The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-08
IS PLAYING FOR time
No Formal Declaration of War
Will Be Made.
DEPENDS UPON THE Beers
{ War May Begin at ANY Moment-It APP
pears to Be the Only Possible
Outcome-Samoa AZ
fairs Again.
Copyrighted 1899 by Associated Press.

Y ports from South Africa, a state of war
s, practically exists between Great Britain
and the Transvaal This seems almost
paradoxical in conjunction with the
tact that the British diplomatic agent,
sConyngham Greene, still remains at
Pretoria. and the further fact that the
negotiations continue.
A solution of this apparent paradox
probably lies in an understanding OF
the curious relations between the two
governments. Great Britain is not like
3y to make a formal declaration of war
against what she considers a dependent
NATION, the process being mere issue
OF orders to the military forces to re-
store the state of sovereignty which she
Ralleges originally existed, Were Eng
Aand similarly at loggerheads with a
kpower recognized by her as her equal,
tpride and precedent would some time
sago have compelled her to break Off
diplomatic negotiations. 1t is this le
'gend OF suZerainty that enables her to
tpalaver without loss of self-respect and,
at the same time. to run a good chance
of placing the onus Of beginning hostili
Mites upon the Beers, or, failing in that.
Ito delay action until she had mobilized
n sufficient force to overrun the Trans
tSaal.
This is the only ground upon which
Hdt is possible to reconcile the govern
anents passive reception of palpably
Fahostile acts on the part of the Boers,
.Sor 1T Is now improbable to believe that
the Transvaa1 forces are massing mere
ay for defensive purposes. Thus war
appears to be the only possible outcome.
lf the Beers are determined to partici-
pate in the conflict hostilities are only
a question of days If England is al
lowed to take her own time then two
months may elapse before the first blow
1S struck.
Though the week has produced no
rnpPOtia tiOnS tending IN liyhf
upon the merits of the case, it is evil
dent that negotiations have not ceased
so far as diplomatic correspondence is
concerned. The pith of the whole dis
pute, however, is daily becoming clear
" er. The Beers are thoroughly convinc-
ed that their freedom is menaced, and
England is convinced that her Suprem-
acy in South Africa is threatened This
constitutes an impasse against which
pacific measures can scarcely be ef-
Y fective.
AS the possibility of war increases,
British conjecture as to the unfriendly
attitude of other European powers in
creases. Reference is frequently made
to probable Russian aggression in, Asia;
while it is thought that France, in the
event of hostilities, is sure to become
active in Northern Africa. Interference
at the seat of war itself is not contem-
plated; for the apples which France
and Russia wish to pick do not grow
in South Africa. Delagoa bay is nat
urally closely watched in this connec-
ton. The German press is making
capital out of the report that Great
Britain is sacrificing her friendship
with the United States in the Samoan
affair in order to gain Germany's sup
port in the settlement at Delagoa
bay.
1t seems certain that an entirely new
plan of government is being considered
nv the EynrpnPan Interested i'm
Samoa, but the associated press is able
to assert authoritatively that such
negotiations will in no way result dis
advantageously for the United States,
nor is there any truth in the insinua-
ton that the attitude of the British
foreign office toward Washington has
been altered by Great Britain's desire
to secure Germany'S cooperation at
Delagoa bay. An American diplomat
list. discussing the matter to-day,
said:
Germany is too DESTROYS of maintain
ing our friendship to play such see
saw game as that"
The Speaker says: There is pain
fully instructive analogy to be drawn
between the present state Of public
feeling in England and the temper of
the Americans just before the war
with Spain. In both cases a mass of
vague humanitarian sentiment and
genuine hatred of oppression, though
tmperfectly informed as to facts, is
ragarized by the favowedly military
party. Jockeyed by the stock broking
fraternity, maddened by the yellow
press and expected to dc its duty by
Rudyard kipling.
Many officers believe that President
tKruger's recent seizure of gold is an
act of war, or is at least justifiable
only on the theory that state of war
exists. The London manager of the
y Rank Of the SOnth African Rpnnhlip--
1.-The institution whose specie was COM
'mandeersd-takes this view. He said
to the representative of the associated
press to-day:
Il do not consider the seizure of
great significance and l can scarcely
blame President Kruger if he believes
his country is threatened. | do not
expect any more gold to come out of
the Transvaal until the crisis is ended
The government is much criticised by
many of the papers of their own follow
ing, as we'll as by the military assem-
biies, for hardness in sending out the
army corps, some going so far as TO say
that If Majuba Hill repeats itself, Lord
Salisbury will have only himself 10
blame. The admiralty is also coming
IN for a share of criticism over the
length of time required to get trans
ports. Incompetence and bungling are
alleged Lieutenant Colwell, United
States naval attache in London. when
asked regarding this charge, said:
II believe that the admiralty has done
splendidly, fully maintaining the repu-
tation of the British navy. 1 am fairly
acquainted with the details of the pres
ent operations and I believe they are
a proof of the great advantage to he
gained by having the navy control the
transportation of troops"
The laying of the foundation stone OF
the monument to Charles Stewart Par
nell will take place tomorrow in Dub
lin after the proposal of the following
resolutions:
LAS the first public work of Parnel
was a noble and memorable effort in
parliament to sustain the freedom anG
independence of the South African re
public, we deem this a fitting occasion
10 declare our complete sympathy with
that gallant state and to express .he
fervent hope that, if war is forced
upon it by England it may be able tc
60 -. L. sa.i