Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-08

PRETORIA, September AT the
desire of the Transyaal government
there has been transmitted through
Conyngham Greene, the British diplo-
matte agent here, to Sir Alfred Miner,
the British high commissioner of South
Africa, an inquiry as to whether an
explanation would be given in regard
to the mobilization of British troops on
the Transvaal frontier.
LONDON, September 7-If the
Transvaal situation has changed at all
since yesterday it is for the worse. The
Boer request for an explanation as TO
the massing of British troops on the
frontier of the Transyaal has an omin-
GUS note of irritation and Impotence,
which, at such critical stage, can
scarcely be interpreted as anything but
a defnance.
Both here and in Cape Colony the
tension and the arming continue.
Cape Town advices says the Afrikan-
ders regard the latest Boer reply as
evasive, while others regard it as de-
signed to entangle the two govern
ments in further negotiations. The
average opinion of the British press is
inclined to regard it as the straw which
would break the back of the most long
c,ffarino dinIOuatic canal
The second edition of The Morning
Post contains a special dispatch from
Pietermartizburg, capital of Natal, say
ing that an ultimatum would be for
warded to the Beers to-day. This is
this is scarcely credible, however, as
every well-informed source here be-
lieves that the cabinet will decide upon
the advisability of an ultimatum.
The same correspondent adds that
the Beers have received or will receive
a dispatch from Sir Alfred Miner, the
governor of Cape Colony and British
demanding the release of Mr.. Pakeman,
the editor OF the Transvaal Leader,
who was arrested September on the
charge of high treason.
The correspondent says eight hum
dred Beers have left Pretoria for Stan
derton and declares that the PETER
martizburg troops are ready to march
at two hours notice
In reply to the last dispatch of the
British government, the Transvaal
government on Saturday handed to the
British agent in Pretoria response,
of which the following is the pnrport:
"The government of the South Africa
republic regrets that Great Britain is
of the opinion that it is unable TO ac-
cept the proposals made by the Trans
vaal in the dispatches of August 10 and
August q, by which the term for OBJ
tanning the franchise was fixed at five
years, and the representation Of the
'Witwatersrand district was increased.
The government regrets this the more
inasmuch as it considered itself able
to deuce from the negotiations previous
to it's formal proposals that the latter
would be accepted by the British gov
eminent. In these conditions the
Transvaal considers its proposals are
annulled and finds it necessary to sub
NIT them to the volksraad and the peo-
pie. 1t remains of the opinion that
its proposals are very liberal and more
extensive than those presented by the
British high commissioner at Bloem-
fontein 1t is also Of the opinion that
the conditions attached to these pro-
posals are reasonable. The TransYaal
never desired Great Britain to aband-
on any rights possessed by virtue Of
the London convention Of 1854 or by
virtue Of international law The
Transvaal still hopes that these decIar-
atoms will lead to good understand
ing and solution Of the existing diff
ficulties."
The London edition OF The Standard
and Diggers News, the official Boer or
gan, to-day says: We can state that
the diplomatic correspondence between
the Transyaal and the colonial Office
is of a reassuring nature and that the
dispute has now narrowed TO an issue
which should make a settlement posi-
BILE and even speedy. The Transvaal
is prepared for all eyentualities, but
remains hopeful OF peaceful settle
ment"
The special correspondent OF The
Pail Mall Gazette at Cape Town in a
dispatch dated to-day says: 1t is
believed in Afrikander circles here
that the Transyaal intends forcing mat
tiers to sudden issue and that war
may possibly break out within -
hours 1t is supposed that the first act
on their part will be an advance on
Laings Neck fthe sole route from the
Transyaal TO Natal. 1t is also ramor-
ed that there is plot at Pretoria TO
simultaneously blow up the British
agency there.
NEW YORK. September THE
a. a