Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-09-03
OTHERWISE THERE is NO CHANGE
IN TRANSyAAL SITUATION.
GREAT BRITAIN IS PATIENT
GIVING KRUGER EVERY POSSIBLE
OPPORTUNITY TO YIELD.
May Be Really Seeking a Pacific Set
tlement or May Only He Muk-
ing Certain That the War
Shall BE Right
eous- One.
tcoryrisht. 1893, BY The Associated Press, ;,

VConyrlsht, 1893, by the Associated Press.)
LONDON, Sept. Judging from surface
indications, an altogether new phase SEEM
ed TO have come over the Transvaal crisis.
The tables have been turned, and now it
Is Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, the secretary
oil state for the colonies, who proposes
further conferences. In this and other re-
spects the official negotiations present a
more pacific aspect than last week But,
with the bare exception of these negotia-
lions, every other circumstance points to
war Whether, as has been suggested in
these dispatches, higher powers than Mr..
Chamberlain have interfered, in the inter-
ests OF peace, or whether the secretary has
taken leaf out of the book of President
Kruger, of the Transyaal republic, meaning
1rocrastination, can scarcely be determined
at this stage. 1t is also possible though
hardly probable, that the unexpected oppo-
sition and disafection of the Dutch and
descendants of the Dutch in British South
Africa, as acutely evinced this week, may
have stayed the mailed hand"
The simplest solution. however, of these
latest Developments which puzzle none
more than Mr.. Chamberlains out and out
supporters, is that the extreme amiability
and long suffering paraded in this last
British proposal is merely q peace Offering
which precedes a sacrifice.
Such steps as these make war more
righteous, and English wars, though usu-
ally resulting in aggrandiZement. must
1rst be righteous to be popular, especially
with the non-conformist conscience and
element and Mr.. Chamberlain is not a
despiser of this factor in home politics.
The foreign sentiment also must be pro-
pitfated. The Continental press, with few
exceptions, recognizes the fairness of the
EngLlsh claims In the Transvaal, and
President Kruger knows he can expect no
OUTSIDE aid, except, perhaps, in the most
indirect way from Russia. The spirit
evlnced yesterday by the Petit Journal of
OF France, which is usually complacent
over the English structures prompted by
= me Dreyfus case. The Journal deplored
Inc 1act that in the event of war between
Great Britain and the Transvaal, internal
uisorganization prevented France from at
lacking Great Britain and avenging the
Fashoda humiliation.
All in all, putting the official formalities
and secondary issues aside the Transyaal
crisis, under the surface, seems not to be
greatly changed and the settlement still
lies in Krugers hands Whether he COM
pletely surrenders, openly deties or further
evades time alone will show.
Inc present Transvaal crisis shows a
radical change in the diplomatic methods
OF Mr: Chamberlain. In the negotiations
following the Jameson raid. Mr.. Chamber
a IAN was properly criticised for the novel
diplomatic notes even before they had time
10 reach the persons to whom they were
asaaresssd; tse Sc Now the public here is left in
dispatches from Pretoria forces the CO.
ionlaI Office to issue correct versions The
.Irsi drahsyaa! dispatches Of August 19 and Au-
ernment on August %, the text of which
was published last evening, except that
the heat of Mr.. Chamberlain last nubiic
speech and the moderation and concflia-
tory tone of the dispatches, add little to
the essentials of the situation.
PRESIDENT Kruger, of the Transyaal re-
public. has practically offered TO conce ie
the demands of Sir Alfred Miner. the
commissioner Of South Africa repardi5n
the question of franchise but only nS
Sondltlon OF getting impossible concessions
SIR Alfrad, in his conference with the
ITansvaal executive, recently held at
ibhioem1fontein iho n1f told President Kruger, in
tne pialnest language, that "I do NOT in
concessions" any o'her
That remark accurately represents the
position to-day. Hopefulness lies in the the
fact, however, that Kruger seems r. to he he
IN yielding mood and that the imperiaI
tsrs reTnment ,,as,1 is not anxious to force mat
Inc spectator takes a sympathetic view
OF the attitude of Premier Schreiner. OF
SaPe Zap Colony. Colony. It says he is in a very diff
Dutch residents of Cape Colony in hand
must not be misrepresented or misrnder-
sSo9d. The situation, the paper adds. is
similar to that of the doubtful states at
me outbreak of the American civil war,
What Schreiner means,'' says the Spec
1,dlor; by Keeping the Cape neutral is
heeplng the Cape Dutch from supporting
the Boers. very loyal and sensible mart );
The Spectator calls attention to the Ohio
state Democratic conventions denunciatinn
wednesday last in its platform of the sse-
cret and vicious alliance now In evidence
between England and the Republican ad-
nlnlstration, and says: 'Englishmen
need not pay close attention to platform
Items OF this kind, 1t is the mere babble of
the political auction room and has little
serious import" 1900 ''''is