Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-18

TION OF 1884, AND HOPES FOR
ARBITRATION OR A JOINT
COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY.
LOOKS MORE THAN EVER LIKE
WAR.
PRETORIA, September 1.-THE re-
ply of the government of the South
African Republic TO the latest dispatch
dated September Il, of the British
| Secretary of State for the Colonies,
Joseph Chamberlain, after acknow-
Lodging the receipt of the British note
| proceeds in part as follows:
The government deeply regrets the
withdrawal, as the government under
STAINS it, of the invitation contained in
the British dispatch of August 23d and
the substitution, in place thereof, of an
entirely new proposal.
The proposals now fallen through,
contained in the Transvaal dispatches
of August 18th and August 20th, were
| elected from this government from
suggestions made by the British diplo-
matte agent in Pretoria (Conyngham
Greene) to the Transvaal State Secre-
tary, e. w. Reitz), suggestions which
this government acted upon in good
faith and after specially ascertaining
whether they would be likely to prove
acceptable to the British government.
This government had by no means an
! intention to raise again needlessly the
question of its political status, but
acted with the sole object of endeav-
oring by the aid of the local British
agent to put an erd to the strained
condition of affairs.
''This was done in the shape of
proposal which this government deems
both as regards its spirit and form, to
be SO worded as, relying upon intima-
tions to this government, would salts
fly Her Majesty's government. This
government saw a difficulty as to the
acceptance of those proposals by the
people and legislature of the Trans
vaal and also contemplated possible
dangers connected herewith, but risk
ed making them on account of a sin
cere desire to secure peace and be-
cause assured by Mr.. Chamberlain that
such proposals would not be deemed
refusal of his proposals but would
be settled on their merits.
AS regards the joint commission,
the Transvaal adheres to the acceptance
of the invitation thereunto given by
Her Majesty's government, and cannot
understand why such commission,
which before was deemed necessary to
explain the complicated details of the
seven years law, should now be deemed
unnecessary, and why it should now,
without much inquiry, be thought pos
sible to declare this law inadequate.
Further, there must be misappre-
hension if it be assumed that this gov
eminent was prepared to lay proposals
for five years franchise and a quarter
representation of the new population
before the Volksraad for unconditional
acceptance. AS to the language, this
government never made any offer such
as is referred TO, considering, as it did
not, such a measure both unnecessary
and undesirable
THE proposed conference, las dis
tinct from the joint commission of in
quiry, this government is likewise not
unwilling to enter upon, but the diff
Guilty is that an acceptance thereof is
made dependent upon the acceptance,
on the side of the Transvaal. of prece-
dent conditions which this government
does not feel at liberty to submit to the
Volksraad; and, moreover, the subjects
to be discussed at the conference re-
main underlined"
This government ardently desires
and gladly accepts arbitration, as its
firm intention is to adhere to the terms
of the London convention Of 1854
The despatch concludes by trusting
that the British government, ON recon
sideration, may not deem it fit to make
more onerous or new proposals. but will
adhere to Great Britains proposal for
a joint commission of inquiry as pre-
viously explained by the secretary of
state for the colonies to the imperial
parliament"
LONDON, September 1.-THE reply
of the Transvaal government TO Mr..
Chamberlain's latest note is said to
cover nine pages. 1t is eminently of
the negative and inconelusive character
which Mr.. Chamberlain declared would
compel the imperial government to con-
slider the situation afresh. 1t practie- /
ally repudiates suzerainty, reverts TO
the seven years franchise and declines
to give equality to the Dutch and Eng |
lish languages in the Volksraad.
In short, it is politely negative and
defiant. The full text may not be avail |
able for day or two. but it will not i
change the aspect of affairs. The cab
met viii probably meet on Wednesday
or Thursday to consider the next step.