The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1899-09-22
England MOmentarily Expects the
Beers to Attack.
WAR NOW SEEMS A CERTAINTY
London Papers Indicate Serious
ness of Crisis--Text of
Kruger's Reply.

A London special under date Of
Sept. 18th states that the Transvaal
situation still remained practically
unchanged. The general apprehen-
sion in regard to the outcome was re-
hected by the decline in consols and
stocks on the stock exchange where,
although all stocks continued dull,
there was not the slightest approach
to excitement.
The text of President Kruger's
reply was issued by the secretary of
state for the colonies, Mr.. Chamber
lain, Monday afternoon, but it added
nothing OF Importance to the summary
cabled to the Associated Press. The
language in many places is taken to
indicate firm, unyieldiDg position.
The reply, however, concludes
''If her majesty's government is
willing and feels able to make this de-
cision joint commission, as at first
proposed by Mr.. Chamberlain, it
would put an end to the present state
of tension. Race hatred would de-
crease and die out, and the prosperity
and welfare of the South African re-
public and the whole of South Africa
would be developed and furthered, and
fraternizing between the different
nationalities would increase"
The London evening papers all in-
dictate the seriousness of the crisis,
but The st. James Gazette says:
cit need not be imagined that any
thing will be done on our side in
hurry. The cabinet has first to recon
slider and secondly to formulate fresh
proposals. Therefore these comment
ators on the crisis who assume that
fighting will Immediately commence
are obviously little nervous. OF
course, it is quite possible the Beers
may begin hostilities, in which case
our troops will have to defend British
territory. But unless the Beers take
the offensive, the negotiations will be
! prolonged until the achievements
now on their way to South Africa
reach their destination"
Text of Kruger's Reply.
The text of Kruger's reply, as pub
lished officially, is 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 Odd,
and the substitution, in the place
thereof, of an entirely new proposal.
''The proposals, now fallen through,
contained in the Transvaal dispatch of
August 10Th and August 21st, were
elected from this government by sug-
gestions made by the British diplo-
matte agent in Pretoria (Conyngham
Greene) to the Transvaal state secre-
tary IF. w. Reitz) suggestions which
this government acted upon in good
faith and after specially ascertaining
whether they would be likely to prove
acceptable to the British government.
This government had by no means an
intention to raise again needlessly the
question of its political status, but
acted with the sole object of endeav-
orlng 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
proposal which this government
deems, both as regards its spirit and
form, to be so worded as, relying
upon itimations to this government,
would satisfy her majesty's govern
ment
"This government saw a difficulty
as to the acceptance of those proposals
by the people and legislature of the
Transvaal and also contemplated pos
sible dangers connected Herewith,
but risked making them on account of
a sincere desire to secure peace and
because assured by Mr.. Chamberlain
that such proposals would not be
deemed a refusal of his proposals, but
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