Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-22
FREE STATE RAAp IN SESSION.
support of Trnnsvnnl-steyn Says
"No Warrant for War"

mo huTFunt toF war
BLOH1ITONTEIN. ORANGE FREE
STATE. September A.-The Volksraad
met to-day with a full attendance. Pres
ident steyn read carefuly-prepared
speech. After welcoming the burghers,
he expressed regret that the relations be-
tween Great Britain and the Transvaal
had become strained. The members, he
said, were aware Of the meeting Of Sir
Alfred Miner and President Kruger at
BlOemfontein. when President Kruger
made proposals which, although refused
by the British High Commissioner, were
unanimously considered throughout the
Orange Free State TO be exceedingly fair.
Proceeding 10 review the negotiations,
President Steyn said the Transvaal had
been decoyed by the British diplomatic
agent at Pretoria, C0nyngham Greene,
and he practically accused the Imperial
Government of a breach of faith. He said
ne was disinclned To advise the Trans
vaal Government to accept the latest Bri-
fish demands The present critical state
OF affairs could not be a matter of in
difference 10 the Orange Free State,
which was bound by treaty TO afford as
sistance TO the Transvaal, and he had
therefore convened tie N0lksraad TO de-
eide what attitude should be taken.
NOTHING 10 WARRANT WAR.
"There is nothing" declared the Presl-
dent. that variants war. or an attack
upon the Transvaal Such differences as
exist can be solved by arbitration. War
would be an insult to religion and clyili-
XatiOn."
In conclusion, President Steyn said he
would take this opportunity of laying GER
tain draft laws before the Volksraad, for
consideration, praying God to give the
members strength to pass resolutions not
only conducive to peace and prosperity.
but also in the interests Of their beloved
State.
Immediately after the speech President
eteyn asked the Volksraad to go into Sc
cret session. which was agreed to unani-
mously.
BOER ARMY READY.
LONDON, September 2l.-The London
edition OF the Standard and Diggers'
News. OF johannesburg. gave out a cable
dispatch to-day, purportng TO be from
johannesburg. saying that the returns
from the field comets of the Transvaal
and Orange Free State show that 5000
burghers are ready TO take the field at
short notice.
Reuters Telegraph Company announced
this evening that no message had been
received by Queen Victoria from Presi-
dent Kruger.
AFRIKANDER APPEAL TO KRUGER.
CAPE TOWN. SEPTEMBER 2a-Delayed
I'm AT a meeting OF ina
Afrikander members Of Parliament to-
day, Mr.. Neethling presiding. the follow
Ing telegram was dispatched to President
Kruger:
1--WE. Afrlkandtr members of Parlia-
ment, thoroughly sympathiZe with our
Afrikander relatives in their troubles.
While approaching the concessions al
ready made In the interests of peace,
we beg TO urge the eXpedency Of doing
the utmost, short OF sacrificing indepen-
dence to avert the horrors of war.
While agreeing that the joint inquiry
proposed by Mr.. Chamberlain cannot be
asked as a matter OF right. we believe
such a commission will provide way
out OF the difficulties which are fast APP
preaching a crisis. with results which
might prove fatal. not only to the Trans
yaal and our Free State brethren, but
also 10 the Afrikander party Of Cape
Colony. In the presence of Immediate
danger, and the momentous issues await
ing tho decision Of your honor, the Tx
ecutive and the VOlksraad. even the
risk OF being misunderstood is OF minor
Importance. We beg your hOnor 10 lay
these words, only dictated by a keen
sense of our common interests and risks,
privately before the Executive and the
Nolksraad."
KRUGFR'S REPLY.
To this message, which was signed by
ffty-three members OF Parliament Presi-
dent Kruger made the following reply:
Il wish you and other sympathizers
would notice. as you have doubtless al
ready seen by tho reply Of the Imperial
Government, that we have. according 10
your desire, considered the matter, and
accepted the invitation 20 a joint com
mission. Why the acceptance was delay
ed Is shown by the dispatch published. /
wish 10 thank you and other friends once
more from my heart. for the manner in
which you have aided our efforts FOR a
PACING and satisfactory solution. Finally.
express the hope that your work and
ours Viii not be fruitless"
me meeting also adopted q resolution
70 the effect that II had heard with salts
iaeuon that the Executive OF the Trans
vaei had accepted the invitation 10 a
JOINT inquiry. and trusted the acceptance
~ouio render an outbreak Of hostilities
practically impossible.
WILL THERE BE WAR?
LONDON, September n.-The sneeoh q,
Or william Vernon Harcourt. the former
f~eS1ai leader, 70 his constituants q. -,