The San Francisco call., 1899-09-08
MORE TALK IN THE TRHNSVAaL


! \A 10 the proposals of the British Government
may not have the same effect in turning away
wrath that soft answer would have had, 1t never
theless the purpose OF postponlng hosli'eS'
continuing the negotiations and providing an opPol
tunity for the soft answer to come IN later on
! Despite the recent declaration OF Secretary Cham
berlain that Great Britain would refuse to tolerate
further evasion the part OF the BoerS 1t Is NOT d,
all likely the British Government will neglect 10 aVah
itself OF the new chance given for peaceabe soiuuoh
OF the South African troubles. The promise OF the
Beers sounds air at least and ii 1t be rejected the
sympathes of the world will be on their side
In the course OF the answer the Transvaal Govern
ment after declaring it has desired Great Brit
to abandon any rights possessed by virtue OF 'Ie
London convention OF 1884 by virtue OF lnterna-
tional law, and reassertng upon the question oi
srzeranty the position taken in former dispatches
takes UP the proposals OF Chamberlain for joint
commission to undertake inquiry into the alleged
grievances OF British subjects in the Transvaa and
says: considering that by these proposals GREAT
Britain does not aim any interference IN the affairs
OF the Transvaal and that the action would not be re-
garded as precedent but has solely for its object to
ascertain whether the franchise law fuhls It's purpose
the Transvaal Government will await the Interior pro-
posas OF Great Britain as to the eventual constitution
Of such commission as we'll the place and the time
OF meeting"
a reply OF that nature affords excuse for a
declaration, OF war for ultimatum. The only
issue Great Britain make out OF It would be the
implied rejection OF the claim OF suzerainty but as
that nplications accompanied by an express declara
ton that the Beers have desire dispute any right
which may have accrued to Great Britain under the
treaty OF 1884 it is not easy to how an issue could
be raised even on that point unless Chamberlain
. should the oIVeS the British
right to suzerainty.
Judging OF the situation from this distance it ap-
pears the British have everything to gain by wait
ing policy and nothing to gain by war. There is a
liberal party in the Transyaa which if left free
deal with the problems OF the country will certainly
sooner or later give encouragement to the con-
struction OF new railroads, the opening of
mines, the building OF factories and the devel-
opment OF complex civilization OF the pas
toral community that holds the land II the British
interfere the liberals will inevitably side with their
fellow countrymen against the foreigners and the
result will be conservative reaction, whose effects
could not be overcome for years, il the country
were overrun by the British.
Moreover. it is by no means certain the country
can be overrun The Beers have strong allies among
their kinsmen not only in Orange Free State but in
Cape Colony itself In addition to that they are
among the sturdiest fighters and best marksmen
known to- the world In former battles with British
troops the superiority OF their fire has enabled them
to slaughter their foes with comparatively little loss
themselves. At Laings Neck ia British killed
in few minutes, while the loss OF the Beers was
trifing At Ingogo River the British lost $50 OF
20 men engaged and the loss OF the Beers was but
eight. At Majuba Hill the British lost 226 out
OF force OF 400 and the Beers but one
Such marksmen are not to be assailed without
cause and the British Government will doubtless take
advantage OF Krugers offer and postpone the ulti-