The record-union., 1899-09-18

PRETORIA, Sept 1.-THE reply or
the Government of the South African
Republic to the latest dispatch, dated
September 18th, of the British Secre-
tary of State for the Colonies, Joseph
Chamberlain, after acknowledging 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 August 23d, and
the substitution, in place thereof, of an
entirely new proposal.
1.-The proposals, now fallen through,
contained in the Transvaal dispatch OF
August 10Th and August list, were
ELECTED from this Government by sug-
gestions made by the British diplomatic
agent in Pretoria (Conyngham Greenel
to the Transvaal State Secretary IF.
w. Reitz), suggestions which this Gov
ernment acted upon in good faith and
after specially ascertaining whether
they would be likely to prove accept
able to the British Government. This
Government had by no means an in
tention to raise again needlessly the
question of its political status, but
acted with the sole object of endeavor-
ing by the aid of the local British agent
to put an end to the strained condition
of affairs.
This was done in the shape Of a pro-
posal which this Government deems
both as regards it's spirit and form, to
be so worded as relying upon intima-
tions to this Government would satisfy
her majesty's Government. This Gov
ernment saw a difficulty as to the sIc-
ceptance of these proposals by the peo-
pie and legislature of the Transvaal
and also contemplated possible dangers
connected Herewith, but risked them
on account of sincere desire to Sc
cure peace and because assured by Mr..
Chamberlain that such proposals would
not be deemed a refusal of his pro-
posals, but would be settled on theiy
merits.
LAS regards the joint commission, the
Transvaal adheres to the acceptance of
the invitation thereunto given by her
majesty's Government and canont IN
derstand why such commission, which
before was deemed unnecessary and
why it should now, without much in
quiry be thought possible to declare
this law inadequate.
hension if it be assumed that this Gov
ernment was prepared to lay proposals
for a five years franchise and a quarter
representation of the new population
before the Volksraad until conditional
acceptance As to the language, this
Government never made any offer such
as is referred to, considering as il did,
such a measure both unnecessary and
undesirable.
''The proposed conference, as opposed
to 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 al
liberty to submit to the Volksraad and
moreover the subjects to be discussed
at the conference remain underlined.
This Government ardently desires
and gladly accepts arbitration, as its
firm intention is to adhere to the terms
of the London convention of 1894"
The dispatch concludes by trusting
that the British Government, on recon
sideration, may not deem it fit to make
more onerous or new proposals but viii
"adhere to Great Britain's proposals fol
a joint commission of inquiry as pre-
viously explained by the Secretary o.
state for the Colonies TO the imperia
parliament"