The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-22
EVERYTHING is READY
BUT THEY FORGET THE ORANGE
FREE STATE.
ENGLAND WILL HAVE TO FIGHT HER
Therefore the War Estimates Based Upon
This States Remaining Neutral
are Much too Small Pres,
SteYn's Speech.

London, Sept 21.-While the precise
result of the secret session of the Raad
of the Orange Free State is not yet
known here, President Steyn's speech
at the opening of the session is re-
garded as an almost imallible indication
of the attitude which the Free State
will take. Commenting from this point
of view, the London morning papers are
all impressed with the added gravity
of the situation, anu murmurs are be-
ginning to be heard regarding the dila-
toriness of the Government in getting
troops forward.
Military men are said to be impatient.
They assert that everything is ready
and that they are only waiting for or
ders.
1T is recognized that the attitude of
the Orange Free State makes the origi-
nal estimates based upon Dutch neu-
trality to small. Evidently much
larger force will be required.
The Government is faced with some
thing like a dilema The leader of the
opposition has publicly denounced the
precipitancy of the Colonial Office in
forcing Il conflict. Therefore, Ministers
are disinclined to conyoke Parliament.
If, ON the other hand, so large an eX-
penditlue as the apparent attitude of
the Orange Free State would involve
should become necessary, the Govern
ment will be obliged to summon Parlia-
ment in order to get adequate supplies.
1t is understood that the money ques-
tion accounts for the dribbling manner
in which the troops are being forward
ed.
German military experts, realizing the
seriousness of the campaign before Great
Britain, are commenting with astonish
ment upon the fact that England is SO
behind hand in her preparations. In
Berlin it is also believed that Dr. LeydS
is acting as President Kruger's evil
genius and misleading him by reports
that he is likely to get sympathy if
not assistance from some of the Euro
pean powers.
No member of the Cape Cabinet was
present at the meeting OF the Afrikander
members of the Cape Parliament yester-
day.
A dispatch from Pretoria announces
that arms continue to be served to the
Burghers
BOUND TO ASSIST TRANSVAAI4.
Bloemfontein, Orange Free State,
Sept. 21.-The Volksraad met today
with full attendance. President Steyn
read Il carefully prepared speech. After
welcoming the burghers, he expressed
regret that the relations between Great
Britain and the Transvaal had become
strained. The members, he said. were
aware Of the meeting of Sir Alfred Mil
ner and President Kruger at Bloemfon-
tein, when President Kruger made pro-
posals which, although refused by the
British High Commissioner, were unani-
mously considered throughout the
Orange Free State to be exceedingly
fair.
Proceeding to review the negotiations,
President Steyn said the Transvaal had
been decoyed by the British diplomatic
agent at Pretoria, Conyingham Greene,
and he practically accused the Imperial
Government of a breach of faith. He
said he was diSinclined to advise the
Transvaal Government to accept the
latest British demand. The present criti-
cal state of affairs could not be mat
ter Of Indifference to the Orange Free
State, which was bound by treaty to
afford assistance to the Transvaal and
he had therefore convened the Volksraad
to decide what attitude should be taken.
''There is nothing" declared the
President, that warrants war or an
attack upon the Transvaal. Such differ
ences as exist can be solved by arbitra-
ton. War would be an insult to religion
and civilization
In conclusion President Steyn said he
would take this opportunity of laying
certain draft laws before the VOlksraad
for consideration, praying God to give
them strength to pass resolutions not
only conducive to peace and prosperity,
but also in the interest of their beloved
State.
Immediately after the speech President
Steyn asked the Volksraad to go into
secret session, which was agreed to
unanimously.
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