Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-09-15
The Transvaal Dispute Is Lead
Inc TO Words Instead
OF War.
PREPARATIONS ARE oMlNoUs
s.SFg8 - SSS 80
Beers and British Alike Are
Stirred By Grave
Rumorso

LONDON, Sept. l5.-The blue boot
containing the last Transvaal dispatcf
to the secretary of state for the colonies
Mr.. ChamberIains relsting to matters
which led up to the dispatch being sent
was issued today. The only important
new feature revealed is telegram from
the British high commissioner, Sir Al
fred Milner, dated August 81, referring
to the commercial distress and saying
II am receiving representations from
many quarters throughout the country
to urge the imperial government to
terminate the suspense. British South
Africa is prepared for extreme meas
ures and ready to suffer much more in
order to get vindication of British
authority. 1t is prolongation of
negotiations, endless and indecisive,
that is dreaded. l fear seriously there
will be strong reaction in feeling
against the policy of the imperial gov
ernment if matters drag. Please un-
derstand invariably preach confer
ence and confidence and patience and
not without effect; but If did not in
form you of the increasing difficulty of
doing this and of the unmistakable
growth of uneasiness about the present
situation ann of the desire to see it ter
minated at any cost, should be failing
In my duty"
The published interview with Presi-
dent Kruger, said to have taken place
in Pretoria yesterday, Is more impor-
tant. He is quoted as saying: Il
want to place aliens in the Trans
vaal on the same footing politically
as burghers. Chamberlain says
have not kept my promises. This
thundered Kruger, q deny. Aliens
mercial rights as burghers, and have
always enjoyed them without inter-
ference. l wanted to let them have
the same political rights but they
would not avail themselves of this
Roughly there are more than $4,000
aliens who have been here for more
than seven years and have registered
thus being eligible to the franchise.
Yet of the British subjects who have
availed themselves of it the chief
part have been Afrikanders,, and not
English born This shows the Brit
ish in the Transvaal do not want the
franchise. Many opinion there is
no cause whatever for war. Every
thing could be settled by arbitration"
A second edition of the London,
Times today prints special from New
Castle, Natal, dated September 15,which
bears out the British high commission
er's statement which says the Uitland-
lander's council has transmitted to the
imperial government what practically
amounts to protest against further
delay. The correspondent says:
"They cannot contemplate without
grave misgivings the possibility of the
Pretoria government being permitted
TO further delay matters on a plea Of
consulting the burghers."
The Times correspondent adds:
"There is nothing to confirm the re-
ports that the Beers will concede
Chamberlain demands. On the con-
trary, it is stated 5000 men will be
dispatched to the border Immediately
after the Transvaals reply is sent.
Everything points to the prospect of
an early conflict. News that a
strong force of Beers has been station
ed one hour from Ramathlabama,
commanding the Pretoria and Johan-
nesburg roads, has created great. in
dignation at Cape Town." $3.50.
GOING TO THE NATAL.
London, Sept 15.-The first battal-
ton of the Manchester regiment from
Gibralter arrived in Cape Town today,
xilsembarked and marched through
Ahe streets. The soldiers were wildly
cheered The battalion re-embarked
and proceeded to the Natal.