Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-11
ULTlMATUM BY TRANSVAAL
Krugcr's Government Sewers the Last
Tie and Now, in All Probability,
Must Fight.

CAPEJ OWN, Oct I0.-The Transvaal
government has sent an ultimatum to Great
Britain.
LONDON, Oct. 1O.-A London news
agency publishes tho following dispatch
from Pretoria, filed there at 7:40 p. m. yes
serday. -s ,| s't-. .. ''''l..nr ~
IAN urgent dispatch has Just been handed
10 Conyngham Greene, the British dplo-
matte agent requesting an explicit assur-
hnce of the withdrawal within forty-eight
hours Of the British troops from the
Transvaal borders, as well as the with
drawal of all the British forces landed in
South Africa since the Bloemfontein con-
ference
The diplomatic circumstances surrounding
the presentation of the ultimatum are prob
lbIy without precedent. Ordinarily foreign
power when addressing peremptory demands
to another sends them through an ambassa-
dor or minister accredited to its adversary
The Transvaal government, however, has
no diplomatic representative recognized by
Great Britain Montague White, the Trans
vaal consul general in London, would not be
received by either the foreign office or the
colonial office, consequently President Kruger
was reduced to handing the ultimatum to
Conyngham Greene at Pretoria, who in turn
wired it to Sir Alfred Miner, British high
commissioner in South Africa by whom 1t
was retransmitted' to Mr.. Chamberlain, who
thus becomes the first secretary of state for
the colonies to receive an ultimatum. AS
soon as the communication is translated
from the cipher in which it is transmitted
Mr.. Chamberlain will forward it to the for
egn office. .. .r.t .r
Crosses sharp Note to Kruger.
The Westminster Gazette says:
1--WE learn from trustworthy source that
the British government has also dispatched
a note containing stringent demands, which
must have crossed the Boer ultimatum.
Diplomacy has thus said its last word; and
the last word on each side is OF the kind to
which the other is not in the least likely to
Tield."
The more peaceful tenor OF the morn
lng's news and comments had scarcely
been digcsted and aroused hopes that Pres-
dent Krugers birthday would also mark
the dissipation or the commencement OF
the dissipation of the clouds hanging over
South Africa, when the sensational an
nouncement that the Transyaa government
had handed definite ultimatum to the Brit
lsh diplomatic agent in Pretoria caused a
rapid slump in the hopes of those who be-
lieve that diplomacy will yet save the situ-
ition.
apart from tnlS tHe news leuuS 10 SHOW
that so long as the Beers remain inactive
Great Britain will continue to adhere to Its
present persuasive methods The speech oil
the duke OF Devonshire, lord president OF
the council OF ministers, at Sheffield yester-
day, contains nothing to confirm the as
sertion made by the jingo press that the
final proposals OF the British government
will contain sweeping aggressive schemes;
and to this extent 1t has oiled the waters
The peace party even deduces from the
dukes utterances that a reformulaton OF
President Krugers proposals of a Ave
year franchise. minus the suzerainty pro-
viso. would lead to such negotiations as
would ensure peace.
It Is understood from these movements o.
ministers and the activity in the govern
ment offices that important developments
are imminent, although whether they art
pacific or warlike remains an enigma
The officials at the colonial Office WORKED
all night and Mr., Chamberlain arrived
there early this morning In some quar-
ters 1t is intimated that the government
has received notification OF the Boer ulti
matum and is relieved in consequence. al
thu government considers the Beers nov
placed in a position of having forced o,
war.
Exhibits Empires solidity.