Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-09-08
BOERs ASKED WHY BRITISH
TROOPS WE'RE BEING MAssED.
RECEIVED A VERY BLUNT REPLY
Ito MAKE PROVISION AGAINST
EVENTUALITIES."
Reply Led to Some Decidedly Warli!Se
HarangueS In the Rnad-KruGer
Says the Burghers Will New
er Surrender Their In
dependence.

CAPE TOWN, Sept. 7.-Midnight-The
Beers, it is stated positively, concen-
trating on the border.
PRETORIA, Sept. There was great eX-
citement in the first raad to-day, on Mr.
Coetzer's Interpolation of the government
regarding the presence of British troops on
the borders and the stOppage of ammuni-
ton consigned to the Transvaal.
President Kruger, the members of the ex-
ecutive council and most of the principal
officials were present together with a large
representation of the general public, includ-
ing many ladies' At the outset the chair
man and president urged members to pre-
serve calmness and to avoid insulting Ian
guage.
The state secretary, F. W. Reitz, said
he had called the previous day on the
British diplomatic agent, Mr.. Conyngham
Greene, and had asked him what reply the
government could give in the volksraad
| regarding the alleged massing of British
| troops on the borders, and whether Mr..
Greene would communicate with the British
| high commissioner, Sir Alfred Miner. The
| reply from Mr.. Greene, he continued, had
| been received this morning, and was in the
| following terms.
Alfred Miners reply to the telegram
which 1 sent him at your request: I do
not know to what Mr.. Reitz refers when
he aludes to the massiIg of troops. This
must be the British troops In South Africa,
| the position and numbers of which are no
secret; but 1t is a matter of common
| knowledge that they are here in order to
protect British interests and to make pro-
vision against eventualities.'
Mr.. Coetzer and other members then
made violent speeches, declaring that they
could not understand Sir Alfred Miners
reply. since the Transvaal had never
threatened the English colonies.
1T is time" exclaimed Mr.. Coetzer,
for the Transvaai also to prepare for
! eventualities."
One member said: "England's action is
like putting a revolver into a mans face"
Another concluded warlike harangue
in this strain: 1T Is time to send our
ourghers to the borders to ask these troops
what they want. The fire is bound to
start. So let them light it and allow it
to burn out quickly. War Is better than
the present state of affairs. Business Is
ruined and the public treasury is drying
| up. Chamberlain is trying to ruin the
! cour try."
These speeches and others attacking
Cecil Rhodes were loudly. applauded by
Mr.. Tosen,. who declared that Sir Alfred
Miners reply was tantamount to a dec
laration of war, read telegram from the
| field cornet OF the Pietretief district,
stating that the people there would rise
in rebellion if President Kruger went to
| another conference.
The chairman called Mr.. Tosen to order
| for saying that the Jameson raiders ought
to have been hanged.
MT NJ a WolmaFans 81. one of the
council, counseled prudence and caution.
He said it would be wise for the raad to
decide whether the republic should con-
! cede further negotiation or not.
insinuated that Mr.. Chamberlain was in
toXicated on the occasion of his recent
bury, his Birmingham residence, and he
added that if Mr.. Chamberlain continued
to act as he had been acting. the Trans
would be a good purgative. He urged the
house not to be frightened by the show of
sending out British troops, remark:ng that
Mr.. Chamberlain must remember that
| when a war had once started he would
have to fight the whole of Afrikanderdom.
The chairman demonstrated with Mr..
| Dutoit, observing that he thought the
member had gone too far,
Mr.. Tosen asked whether the govern
ment considered Sir Alfred Miners tele-
| gram a declaration of war.
| Mr.. Wolmarans replied that, personally,
he did not think so. adding that the tele-
gram was as inexplicable TO the executive
Subsequently, Mr.. wolmarans told the
chamber that President Steyn, of the
Orange Free State; had said that Portu-
| gal must be called 70 account for stop
ping the passage of ammunition.
| President Kruger, who was greeted with
| loud cheers, began his speech by saying
was might and that he knew the Lord
ruled and was righteous and would give
good judgment
President Kruger, rising. said: The
aliens have been offered equal rights with
the burghers, but have refused them. Mr..
chise % which the outlanders DO DO not lot want;
but what he really desires is possession of
the Transvaal. The burgherS are. willing
but will never sacrifice their independ-
ence."
After euiogizing Mr., Gladstone's action
President Kruger said that, If it now came
to fighting, the Almighty would be the ar
bitter, He urged the members Of the raad
to show moderation, reminding them that
the reply from Mr.. Chamberlain was en-
! route. and pointing. out that. IL the pro-
posais for a commission were agreed TO,
the republic would send delegates to fur
ther discuss matters and, If possible, to
! make peace.
The speeches following the president
were more moderate in tone and the raad
rose without nassing any resolution.
LONDON, Sept. 1T the Transvaal sit
| it is for the worse. The Boer request for
an explanation as to the massing of Brit
ish troops on the frontier OF the TransVaal
. has an ominous note of irritation and i'm
| patience. which, at such a critical stage
. can scarcely be interpreted as anythine
but defiance. Both here and in Cape
Colony the tension and the arming con-
tinue. Whether the cabinet council will
afford Immediate relief is still a question
of great doubt. The more conservative be-
. lieve that the cabinet will only put n time
. limit upon the negotiations. and that the
interim will merely be a repetition of the
! anxious times which have marked the past
! few weeks. Cape Town advices say the
i Afrikanders regard the latest Boer reply
; as evasive, while others regard it as de
signed to entansle the two governments
in further negotiations. The average opin
ion of the British press is inclined to re
gard it as the straw which would breat
| tba bock nf the most 1ong-sUsferinp d{nlo