The record-union., 1899-09-30
Lord of the Treasury, came down from
Scotland, and Lord Salisbury came
from Hatfield. They reached Downing

street shortly after noon.
Joseph Chamberlain, the Secretary OF
State for the Colonies, drove to the
Colonial Office at 1916 p. m. AS he
passed through the crowd assembled in
Whitehall he was greeted with cheers
which were renewed when he alighted.
A large force of police was stationed
about Downing street, but perfect or
der was maintained.
In the meantime dispatches from the
Cape continue the story of military
activity in the Transvaal, Natal and
Cape Coloney. The Beers are con-
centrating in the country contiguous
to Natal, where the first outbreak of
hostilities is likely to occur. Large con-
tingents of Burghers are converging
from various parts of this probable
battlefield. The excitement continues
at fever heat.
The Commandant General has issued
a notice calling for the commanders to
assemble at a. specified spot ON the
Natal border. The commanders from
Krugersdorf, whose Burghers check
mated the Jameson raiders, will en-
bark on trains for the frontier tonight.
L 3
flee at Pretoria The artillery reserves
have been called out, the arrangements
to defend the frontier are now COM
plete. and the work of equipment is
proceeding rapidly. The Burghers are
congregating in the towns, ready to
join their commands, which. however,
have strict orders not to approach too
near the frontier, and to- avoid a coli
lision with the British forces. The
Boer forces are gathering at their
bases of action short distance from
the border, such as Harrismith, Volks-
rust. Vryhid and Bremersdorph.
Telegraphic communication between
Cape Town and Pretoria has become
delayed during the past couple OF
days.
From Bloemfontein, Orange Free
State. it is said on reliable authority
that at a secret session the Raad mas
passed a stringent command law.
Burghers who have left the Orange
Free State recently have been ordered
to return in default of to0O fine, fVe
years imprisonment and the eonfisca-
ton of their property.
From the British side come few
further particulars of military move.
ments of a, minor character but all
pointing to preparations to safeguard
the frontier in the event Of war until
a sufficient force is assembled to take
the offensive.
A dispatch to the "Times' from Pre-
toria SAYS 1T is generally expected
that a. state of war will be proclaimed
at any moment President Kruger
granted me an interview to-day, and
declared he had done all possible Tor
the sake of peace. He had accepted
Mr.. Chamberlain own offer OF COM
mon inquiry. but Mr.. chamberlain de-
liberately broke the thread of negot1a-
tions. troops were maksed on all Sides
and war was forced upon him. It was
impossible to accede to the dispatch OF
the 18th.
sSuch a course would have given the
land and people into the hands OF
strangers. AS it was his seven years
proposal would, according to the neld
Comets books, enfrahchise 50,o0o per-
sons. which was more than the Wnole
number of the old Burghers. yet not
one has come forward to take It me
JJitlanders never really wanted the
franchise From the first they refused
to go on the commandos, ana regis
tered themselves aliens. AfterWard
Lord Loeb secured exemption for them
on the same terms as the Portuguese.
He wished to Indignantly deny Mr.
.amberlain's charge that he had
broken his promise made during he
discussion preceding the Pretoria con-
vention of 1881, that he would treat
new immigrants equally with the Old
Burghers. He had always been ready
to treat them so and they had always
refused.
I'm conclusion, asked him If there
was still possibility of peace
No. he replied, adding after
pause, unless the other side will do
something to make peace possible
The correspondent adds that perhaps
it is worth pointing out that the COM
mando in question did not arise until
1894, after the franchise had been re-
stricted by the law of 1891, (which
makes 1t difficult to see why the former
should accept the latter
The "Pall Mall Gazette" says it
understands that Mr.. Chamberlain sub
mitted a dispatch to the Cabinet coun-
ell to-day containing the following de-
mands on the Transvaal:
First-Five years franchise qualifi-
cation without hampering conditions.
Two-Municipal self government at
johannesburg on freely elected basis.
Three-The separation of the judica-
ture from the executive and its lnde-
pendence of Volksraad.
Fourth-The abolition of the dyna-
mite monopoly
Five-The removal of the forts domi-
mating johannesburg, though the de-
fenseS at Pretoria may remain
Sixth-The teaching of the English of
the English in the schools.
squadron of British cruisers IS
gathered at Cape Town. Advices from
the interior of South Africa indicate
that thus far the natives are quiet, and
there is no sign of trouble. This is
reassuring, as 1T was feared that some
|. of the tribes in Zululand and elsewhere
were becoming restless.
The arrivals at Durham, Natal, from
the Rand are diminishing. Tents have
been pitched on the beach to accommo-
date the refugees.
| It is announced from Kimberly that
a former Mayor has called a meeting
of Irishmen to protest against the
action of their countrymen at home,
who, he says, are under complete
misapprehension in supporting the
cause of tyranny in the Transvaal."
| The British Colonists in Rhodesia are
organizing a volunteer corps have
formed a cycle detachment, and have
constructed an armored train with an
engine plated with steel rails.