Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-11-08
Trouble Not Rem edied.

has never before in the history of the
world prepared for war-and William
sang softly.
Trouble Not Remedied.
But the trouble in the Transyaal was
not remedied. War talk was heard from
time to time in the Transvaal as well as
in England, and in August, 1897 Presi-
dent Kruger, in an address to the volks-
Rad, openly denied that England pos
sessed any rights of sovereignty over the
country.
In March last Joseph Chamberlain
brought the Transvaal situation promi-
nently before the House Of Commons
He said that President Kruger had prom
ised reforms, but that none of his pro-
posals would be satisfactory. In another
speech during the same month he defined
the right Of intervention in the Trans,
yaal which England had, limiting it to
cases in which the convention of 1884
had been violated. or in which English
subjects had been treated in such man
ner as would give cause for intervention
If they were residents of some indepen-
dent foreign country, as France or Ger
many.
March "a petition, which had been
signed by over 10000 British subjects in
the Transvaal, was forwarded to the
British Government through Conyngham
Greene, the British agent at Pretoria. 1t
dealt with political grievances only, and
aimed to show that the Beers were con-
tinually making existence harder for the
Uitlanders. A body known as the Uit-
lander council was formed, and its COM
munications with Sir Alfred Miner, gov
ernor Of Cape Colony, met with favor
able response. Negotiations, in the hope
of securing settlement of the troubles,
only resulted in producing 6rmer and
more emphatic assertion of his rights BY
President Kruger.
No definite answer to the Uitlanders'
petition came until May 10, when Joseph
Chamberlain suggested a conference be-
tween Sir Alfred Miner and President
Kruger at Pretoria. President Steyn Of
the Orange Free State at once invited
the two men to meet at his capital.
Bloemfontein, and week later both ac-
copied the invitation. The demand made
by Miner was that every foreigner who
had been resident of the Transvaal five
years. and proposed to make it his per.
manent home, should be given full citi.
zenship, and that the distribution of rep
| hSoShtutA'C CO VI thG NOlhsludu SHOULD be
SO arranged that the Uitlanders, who
mostly live near Johannesburg, should
have proper share in the government.
The best that President Kruger would
do was much less than this. He propos-
ed two years residence prior to natu-
ralization, and then five years more be-
fore the granting of the full franchise.
He placed SO many conditions around
even this offer that it was regarded with
much suspicion. The conference had no
practical result. President Kruger sug-
gested arbitration by foreign power,
but owing to the British claim of soyer-
eighty the commissioner could not con-
sent to this.
Futile Negotiations.
Negotiations went on slowly after this.
The British demands formulated them
selves as five-year period for admission
to full burghership and an increase of the
representation Of the mining districts in
the raad to one-fifth of the total number
of members.
A bill embodying some of these points
was considered by the yolksraad during
the early part of July. On the 10th of
that month it was passed In form that
granted practically what President Kru-
6Ci ihu piOPoSCA Ut LIZ oiOGullUAlGlu
conference.
Messages and diplomatic notes sent
back and forth after this brought out two
points Of disagreement. President Kru-
ger insisted that IL he made any conces-
sions to the Uitlanders it should be on
the distinct understanding that England
would not regard its interference as
precedent and would formally resign all
pretense of sovereignty. Secretary Cham
berlain would not listen to such sugges-
ton.
The other point of disagreement was in
regard to the assurances that any re-
forms made would not have multiplying
conditions attached to them. Secretary
Chamberlain began to insist that joint
committee of inquiry, made up of expert
delegates representing the Transvaal and
the British Government, be appointed to
investigate and be sure that all franchies
promises would be carried out.
Aug. 81 President Kruger declined to
take part in any such joint inquiry, but
offered 6ve-year franchise on condition
that England would promise not to assert
sovereignty in the future, and not, to in
terfere again with the internal affairs Of
the Transvaal. England formulated,
Sept. 8, note to the Beers which was
SO specific that 1t was regarded as almost
an ultimatum. 1t asserted sovereignty
and reminded Kruger that the proposal
for joint inquiry would not always re-
main open.
President Kruger replied Sept. 10 with
definite denial of England's sovereign
ty, and with refusal to put the English
and Dutch languages on an equality in
the Rad. He also this time placed seven
%bn ips~ I,
to as preliminary to the franchise. To
this England replied Sept. % with tenn
porizing note which was taken to mean
practically postponement of any ultima
tum till her troops were ready for the
field. The volksraad had Aug. % re-
jected the proposal to do away with the
dynamite monopoly, and that made the
situation with England still WORSE
Active arming was kept up on both
sides, and the situation was intensified
when, on Sept. %, the Orange Free State
raad decided to cast its fortunes with its
neighbor republic. Britain continued to
pour troops into South Africa, and the
Beers were not slow to meet the emer-
gency. The district north of Dundee and
Newcastle were hurriedly turned into
camping grounds by the burghers, Laing's
Mex was occupied, and other steps were
taken that menaced an invasion Of Ma
tai.
Oct. 10 AKruger's government sent an
ultimatum to London demanding the
withdrawal Of British troops from the
frontier and the return to England of
the special forces sent to South Africa
and of the forces en- route. II not COM
piled with, n State of war was to exist
in twenty-four hours. The next day
Montague White, the Boer consul gen
eral, quilted London, and war was prac.
tically on.
Boer Fighting Strength.
The fighting strength of the Beers is
very hard to estimate. 1t is safe, how
ever, to say that with the Transyaal and
Orange Free State side by side, and with
recruits from Natal and Cape Colony,
they can muster an army Of $4,000 men.
The white male population of the Trans
yaal is placed by the census of 1896 at
137947. OF these about 10000 are
thought to be able-bodied. The white
| M 10 ponu1 ot iop of tho nrorro Lror S&o+,4