The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-09-20
REPLY OF KRUGER.
D1plomatically, Raades Blunt An
swers and Parties Proposals

Pretoria, Sept. II The reply Of
the government of the South African
Republic to the latest dispatch, dated
Sept. II. of the British secretary OF
state for the colonies, Joseph Cham
berlain. after acknowledging the re
ceipt of the British note, proceeds in
part as follows
s.The government deeply regrets
the withdrawal, as the government
understands it, of the invitation con-
tained in the British dispatch of
August % and the substitution, in
place thereof, of an entirely new pro.
posal.
..Tbe proposals. now fallen through,
contained in the Ttansvaal dispatches
of August 10 and August 81 were
elected from this government by
suggestions made by the British
diplomatic agent in Pretoria (Conyng
ham Greene to the Trausvasl state
secretary e. W. ReitSl. suggestions
which this government acteo upon IN
good faith and after specially ascer
tanning whether they would be likely
to prove acceptable to raise again
Deedlessly. the question of its politi-
cal status, but acted with the sole
object of endeavoring, by the aid of
the local British agent, to pus an end
pthe strained condition of affairs.
e.This was done in the shape of a
proposal. which this government
deems, both as regards It's spiri: and
form, to be so worded as, relying
upon intimaticns to this government,
would satisfy her majesty's govern
ment. This government saw diff
Guilty as to the acceptance of those
proposals by the people and legisla-
sion of the Transvaal and also con
tenpIated possible dangers connected
therewi.h, but risked making them
on accent of sincere desire to
secure peace, and because assured By
Mr. chamberlain that sucn proposals
would not be deemed a refusal of his
proposals, but would be settled On
their merits
Gas regards the joint commission,
the TSansvaal adheres to the accept
ance of the invitation thereunto
given by her majesty's government
and cannot understand why such
commission, which before was deem
ed necessary to explain the compli-
Gated details of the seven years law,
should now be deemed unnecessary,
and why it should now, without much
inquiry, be thought possible to de
clare this law inadequate.
esFurther. there must be misap
prehension if it be assumed that this
government was prepared to lay
proposals for five years franchise
and quarter representation of the
new population before the Volksraad
for unconditional acceptance. As to
the language, this government never
made any offer such as Is referred
to, considering, as it Gid, such a
measure both unnecessary and unde-
sirable
"The proposed conference, as dis
tincs from the join. commission of
inquiry. this government is likewise
not unwilling to enter upon. but the
difficulty is that an acceptance there,
of is made dependent upon the
acceptance. on the SIDE of the
.Transvaai. of precedent conditions
which this government does not feel
at liberty to submit to the Volks
raad /; and, moreover, the subjects to
be discussed at the conference remain
underlined
.sThis government ardently desires
and gladly accepts arbitration, as
It's firm intention is to adhere to
the terms of the London convention
of 1884
The dispatch concludes by trusting
Kat the British government, on re-
consideration, may not deem it fit to
make more onerous or new propos
al for joint commission of inquiry,
as previously explained by the secre-
ta.y of state for the colonies to the
imperial government"