The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-09-16

London, Sept. ia special dispatch
from Pretoria says: The Transvaal ad-
heres to the seven years franchise law,
but is willing to consider, and, if neces-
sary, to adopt any suggestions Great
Britain may make with regard to the
working of the law. In regard to the
other points of Mr.. Chamberlain's dis
patch, the Transvaal boldly stands by
the London convention. It said that
the reply is couched in polite terms.
State Secretary Reitz. in the course
of an interview today, expressed some
doubt as to whether any alteration
would be made in the existing franchise
law, but said he believed way should
and could be found to establish an ar
bitration court. AS to suzerainty the
least said the soonest mended, remark
ed the state secretary.
In the forecasts of President hru-
gers reply there is undoubtedly a large
basis of truth which seems to bring the
dispute within measurable distance
of war.
Last evening the press association
issued a curious statement, to the ef-
Iect that as soon as the garrison in
Natal had been sufficiently strength
ened the Transvaal government would
be called upon to accept a new conven-
ton, already drafted. which, while
guaranteeing the integrity of the
Transvaal state. provides for the demo-
lition of the forts and limits the armed
force Of the Transvaal to a number
deemed sufficient to maintain Internal
order.
Reaches Acute State.
According to the press association.
the convention viii demand that the
diplomatic agencies be suppressed and
the judiciary be made independent of
the executive.
This statement which realizes the
extreme demands of the Outlanders,
must be accepted under reserve at the
present stage, but it is not unlikely to
be g semi-official hint as to the next
move of the government should Presi-
dent Kruger prove obstinate.
The morning paper editorials regard
the crisis as having reached Its most
acute phase. The Daily News says:
I'VE refuse to believe that President
Kruger is so foolish as to reject Mr..
Chamberlain's modest demands
The Daily Chronicle. which appeals
again TO Mr.. Kruger Ito accept while
1t IS yet time, and before England's
terms become harder" says:
A refusal of the present terms VIII
involve the ruin of the state over which
government has played it's first and
second moves in the game, and must
perforce play the third and then the
fourth. If Mr.. Kruger haggles, the sin
lister conditions in South Africa win
grow worse until a catastrophe is
reached
Other papers talk of the inlrninence
of war. and all the dispatches from
South Africa continue to describe the
military preparations on both sides.
The Pretoria correspondent of the
Daily Chronicle says:
Anything Is Possible.
THE Beers assert that Mr.. Coyngham
Green, British diplomatic agent at Pre-
toria, knew it was their intention to
adopt the attitude they have regarding
suzeralnty, and that he tacitly encour-
aged them. as the documents show
His forty -eight-hour demand and the
string OF blue book innuendoes. for
which he and Sir Alfred Miner are re-
sponsible, have produced an official at
moSphere in which anything is rAossi
bic. At the same time, Mr.. Hofmever.
and practically every member of The
cape Afr1kander party, have wired
urging acceptance of the British de-
mands''
The Pretoria correspondent Of the
Times, in his forecast of the Trans
walls reply. declares that the Beers
VIII lay stress on the seven-year fran
cbise law, though offering to consider
their suggestions as to it's working. and
for the rest take their stand in the Lon
don convention"
The Times says: we cannot believe
that President Kruger viii reject the
latest proposals of the government and
we would remind him that even Mr..
Merely has endorsed the FIVE years
franchise and urged hi INTO accept the
Cape Town conference
1t is understood thar a cabinet council
will be summoned as soon as the
Transvaal's reply is receifed The Pre-