The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-18
KRUGER ANSWERS ENGLAND.
FIVE YEARS FRANCHISE PROPOSE
TTON DOES NOT GO.

VIII Enter Into a Joint Commission
of Inquiry, But Not n Conference
Which PresuppOses Certain Con-
cessiOns-Surprised at the Change
in the Nature of Great Britain's
Demands-TransvanI Government
Desires Arbitration.
Pretoria, Sept. 1.-THE reply of the gov
ernment Of the South African Republic to
the latest Dispatch dated Sept. 12 of the
British secretary of state for the colo
MES Joseph Chamberlain, after acknowl-
edging the receipt of the British note,
proceeds in part as follows:
The government deeply regrets the
withdrawal as the government under
stands it, of the invitation contained in
the British dispatch of Aug. 2S and the
substitution, in place thereof, of an en-
tirely new proposal.
The proposals, now fallen through, con-
tanned in the Transvaal dispatches of Aug.
10 and Aug. p, were ELECTED from this
government by suggestions made by the
British diplomatic agent in Pretoria (Con-
yngham Greene) to the Transvaal state
secretary (F. w. Reitz), suggestions which
this government acted upon in good faith,
and after specially ascertaining whether
they would be likely to prove acceptable
to the British government. This govern
ment had by no means an intention to
raise again needlessly the question of its
political status, but acted with the sole
object of endeavoring by the aid of the
local British agent to put an end to the
strained condition of affairs
Hoped to Satisfy England.
This was done in the shape of a pro-
pOsal which this government deems, both
as regards its spirit and form, to be so
worded as, relying upon intimations TO
this government, would sa tisfy her maies-
tvs government. This government saw a
difficulty as to the acceptance of those
proposals by the people and legislature
of the Tranvaal and also contemplated
possible dangers connected herewith but
risked making them on account of a sin
cere desire 20 secure peace and because
assured by Mr.. Chamberlain that such
proposals would not be deemed a refusal
of his proposals, but would be settled on
their merits.
'As regards the joint commission. the
! Transvaai adheres to the acceptance of
the invitation thereunto given by her mai
eSty'S government and cannot understand
why such commission, which before was
deemed necessary to explain the compli-
Gated details of the seven years law. should
now be deemed unnecessary, and why it
should now, without much inquiry be
| thought possible TO declare this law in
adequate.
4 MisapprehensiOn.
Further, there must be a misapprehen-
| sion, if it be assumed that this government
was prepared TO lay proposals for a five
| years franchise and quarter representa-
| ton of the new population before the
| Volksraad for unconditional acceptance
| As to the language, this government never
made any offer such as is referred to- con-
! sidering, as it did, such a measure both
| unnecessary and undesirable
The proposed conference as distinct
! from the joint commission of inquiry
| this government is likewise not unwilling
! to enter upon, but the difficulty Is that an
| acceptance thereof is made dependent
| upon the acceptance, on the side of the
! Transvaal, of precedent conditions which
| this government does not feel at liberty to
submit to the Volksraad; and, moreover,
| the subjects to be discussed at the confer
| ence remain underlined"
Desires Arbitration.
"This government ardently desires and
gladly accepts arbitration, as it's firm in
tention is to adhere to the terms of the
| London convention of 1884.
! The dispatch concludes by trusting that
| the British government, on recousidera-
| ton, may not deem it fit to make more
| onerous or new proposals, but will "ad-
! here to Great Brtains proposal for a
! joint commission of inquiry as previously
! explained by the secretary of state for
the colonies to the imperial Parliament"