The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-18
ENGLAND DEFlED.
President Kruger Rejects the
British Proposals.
1t Is Evident That the Beers
Mean to Fight.
ORANGE FREE STATE
Decides to Cast Its Lot With
Dom Paul.
Too Late For Negotiations to
Preserve the Peace.

London. Sept. 1S-The reply of the
Transvaal government to Mr. Cham
berlain's latest note is said to cover
nine pages. It is eminently of the neg
ative and inconcIusive' character
which Mr.. Chamberlain declared would
compel the imperial government to con-
slider the situation afresh. 1t practical
" regulates suzerainty, reverts TO the
seven years franchise, and declines to
give equality to the Dutch and English
languages in the VOlksraad.
In short. it is politely negative and
defiant The full text may not be avail
able for a day or two, but it will not
change the aspect of affairs. The cabi-
net viii probably meet on Wednesday
or Thursday to consider the next step.
The Morning Post says;
The Beers mean to fight. That is
the plain English of it"
The Standard says:
The Transvaal note is unsa tisfac-
tory. and, indeed, a dangerous compO-
sftiOu II might be going too far TO
say that the last hope of peace has van
ished or that diplomacy has said its
final word, but it is idle to deny that the
rulers of the Transvaal nave DrougHI
their country very close to the brink OF
q disaster which the British govern
ment has done its best to avert
The Daily Mail says;
minated a long period of unrest and
uncertainty in South Africa, for what
ever may be the issue Of the the pres
ent situation. one thing is certain. that
ever
The Daily Chronicle says:
We regret that the Beers, by re-
jecting a fair offer made in fair Ian
guage, have taken a line giving fresh
points to the argument of their enc
mics that President Kruger is shifty
and impractical politician. fit only to be
spoken to across a line of bayOnets."
These extracts fairly represent press
opinion in London All the papers cnar-
acterize the attempt to represent Con
yngham Greene as suggesting the
Transvaal's former proposals as mere
shifty Drevarications-
An official telegram posted at Volks-
rust says that the TransVaaL with the
assent of the Orange Free State, repud-
iates British suZerainty and adhereS to
the seven years franchise.
At Cape Town. it is reported that Mr.
FIofmeyer, the Afrikander leader, sent
a communication to President Steyn, of
the Orange Free State, entreating him
to do his utmost to preserve peace, but
that he received in answer the words,
TOO late"
All military men agree that it is out
of the question to begin hostile opera
tions before the middle OF next month.
no rain having fallen and the Veldt be
ing still bare
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily Mail says:
''Afrikander bund circles profess to
have information that President Nc
Kinley has intervened between Great
Britain and the Transvaal.
Sir Alfred Miner, British high COM
missioner, in reply to a correspondent
who had requested information regard
ing the position of British subjects in
the Orange Free State in the event Of
hOstilities, has replied that he is un-
aware of anything in the relations be
tween the imperial government ana the
Orange Free States which would juSti-
fy hostile action on the latter's part.
and expressed the opinion that it would
be equally contrary to international
law to order out British subjects
against the queens soldiers or to utilize
them in such manner as to set free a
corresponding number of burghers for
service against her majestys troops.
This is a most opportune pronounce
ment. as the Orange Free State purpOS-
es commanding British subjects to
guard the BasutoIand border"