offer
was wired to the British High Commits
sioner, SirlA fired Miner, and that the I'm
perial government sent despatch to
Mr.. Greene. which the latter interpreted as
an acceptance of the offer. |.
Mr. Smuts says that had the Transvaal
known any difficulty would be made
about suzerainty his government would
never have made the proposals but would
probably have Immediately accepted the
invitation to joint commission of in-s
quiry regarding the ssven year proposal.
He also denies that he.promised MIR. Greene
that the new members of the Raad would
be allowed to speak English. All he
said on this subject he declares was that
the matter would easily settle itself ana
he shows that, In the telegram of Sir Al
fred Miner no mention was made of this