The San Francisco call., 1899-10-08

Great Britain ana ILlc L eIiiSF ele'A'
IL This seems almost paradoNical in
conjunction with the fact that the British
Diplomatic agent, COnyngham Greene sun
remains at Pretoria, and the further TACT
that the negotiations continue.
A solution of this apparent paradox
probably lies in an understanding OF the
curious relations between the two Gov
ernments. Great Britain is not likely 10
make a formal declaration Of war against
what she considers a dependent nation,
the process being a mere issue Of orders
TO a military force to restore the state or
sovereignty which she alleges originally
existed We're England similarly at log
gerheads with a power recognized oy her
as equal, pride and precedent would some
time ago have compelled her 10 Dreak on
dlulOmatic intercourse. It is this legend
of suzeraiuty that enables her to palaver
without loss Of self-respect, and at the
same time to run a good chance OF plac-
Ing the onus Of beginning hostiites upon
the Beers. or, failing in that, to delay ac-
ton until she has in the field sufficient
force to overrun the TransvaaL
This is the only ground on which 1t is
possible to reconcile the Government s
massive reception Of palpably hostile acts
ON the part OF the Beers, for 1t IS now
tupossible to believe that the Transvaal
forces are massing merely for defensive
rurposes. Thus war appears to be the
only possible outcome. II the Beers are
determined to participate In the conflict,
hostilities are only a question Of days. If
England is allowed to take her own time,
then two months may elapse before the
first blow is struck
Though the week has produced no ne
go+iations tending to throw light upon the
merits Of the case, 1t is evident that ne
go+iatjons had not ceased so far as diplo-
matte correspondence is concerned
The NTH Of the whole dispute, however,
Is daily becoming clearer. The Boers are
thoroughly convinced that thelr freedom
is uenaced and England is convinced that
her supremacy in South Africa is threat
ened. This constitutes an impasse
against which pacific measures can
scarcely be effective.
AS the possibility Of war increases Brit
lsh conjecture as to the unfriendly att-
tude Of other European powers increases
Reference is frequently made to probable
Russian aggression in Asia; while 1t Is
thought that France. in the event Of hos
tilities, is sure TO become active n North
ern Africa Interference at the seat OF
war itself is not contemplated; Tor the
apples which France and Russia wish to
pick do not grow in South Africa Dela-
goa Bay is naturally closely watched IN
this connection. The German press is
making capital out Of the report that
Great Britain is sacrificing her friendship
with the United States in the Samoan af-
fair in order to gain Germany s support IN
the settlement at Delagoa Bay.
It seems certain that an entirely new
plan Of government is being considered by
the European powers Interested in Samoa,
but the Associated Press is able to assert
authoritatively that such negotiations gill
in no way result disadvantageously or
the United States; nor IS there any truth
IN the iusinuaton that the attitude Of the
British Foreign Office toward Washington
has been altered by Great Britain's de-
sire to secure Germany's cooperation at
DclagOa Bay
An American diplomatist, discussing
the matter to-day, said: Germany is
too desirous Of maintaining our friend-
ship TO play such a see-saw game as
that"
The Speaker says: There is a painfully
Instructive analogy TO be drawn between
the present state Of public feeling in Eng
land and the temper of the Americans
just before the war with Spain. In both
cases a mass of vague humanitarian sem
Ument and genuine hatred of oppression.
though imperfectly informed as to facts
IS vagarized by the avowedly military
party, jockeyed by the stock brokine
fraternity, maddened by the yellow press
and expected to do its duty by Rudyard
Kipling.'
Many officers believe that President
Kruger's recent seizure Of gold is an act
of war, or is at least justifable only or
the theory that a state of war existe
The London manager Of the bank of In,
South African repubuc-the institutior
whose specie was commandeered- -tol,o,
this view. He said to-day: II do not con,
slider the seizure Of great significance anf
! scarcely blame President Kruger If ht
believes his country is threatened, I d(
not expect any more gold to come ON