Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-09-14


PRESIDENT KRUGER WILL AC-
CEPT THE BRITISH PROPOSE
TIONS TO RELIEVE THE PRES
ENT TENSION-A FEELING IN
SOUTH AFRICA THAT WAR IS
INEVITABLE.
LONDON, September ia repre-
sentative OF the Associated Press learn
ed to-day that the British message to
the Transvaal does not demand reply
in As hours, the exact wording being a
request for an immediate reply" The
message is not an ultimatum in the
generally accepted sense of the word.
1t expresses the hope that President
Kruger will accept the propositions 10
relieve the present tension. The only
part which is at all aggressive is the
reiterated declination of the matter of
sovereignty in any shape or form.
The message of Mr.. Chamberlain says
he understands the concessions made
in President Kruger's note of August
IS have been withdrawn on account of
the British attitude regarding suzer-
ainty, and adds Her majesty's govern
ment have absolutely repudiated the
view of the political status of the
Transvaal taken by the Transyaal gov
eminent, claiming the status of SOW
ereign State, and, therefore, are unable
do
tionally on their acceptance of this
view"
Continuing, the note says the British
government is satisfied that the law
embodying the proposed alleviating
measures for Outlanders is inefficient
TO secure immediate and substantial
representation, which, it is understood,
the Transvaal admits to be reasonable.
1t then says:
Moreover the presentation of the
proposals in the note of August 10 indi-
Gates that the government of the South
African republic themselves recognized
that their previous offers might with
advantage be enlarged and the indie
pendence of the republic thereby in no
way be impaired"
The dispatch then goes on to say
that Great Britain is still prepared to
accept the franchise proposals of Au-
gust 10, provided a court of inquiry,
whether joint or unilateral, shows the
new scheme to be unencumbered by
nullifying conditions. In this connec-
ton the British government assumes
that the new members of the raad will
be allowed to speak their own lam
guage, and adds that the acceptance
of these terms would at once remove
the tension, and would, in all probable
ity, render unnecessary any further
intervention of her majesty's govern
ment to secure redress for grievances
which the Uitlanders themselves would
be able to bring to the notice of the
executive council and volksraad Her
majesty's government is increasingly
impressed with the danger of further
delay in relieving the strain which has
already caused so much injury to the
interests of South Africa, and they
earnestly press for an immediate reply
to the present proposal. If acceded
to they will be ready TO make immedi-
ate arrangements for a further confer
ence between the President and the
high commissioner to settle all details
of the proposed tribunal of arbitration
and the questions referred to in my
note of August So which are neither
uitlander grievances nor questions of
the Interpretation of the convention,
but which might be readily settled by
friendly communication between repre-
sentatives of the two governments. If,
however, as they most anxiously hope
will not be the case, the reply of the
Transvaal should be negative of con
elusive, | am to state that her males
tvs government must reserve to them
selves the right to consider the situa-
ton de novo and formulate their own
proposals for a final settlement
The exact franchise proposals which
Mr.. Chamberlain says Great Britain is
still prepared to accept with the court
of inquiry proviso are five years fran
chise, share for outlanders in the
election of the president and equal
Fights and increased representation for
the gold fields to the extent of eight
new seats. These were presented by
President Kruger August 10, and later
were withdrawn.
The British officials refuse to deny
or confirm the correctness of the lat
est Pretoria dispatches, saying the
British terms are fve-years' fran
chise, a quarter representation for the
gold fields in the Volksraad, and equal
ity for the old and new burghers in
regard to Presidential and other cleo
TONS
A dispatch to the Pail Mall Gazette
from Cape Town SAYS the British re-
ply is regarded as equivalent TO an Ill
tipatum and the correspondents adj
vices from Pretoria indicate that war
is inevitable
A Pretoria special to the Cape Times
says the Transvaal has notified the
miners of Italy that it will give them
a safe conduct and protection in case
they wish to remain in the Trans
wall
The report that the Rand Irishmen
have formed a corps to help President
Kruger is con firuspd. and II ic cold Of