The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-08
BOERS READY nor WAR
Exciting Session Of the First Rad
at Pretoria.
PRESIDENT KRUGER DEFIANT.

"what Mr.. Chamberlain Desires Is
Possession or the Transvaal" - A
Strong Force OF Boer Troops Com
centrating on the Border.
Pretoria, Sept. S.-There was great
excitement in the first raad yesterday
on Mr. Coetser's Interpolation of the
government regarding the presence Of
British troops on the borders and the
stoppage OF ammunition consigned to
the Transvaal.
President Kruger, the members of
the executive council, and most of the
principal officials were present, to-
gether with large representation Of
the general public. including many la
dies.
At the outset the chairman and
president urged members to preserve
calmness and to avoid insulting Ian
guage.
The state secretary, F. w. Belts, said
he had called the previous day on the
British diplomatic agent, Mr.. Conyng-
ham Greene. and had asked him what
reply the government could give in the
volksraad regarding the alleged mass
ing of British troops on the borders,
and whether Mr.. Greene would COM
municate with the British high COM
missioner, Sir Alfred Miner. The re-
ply from Mr.. Greene, he continued,
was in the following terms:
Dear Mr.. Belts: The following is
Sir Alfred Miners reply to the tele-
gram which l sent him at your. re-
quest: L don't know to what Mr..
Belts refers when he alludes to the
massing of troops. This must be the
British troops in South Africa, the po-
sition and numbers of which are no
secret, but it is matter of common
knowledge that they are here in order
to protect British interests and to
make provision against eventualities. I"
Mr.. Coetser and other members then
made violent speeches, declaring that
they could not understand Sir Alfred
Miners reply. since the Transvaal had
never threatened the English colonies.
at Is time" exclaimed Mr.. Coetser,
"for the Transyaal also to prepare for
evcntualities.'
One member said: "England's act
ton is like putting a revolver into a
mans face"
Another concluded warlike har-
angue in this strain: at is time to
send out burghers to the borders to
ask these troops what they want. The
fire is bound to start. So let them light
it and allow it to burn out quickly
War is better that the present state Of
affairs. Business is ruined and the
&c, flru q
bellain is trying to ruin the country"
Mir. Tosen, who declared that Sir
Alfred Miners reply was tantamount
to a declaration of war, read tele-
Cram from the field cornet of the
pietreticf district, stating that the peo-
pie there would rise in rebellion II
President Kruger went to another con-
ference.
The chairman called Mr. Tosen to
order for saying that the Jameson raid
ers ought to have been hanged.
President Kruger, rising, said: 1.-THE
aliens have been offered equal rights
with the burghers, but have refused
them. Mr.. Chamberlain is striving to
get the franchise, which the outlanders
do not want. but what he really de-
sires is possession of the Transvaal.
The burghers are willing to concede
much for the sake of peace, but will
never sacrifice their independence"
After eulogizing Mr. GladstOne's ac-
ton of retl-cession in 1881 as a noble
deed President Kruger said that if it
now came to fighting the Almighty
would be the arbiter. He urged the
members OF the raad to show mOdera-
ton, reminding them that the reply
from Mr. Chamberlain was en- route,
and pointing out that if the proposal
for commission were agreed to the
republic would send delegates to fur
lhcr discuss matters and if possible to
make peace.
The speeches following the presi-
dents were more moderate in tone and
the raad rose without passing any reso-
lutipn