The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-14
BOERS AT A CRITICAL TURN.
ALL-DAY CoNFEREvCE ON REPLY TO
NE MADE TO BRfTISH DEMANDS

Practical UItlmatum with a Demand for n
Prompt RepIy-Kruger Seeking Advice |
of the Orange Free stnte-Boers Again
Irritnted by MIR. Chambsrlain's note. |
Special Catie D,ipatchti to THE suS.
PRETORIA. Sept 13-Evening-With some
short intervals. the Executive Council has
been engaged the whole day in considering a
reply to Mr.. Chamberlain's note. Nothing re-
liable is known concerning the decision
reached by the council.
kilograms havo been constantly passing be-
tween President KRUGER and President Steyn.
OF the Orange Free State. 1t ia understood
that the latter REPUBLICS Vows will largely in.
huence the result ofthe councils deliberations.
The ubc Is in great suspense.
BRUSSELS. Sept. 13-The Legation OF the
South African Republic hero has received a
copy Of Colonial Secretary Chamberlain's des-
patch. replying to the proposals OF the Trans
walls Government. made on Sept. 2 Mr..
Cham beriain says Great Britain understands
that the Transvaal proposals OF Aug. 10. for
five years retroactive franchise and an In
creased representation In the Volksraad from
tho gold fields. are now withdrawn because
Great Brltain's repy regarding future inter-
vent on ard suzerainty is not acceptable.
Great Britain absolutely rejects all the Boer
proposals maze on tne assumption tnhI tne
| Transvaal Is a sovereign international State.
Her Majesty's Government" the despatch
| says. has absolutely repudiated this view OF
| the political status OF the Transvaal taken by
| the Transvaal Government in the notes OF
| April 10 and May .. claiming the status OF
sovereign international State The Government
| therefore Ia unable to consider any proposal
| made conditionally on the acceptance OF this
| view"
| Great Britain. the note further says. Is COM
PEELED to regard the last Transvaal proposal ms
| not acceptable in the form presented. Great
Britain Is prepared to accept the Transvaal
offers OF Aug. 10 II taken by themselves. pro-
vided the inquiry which Great Britain pro-
posed. whether joint or one-sided. shows that
| the scheme Ia not encumb ered with conditions
which would nullify the intention to give SUBJ
stantial and imm edate representation to the
| Uitlanders.
Great Britain assumes that the new mem
| pers OF the Voksraad will be permitted to use
| their own language. The acceptance OF these
terms would INN edately remove the tension
and probably render unnecessary any further
Intervention by Great Britain to secure the re-
dress Of their grievances. which the uitlanders
would then be able to bring to the notice OF the
| Executive Council and the Volksraad.
Great Britain presses for an immediate and
definite reply. II the present proposals are
accepted Great Britain is ready to arrange for
a conference between the President OF the
Transvaal and the British Commissioner to
settle the details Of the proposed tribunal OF
| arbitration.
If, however" the despatch concludes. ''as
they most anxiousy hope 1t will not. the reply
OF the Transvaal should DO in the negative or
not conclusive. / am authorized to state that
| Her Majesty's Government must reserve to
themselves the right to reconsider the situation
dc novo and formulate their own proposals for
a final settlement
LONDON. Sept. 13.-The Colonial Offices de-
NAL OF the accuracy OF published sum airy OF
Great Britains note to the Transvaal did not
refer to the version received here from the
Transvaal Legation In Brussels. which. 1t is
admitted is correct. 1t Is reported that the
note demands reply within forty eight hours.
The Cape Town correspondent OF the Daily
Ne,rs says that Mr.. Cham be ran's despatch
has greatly irritated the Beers in the Rand.
while. on the other hand. it 10 regarded in
Bloemfontein as conciliatory though firm.
CAPE Town. Sent. 13.-The Cape Times pub
fishes a telegram from Pretoria saying that
Mr.. Chamberlain note is regarded rs having
made the situation more acute. Members OF
the voksraad say the British proposals are
wholly unacceptable. They consider the posi-
ton hopeless. and are leaving Pretoria to pre-
pare for emergencies.
Other correspondents. however. do not con
firm the statements OF the Cape Times's cor
respondent.
LONDON. Sept. IA despatch to the Chron-
icle from Cape Town says that the Liber-
ais. while censuring Mr.. Cham ber!ain .
diplomacy and protesting against the
idea Of war. are not prepared to support
the Transvaal In the matter OF throwing
of British suZerainty. They advise the Beers
| 20 priti tnto IN
In Bloemfontein are giving the same advice,
hut it Ia generally doubted that the Transvaal
will consent.
tion Of time limit in his note to the Trans
wal it Ia rumored that Mr. Conyngham Greene.
the British Agent at Pretoria. In presen tin z
1t. requested that reply be m AIDE In forty
eight hours.
A despatch to tho Times from Pretoria. dated
yesterday. says that Mr.. Greene, the British
Agent. expressed to the Transveal Govern
ment the willingness OF Great Britain to extend
the time for an answer 70 the British note.
for reasonable promptness in order to end the