The record-union., 1899-06-09
The Situation Seems to be Growing
More Serious.
Conference Between President Kruger and
Commissioner Miner
Results In No Settlement Of the Dis
puted Contentions-The Presi-
dent of the South African Re-
public and England's Represent
tative Unable to Agree Upon
Terms.

Terms.
LONDON, June S.-The advices re-
ceived here to-day from South Africa
emanatirg from British sources show
more completely the utter failure OF
the recent conference at Bloemfontein
between President Kruger and the
British High Commissioner, Sir Alfred
Miner. The London afternoon papers
all refer to the dangerous situation.
Az dispatch from Mates Fontain says
Sir Alfred Miners proposals inclu-
ed granting the uitlanders additional
seats in the Rand District, and that
President Kruger, under pressure,
finally offered three additional seats.
The British High Commissioner there
upon pointed out the inadequacy of the
Presidents proposal adding that he
had come to the conference in the hope
of being able to inform her majestys
Government that the President of the
Transvaal Government was able to af-
ford such liberal measures of reform
as would enable the uitlanders to help
themselves, and relieve the Government
of the obligations to intervene in order
to redress particular grievances.
| Further, it is added, President Kru-
ger sought to use the franchise pro-
| posal as the means of obtaining a
promise to settle the differences under
the convention by arbitration, but the
British Commissioner refused to treat
| the two subjects as interdependent.
taking the ground that internal reform
| in the Transvaal was necessary in any
case in order to preserve the independ-
ence of the republic, and as regards
arbitration there were certain ques-
tons upon which it could not be adj
| mitted, while on other questions arh-
| tration was possibly admissible, pro-
vided a suitable tribunal was sug-
getsed, not involving the introduction
of a foreign Power, which the Govern
| ments would never allow.
! In the House of Commons to-day the
| Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Joseph Chamberlain, replying to vari-
Gus questions on the subject, confirmed
| the reports of the failure of the Bloem-
fontein conference and also admitted
| the accuracy of the statements made
| in the dispatch from Mates Fontein.
explaining that the British High Com
missioner informed President Kruger
that Great Britain would not consent
to the Intervention of a foreign Power
in Anglo Transvaal disputes
With reference to the Jameson raid.
Mr. Chamberlain added, the Commits
sioner informed the President, that the
British Chartered South Africa Com
pany while protesting against the I'M
reasonable amount of the claim, would
consent to submit to arbitration the
question of the amount of damages to
be paid.
LONDON, June 9.-The morning pa
pers are beginning to talk seriously Of
1.-THE possibility of war in South Africa.
Mr. Chamberlain, Secretary OF State
for the Colonies, in his speech in the
House of Commons yesterday, announc-
ed that his reply to the petition of the
Uitlanders which had been held back
pending the result of the conference
at Bloemfontain, would now be pre-
scented to the Transvaal. This reply is
semi officially described as explicit,
but conciliatory," but it is believed to be
in the nature of a practical ultimatum.
The resources of diplomacy are regard
ed as exhausted with the failure of the
conference. Nothing is left, 1t is felt,
but a resource to force.
The Daily Mail" says that 1t learns
that it was President Kruger himself
suggested the conference, and it claims
to have reliable authority for deciari g
that Sir Alfred Miner, the British High
Commissioner has his back to the wall
and is supported to the utmost by the
Cabinet.
Commenting editorially on the stu
alton, the Daily Maip' says: IF we
know our Kruger Alright, he will back
down, and if not, why
The Daily Chronicle" depre Mr..
Chamberlain's warlike attitude, but
does not deny the gravity Of the situ-
alton, and seriously counsels the Beers
to grant reasonable reforms las the
only means of preserving their inde-
pendence against the plots Of the Stock
Exchange and the violence of Downing
street"
The Standard" which reminds the
Transvaal that it's independence is not
absolute, but is contingent on a faith
full execution of the agreement stipu-
lating equal rights for all white inhab-
itants says: I'VE now demand that all
Englishmen resident in the Transvaal
shall be treated with justice; and Presi-
dent Kruger may rest assured that the
whole country will support the Govern
this demand effective. Let Mr.. Kruger
grant the Uitlanders full citizenship and
the whole question is ended. At pres
emit he only offers a note of hand for a
ridiculous sum, payable many years
hence in return for our immediate aban-
Comment of all the legal rights we now
possess for enforcing the payment Of
debts long overdue"
The Cape Town correspondent Of the
Times says: "At the close of the con-
ference Mr.. Kruger declared that he
was pleased at the friendly way in
which matters had been discussed and
hoped they would understand each 9TH
er better In the future
San Francisco Railway Company.
NEW YORK, June SIT was reported
to-day that an understanding had been
reached between the Northern Pacific,
the Pacific Coast Company and the Sc
attic and San Francisco Railway and
Navigation Company whereby the last
named will obtain an entrance into Sc
attic over the Northern Pacific line and
ten-mile line Of its own from Black
River Junction to Seattle.