Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-08-24
WAR SEEMS TO Be
THE ONLY RECOURSE
Transvaaps Reply to England prac-
ticalIy a Refusal Of the Brit
ish Proposal.
CRISIS MAY COME QUICKLY NOW
Unless Beers Back Down squarcly,
Which Is Not Probable, Great
Britain Will Put Troops
in Motion.

London, Aug. 2s.-The colonial Office
confirms the dispatch from Cape
Town that the Transvaal has handed
a reply to the British agents at Pre-
toria, and will add only this:
The reply is not complete accept
ance of the British proposals.
There is no longer any doubt that
President Krueger has refused to SUBJ
NIT to the demand of Mr.. Chambers
lain for the appointment OF II court of
inquiry. He may have done so diplo-
maticalN or hedgingly. But that his
answer is regarded by the British gov
eminent as tantamount to positive re-
fusal is now an established fact. The
colonial Office is noncommittal, but
there are other evidences which amply
verify this opinion. The report that
Kruger proposed new terms
is somewhat verified by the guarded
comment of the colonial office officials
and the irritability displayed there.
There is not the slightest doubt that
they now believe war is the only way
to settle the controversy. They would
swer than the tcmporizing answer
which the Boer president has sent.
With the former Great Britain would
have plain grounds for a quick conn
mencement of hostlities. Under the
circumstances which it is believed now
exist, aggressive action needs consid-
cradle explanation to Justify it i'll the
eyes of the world and the English
minority, who still declare that war
would be an outrage. However, if MIR.
Chamberlain has his way. it is believed
President Krueger's counter proposals
will meet with scallt attention, and
unless the Beers completely back
down, which is not likely, the crisis
will quickly develop into war. 1T has
developed that the wan Office has been
aware of the nature of the Transvaal
governments answer for several days,
and it was communicated to the war
Office, hence it is probable that Great
Britain will delay the denonement as
little as possible.
A high colonial official expressed to
a representative of the Associated
Press his disgust at what he termed
"Krueger's cupidity and Hypocrisy
He said: "The kind of game which
Krucger is playing must be clear to
fAiISiiN"l'S. 11iS I'ic'N'7''''' -
Beers that they wish to live a quiet,
agricultural life may be true of the
native element, but the gang in Preto-
ria is simply after money. Though
President Krneger says many harsh
things of the uitlanders, he never hcsi-
tated TO make money out of them,
either by fair or foul means.
"This Transvaal question cannot be
judged by recent occurrences. You
must go back fifty years. 1t has been
hanging fire all that time, and the
sooner it is settled now the better.
Though the official did not actually
say so, it was clear that he believed
war the only method of settlement.
ment.
1t is learned that the government is
somewhat annoyed at the pnblic's
slight interest in the 1'rnnsvaal.
A special dispatch from Cape Town
says there is now danger of an out
break of violence on the frontier and
that the scum OF South Africa are en-.
listing throughout the colony and are
being sent to Pitsanti and Jameson, ON
the border.