The Portland daily press., 1899-10-11
AN ULTIMATUM.
TransvaaI situstion Reaches Very
Acute Crisis.

Acute Crisis.
Capetown, October le--Ths 1ransyaal
government sas sert an ultimatum to
Great Britain.
London, October i0-The Transyaal
ultimat am, which Is signed by Mr. +.
W. Reitz. seoretsyy of state, concludes
with the following demands:
First-That all points of mutual diffsr-
encs be regulated by friendly conrse or
arbitration or by whatever amicabls way
may be agreed npou by this government
and Her Majesty's government.
Second-That all troops on the borders
of this republic shall be instantly with
drawn.
1hird--That all reinforoements Of
troops which have arrived In South Afri-
ca sinoe June / 1s99, shall be removed
from South Africa within u reasonable
time TO be agEesd upon with this govsrn-
ment and with the mutual assurances
and guarantee on the part Of this gov
eminent that no attack upon or hostill-
ties against any portion Of the posses
sions of the British government shall be
made by this republic during the further
negotiations, within period of time to
be subsequently agreed upon between the
governments; and this government VIII,
on compliance Herewith, be- prepared to
withdraw TIA armed Burghers Of this re-
public from the borders.
Bourth--That Her Maiesty's troops
which are now on the high seas shall not
be landed In any part Of south Africa.
10 these demands Is appended the DELI
milton Of the time limit for reply;
This government presses for an imme-
diate and affirmative answer to these
four questions and earnestly requests
Her Majesty's government TO return an
answer before or upon Wednesday, Oo-
tober II, 1899, not later than o'clnck
p. IN.
IL desires further to add that In the un-
expected event OF an answer not satisfae-
tory being received by it within the inter
val, it will with great regret bs compelled
to regard the action of her Majesty s
government as u formal declaration oil
war and win not hold itself responsible
for the consequences thereof, and that In
the event of any further movement OF
treops occurring within the above mem
TONED time in nearer direction to our
borders.this government will be compelled
TO regard that also az formal declaya-
tion OF war.
/ have the honor to be. respectfully
yours,
II. w. REIIZ, State Secretary.
The following paragraph Immediately
preceded the four demands of the ultima
tum.
nHer Majesty'a unlawful intervention
In the internal affairs of this republic,
In conflict with the London convention
of 1894 with the extraordinary strength
| ening Of her troops In tho neighborhood
of the borders of this republic has caused
an intolerable condition of things tn
ariss, TO which this government feels Ii :
self obliged, In the interest not only OF
this republic but also of all South ART
ca, to make an end as soon as possib bile
and this government feels itsslf called
upon and Obliged to press earnestly and
with emphasis for the immediate teTIai.
nation of this state of things and to re-
qulre Her Majssty's government to give
| assurances upon the following four de-
mands.
London. October 10.--Lnts in the aftcr-
| noon the colonial office gave out the text
OF the following telegram, transmitted
by SirsAifred Miner, British high oom-
missioner In South Africa, TO the secretary
~ state Of the colonies, MIR. Chamberlain
and received at 4 As n. M, today:
"Sir-Ihe government OF tho South
African republic feels itself compelled
70 refer the government of lier Majesty.
Queen OF Great Britain and Ireland, once
more to the convention of London, 1884,
| concluded between this republic and the
United Kingdom, and which, In article
| IL, secures certain specified rights TO the
white population Of this republic. name