The record-union., 1899-09-09
LITTLE new IN
TRANSvAAL MATTER
A Council Of the British Cabinet
Held Yesterday,
But Information as to Action Taken With
held From the Public.
Understood That Strongly Word
ed Dispatch Has Been Sent to
President Kruger, the Contents
of Which Will Not be Made
Known Until It Is Delivered in
the Transvaa1.

LONDON. Sept. S.-The Cabinet
council was concluded at p. m. A re-
porter of the Associated Press asked
the President of the Board of Agricul-
ture. the Right Hon. Walter Long, II
any conclusion had been reached. He
said: "All 1 can say is that we must
have patience"
Tt is understood that the result OF
the Cabinet meeting established these
facts: Parliament will not be sum
moned. The reserves will not be called
out Ten thousand troops will be sent
to South Africa
A representative of the Associated
Press learns that a strongly worded
dispatch has been sent to the Trans
vaal, which will be published here i'm
mediately on it's delivery there.
The Cabinet council to-day attracted
greater public attention than any
meeting of the Ministers for years past.
A well-dressed crowd of 1000 to 5000
people impatiently thronged the pre-
cincts of the Foreign Office throughout
the session, eagerly scrutinizing the
faces of those coming and going in the
hope of obtaining glimmering of the
outcome of the momentous melting. The
Generals were enthusiastically cheered
as they appeared, the crowd evidently
understanding that they had been sum-
moned to be in readiness in the event
of the Ministers wishing their advice.
Mr. Chamberlain, the Secretary of
State for the Colonies, and the Earl of
Selborne, the Under Secretary, were the
first arrivals among the officials, and
We're followed by Field Marshal Lord
Wolseley the Commander in Chief of
the army; General Sir Redvers Butler,
who. it is said, will have the field COM
mand in the event of war with the
Transvaal, and General Sir Evelyn
Wood, Adjutant General.
The arrival of Lord Salisbury, the
Premier, was the signal for tremen-
dous cheering. Next came the Duke of
Devonshire, the Lord President of the
local Government Board. and the Earl
Of Halsbury the Lord High Chancellor,
who passed unnoticed.
AS showing the Importance of the
meeting of the council, Under Secretar-
les Wyndham of the War Department
and Broderick of the Foreign Office
were summoned to attend
By 10 o'clock all the Cabinet Minis
ters were present. 1t was reported
that Mr.. Balfour, the First Lord of the
Treasury would not agree with some of
his colleagues in the Cabinet and there
was some talk of a split.
The first indication of the possible de-
cision of the Cabinet came from the
Stock Exchange, where the tone ruled
nr ar+ ho
had decided to send an ultimatum to
the Government of the TransvaaI. but
to insist that the Transvaal must agree
to a conference at Cape Town, but it
was too early yet to give this as definite
information of the action contemplated
or taken.
The Ministers came out arm in arm,
laughing, chatting, greatly contrasting
with the manner in which they went in.
Lord Salisbury again received an ova-
ton.
Although the Foreign Office has not
given out a statement. the general i'm
preston was that no ultimatum would
be sent to the Transvaal at the present.
and that a time limit will be placed for
a conference at Cape Town The short
duration of the council and the early
departure of the military men sum-
moned were taken as indications that
the situation is more pacific, though, of
course, this is only surmse
A special dispatch received here to-
day from Ladysmith, Natal, says that
the British troops there are actively
engaged in maneuvers over the hilly
country, subsequent to a parade of the
force
Continuing, the dispatch says: With
the transportation and equipment, the
finest ever seen in South Africa, and
the health of the men excellent. eyerv-
thing is ready for war. All the ad-
vices confirm the presence OF a. large
number of armed Beers on the border.
They are described as being bellicose,
and it is rumored that they have com
pleted arrangements to poison all pools
and springs. Unrest is reported among
the Natal natives, and this, it is sus-
pected, is due to Boer influences.
Many ship owners have called at the
offices of the Admiralty and offered
their vessels as transports. They were
told, however. that nothing would be
done in this direction until the Cabinet
council has decided on what action
would be taken in regard to the crisis.
The Evening Standard to-day SAYS:
'The general feeling pervading the
public departments and clubs is that
hostilities are inevitable"
The Pail Mall Gazette" saws: No
official account has been issued of to-
days Cabinet meeting, and it is highly
improbable that one will be permitted
to appear. From authoritative sources
we are in position to state with what
we believe to be substantial accuracy
the result of their momentous delibera-
tions. There is every reason to believe
Mr.. Chamberlains dispatch was found
to contain telling exposition of the
British case. with pointblank refusal
to entertain the Boer proposal that
England should relinauish suzerainty
over the Transvaal and pertinent re-
minder that the offer of a joint inquiry
into the franchise proposals cannot re-
main open indefinitely. Though not an
ultimatum in form. the dispatch will
be one in effect. since it may be ex-
pected to contain strong hint that
no answer will be accepted which is
evasive or unfavorable in any essen
tial condition.