Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-12
MAY RESULT IN WAR

The failure of President Kruger and
Sir A. Miner to arrive at an under
standing regarding reforms in the
Transvaal republic, and the disposition
that is being manifested on both sides,
may result in war. Mr.. Chamberlain,
the British secretary of state for the
colonies is reported to be in favor of
aggressive action, but Lord Salisbury
and Mr.. Balfour are not disposed to re-
sort to extreme measures and probably
they represent conservative British sen-
timent. \ war between England and
the Transvaal republic would be
pretty serious affair, for the Beers are
well prepared for war and it is thought
that If conflict should occur they
would have more than the moral sup
port of the Congo Free State, whose
people generally are in hearty SYM
pathy with them. OF course England
would ultimately triumph, but the con-
tlict would be a costly one in men and
money, while it might bring about
other complications of very trouble
some nature. 1t is probable, therefore,
illtiI MI. NhIltil pOllIy VIII Ilob
be adopted at once and further efforts
will be made to reach an amicable un-
derstanding.
1t is possible that this can be at
tanned, for there are Beers who SYM
pathize with the demands of the Out
landers for reforms. General Joubert,
for example, the commander of the
Transvaal army, mas frankly stated
that he thinks the franchise laws ought
to be made more liberal. He would
admit Outlanders to citizenship after
two to four years residence, instead of
requiring further residence of seven
years, as President Kruger proposes.
There is said to be a considerable party
supporting the view of General Joubert
and it may grow. 1t is rather to be eX-
pected however, that Nruger's fran
chise proposals will be adopted by the
Transvaal congress and if SO it may
precipitate a conflict. The franchise
question is the chief one and if that
should be settled as the Outlanders de-
sire the other reforms would follow. A
large majority of the Beers, however,
regard the requirement of a further res
idence of seven years as not unreason-
able and it is highly PROBABLE that will
be insisted upon. That would mean
that for at least seven more years the
Outlanders would get no relief from
the conditions Of which they complain,
unless the Boer government should be
forced by England to make the reforms
asked for, or, what is more likely
should overthrow that government and
make the Transvaal republic a part of
the British empire.
| According to London advices there
| was no ground for the report that the
| United States had been or would be
asked to mediate. An official of the
British foreign Office stated that it was
very unlikely this country would be
asked to do anything of the kind and
there is no probability that our govern
ment will tender it's good offices as me-
| diator. 1t could not do so with pro-
priety, for the reason that the Trans
vaal republic is not in the fill ceIlse
an Independent state, since no treaty 1t
makes is valid without the approval,
express or implied, of the British gov
ernment Consequently the British
| government would decline mediation as
it rejected the proposal of arbitration,
! because it would imply recognition
of the Transvaal republic as having an
! equal standing with the British empire
as an independent state.