The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-13
GREAT BRITAIN'S NOTE IS so RE-
GARDED BY SUBJECTS OF
DOM PAUL
COUCHED IN Mild LANGUAGE
DESIRE IS EVIDENTLY TO LEAVE
ROOM FOR PEACEFUL SoLU-
TION OF TROUBLE
WAS RECEIVED IN SILENCE

Situation Is Pronounced as Acute,
With a Prediction That the Beers
VIII Accept Mr. Chamberlain's
Proposition for Conference
UitIanders Must Fight or Be
Branded as Enemies of TransvaaI.
LONDON, Sept. 13.-A special dispatch
from Pretoria says the British note,
(which was read in both raads yesterday
Z (Tuesday), is regarded there as virtual
ultimatum. The correspondent says:
1t proposes It fve-years franchise en-
larged representation for the gold fields
in the volksraad, equality for the English
and Dutch in the yolksraad. and equality
for the old and new burghers in presiden-
tial elections. 1t proposes that confer
ence between the representatives of the
two powers shall follow, for the purpose
of drafting details and avoiding the intro
duction of unnecessary laws by the
Transvaal government, or the passage of
any new bills calculated to defeat the re-
forms.
4 ''The note goes on to say that the pres
ent state of affairs in South Africa can
not be prolonged. The definite accept
ance of these proposals is demanded with
out delay, otherwise her majesty's gov
elnment will take the whole matter un-
der reconsideration, and will act so as
to bring about a settlement. The situa-
ton is acute"
Owing to the understanding that Mr.
Chamberlain's note it to be published SIM
ultaneously in London and Pretoria only
an inadequate summary has been tele-
graphed. The London papers are inclin-
ed to withhold comment until the text
is available
Despite the fact that the note is de-
scribed as an ultimatum, the balance of
opinion tends to regard it as a rather
moderate document, since apparently it
does not fix definite time limit, leaves
the real crux of the dispute for the pro-
posed conference, and does not raise the
question OF suzerainty. In a word, the
note seems to leave the way open to fur
ther negotiations. The Times, which
considers the summary extremely import
an. says:
1T is incredible that all mention of
suzerainty and the other matters in con,
troversy have been passed over or ig-
nOred.'
y special dispatch from Pietermaritz-
burg, capital of Natal, says:
President Kruger, it is asserted in
reliable quarters, is prepared to attend
the proposed conference at Cape Town
Internationally, provided he is assured
that Mr.. Chamberlains latest dispatch
represents all that viii be demanded by
Great Britain. A peaceful solution,
therefore, is highly probable"
GREETED WITH SILENCE.
PRETORIA, Sept 12-The K aiding in
the volksraad today of the reply of the
British secretary of state for the col,
onies, Joseph Chamberlain, to the latest
Transvaal note, was greeted with 81.
lence, except for some interrup ions
from Mr.. Tosen and other III ra-Con-
servative members. Its terms, however,
have produced considerable excitement
here There is no indication as yet of
the views held regarding it in official
circles.
The volksraad has urged the govern
ment to dismiss Mr.. Jefey, secretary of
education, for writing a letter to the
newspapers accusing the ministers of the
United church of jingoism because they
wanted more English education in the
state schools.
P. G. W. Grober, the foreign secre-
tary has gone to Blomfontein on official
business.
ACCEPTANCE PREDICTED.
CAPE TOWN, Sept 12-Various unoffi-
cial dispatches have been received from
Pretoria predicting the Transvaals ac-
ceptance of the terms of the latest dis
patch which was read in the volksraad
this afternoon, and is understood to fur
nish a basis for negotiations, which viii
possibly lead to a peaceful settlement
MUST FIGHT OR LEAVE.
JOHANNESBURG, Sept 12.-The uit-
landers of BoXburg applied to the bur
ghers for permission to remain neutral in
the event of the war, but were refused
on the ground that as Bretons, remain
ing in the Transvaal and refusing to
fight, they must be regarded as enemies
The miners are being offered e25 to re-
main on duty until ordered to leave.