Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-01
Transvaal Bees the Point, Yet Seems to Be
Powerless to Stay Its Hand.
DRIFTING SLOW BUT SURELY INTO A WAR
Ohamberlain's Remarkably Ingenious Pro-
posal for an Arbitrament.
HE IS NOW ENGLANDs MOST POPULAR MAN
Parliament in n Position to Do
Nothing to Oppose War Even II
1T wilIed-Pcacemakers Raise
Small Voice.

copyright 1ss9 by Press Publishing Coz
LONDON, Sept. 30.-(New York World
Cablegram - Special Telegram) - The i'm
pending war wholly absorbs attention here.
There are, however, no manifestations OF
popular excitement, London preserves its
normal calm because no large boaies OF
troops are passing through. but there is in
tense activity at the war Office and among
volunteer regiments A large proportion Of
the latter have offered for service and are
= actively drilling with view of the posi-
bility of their help being accepted.
There is a most suggestive silence in
spired by the ministerial press this morn
ing concerning a dispatch submitted and
adopted at yesterdays cabinet, information
concerning it's terms being given out in the
evening, followed later by request from
Chamberlain to withhold publication.
y The cause OF this move, already explained
lin World cable, was that Chamberlain had
received information Of a threatening ad-
vance Of Boer force on Laings Mex, and
this government believes 1t would morally
strengthen their position before the world
IL the Beers strike the first blow, especially
IL thoy do so before receiving the British
ultimatum. The dispatch was held back
last night on that account, the British agent
at Pretoria being fully confident the Beers
cannot be restrained, as their position is
cruelty trying, rent between a natural de-
sire to strike effectively and their reluctance
to furnish a relentless foe with an apparent
moral advantage. But war is inevitable, as
all the false issues raised provoke a crisis
and clear the way.
Vassalnge of the Beers.
Britain'e aim to assert its paramouncy in
South Africa is fully revealed as an actuat-
ing motive of its policy, and the pretense
that the question Is one of a franchise for
uitlanders is abandoned, and it is now one Of
vassalage or extirpation for the Beers.
There has been an allusion to some scheme
of arbitration Chamberlain Is willing to
propose, If the Beers submitted on other
points. Owing to the great part played by
the World in the arbitration question, a
World correspondent has taken special pains
to ascertain what Chamberlain means by
arbitration, and finds that the arbitration
referred to is a proposal that the disputed
points arising upon the Interpretation of the
conventions of 1881 and 1884 be submitted
for settlement to a court consisting OF two
members of the judicial committee of the
British privy council and one member of the
Transvaal supreme court. This is arbitra-
tion pour rire.
The peace section of the press, led by
!, the Chronicle and Westminster Gazette,
continue to urge forbearance before pIung-
ing South Africa into frightfuI racial
war. W. T. Stead has issued an eloquent
appeal to the dissenting clergy to use their
influence for peace. Several parliamentary
supporters of the government protest against
an unjustifiable war, but these are as voices
q crying In the wilderness for one ministerial
ist who favors peace five liberals either
tacitly or openly favor war, excepting Morley
and Harcourt, who have no official RESPONSE
bility The liberal leaders are dumb and
afraid to attempt to stem the torrent of
jingoism, though knowing It's dangers, so
when Parliament meets the government will
encounter only half hearted opposition at
best. while If hostilities have already be-
gun because of the criticism they expect,
possibly from Irish benches. they will be
silent altogether.
Anti-War Sentiment.
Anti-war papers are daily piling proof on
proof of Chamberlan's inconsistency, as
with curious fatality there is not single
recent lingo utterance of his for which he
had not supplied effectual antidote in his
radical days. but no heed Is paid to con-
sistency, the criticism is denounced as un-
patriotic, and Chamberlain is the most popu-
lar minister in England today, even the
American comments on this gravitative war
are ignored.
Later events are steadily progressing
toward war. President Kruger's reply to
Chamberain's dispatch OF Friday has been
received this evening at the colonial Of
fee. It is unhinching and curt, declaring
Krugers adhesion to the convention of 1884,
which Chamberlain professed to override.
Energetic representations have been made
Salisbury by the ambassadors of Germany.
Russia and Portugal against the proposal
In Chamberlsin's dispatch to destroy the in
dependence OF the Transvaal by revertlng
to the condition of things under the Pre-
toria convention OF 1881. These representa-
tions will probably lead to notifications, II
not the omission of that proposal, although
England will ultimately carry its point when
the war is over. The dispatch has not yet
been forwarded and possibly may be with
held until after Tuesdays cabinet meeting.
Associated Press Version.
LONDON, Sept. 30.-The Transvaal crisis
news, which monopoiizes all the leading
columns of the afternoon newspapers, is now
well nourished by dispatches from the Cape.
from which copious particulars of the move
ments Of troops on both sides and other war
preparations are coming.
A dispatch from Capetown says:
THE alarmist reports from Pretoria OF the
movements of burghers must be received with
caution. The strict Boer censorship renders
= II unlikely that important movements could
be telegraphed unless the Transvaal has good
reason for 1t. 1t is said here that the highly
eolored reports are either to arouse the en-
thusiasm of the Afrikanders or to produce
alarm in the British camps"
The Capetown Times says
ut is impossible to say what are the real
4 grounds for the Transvaal military activity
until the nature OF the dispatches OF the i'm
perial government, Orange Free State and
Transvaal are known. therefore 1t Is useless
TO speculate on the chance OF an early re-
course to hostilities."
Commenting on the apathy OF Premier
Schreiner's colleagues, the paper says
IF the premier possesses information lead
ing him TO believe there is no necessity fol