The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-29

! 1t Has by No Means Lessened Among
Those Who Are in Position
That Permits of Expressing Opin-
iOns-President kruger and Gen
JOubert Are Defiant-Some Excit-
ing Debate in Cape Assembly.
LONDON. Aug. 2s-The Cape Town
correspondent of the Daily Chronicle
says:
British troops will be Immediately
concentrated at Laings neck and Mako
fing, and it is believed the British pro-
gramme will be to surround the Trans
vaal and then to negotiate new conven-
ton"
According to the Daily Mails Cape
Town correspondent the belief is still en-
tertained there that the British govern
ment is opposed to extreme measures.
and it Is said that President Kruger is
so well aware of this that he has just
cabled countermanding conditional orders
for large military supplies
Although not definitely known, 1t is as
sumed here in London that Mr. Chamber
lain had the reply of the Transvaal gov
eminent before he delivered the Birring-
ham speech. 1t is also believed that on
the receipt of President Krugers offer Of
a fve-year franchise, and other conces-
sions, Mr.. Chamberlain wired that they
were unacceptable and suggested mOdif-
cations. If this be so. and if the reply
to that suggestion-that the Transyaal
government adheres to it's latest offer and
will make no further concessions-be
President Kruger's final answer, the posi-
ton is ominous.
BOERS WOULD FIGHT.
PRETORIA, Aug 2S.-The reports of
Joseph Chamberlain's speech at Birming-
ham last Friday have been received here.
President Kruger said:
Let the newspapers bring whatever
they like. I canont say whether they re-
port Mr.. Chamberlain correctly. When
he speaks to me direct 1 shall listen and
shall know how to reply"
Commandant General Joubert in the
course Of an interview, declared that the
whole republic would resist like one man
any interference with its independence
State Secretary Reits said he believed
Mr. Chamberlain was speaking for HIM
self only and not for the whole Of the
British cabinet. The situation, he de-
clared, had not grown worse, but there
was danger a spark might fall into the
magazine and do damage.
SCENE IN CAPE HOUSE.
CAPE TOWN, Aug. 2S.-The Cape
house Of assembly is again debating the
question of the transit of arms intended
for the Orange Free State and pre-
sumably, the Transvaal. A state of eX-
IRENE tension exists tonight, as every
speech made today was received with al
most absolute silence in the chamber.
William P. Schreiner, the premier, per-
sOnally appealed to his followers to re-
frain from answering the criticism of the
opposition.
The entire opposition rose to support
the motion for adjournment, made by
Ri. Hon. Sir John Gordon Sprigg, the
former premier After he had finished
Mr.. Schreiner declared that under the
customs convention the Orange Free
State was justified In importing arms
through Cape Colony. and he did not in
tend to tear up that convention, knowing,
as he did, that there would be no war.
I'm the event of war" he said, II
would not lack the true loyal spirit"
Mr.. Schreiner then read a letter from
President Steyn of the Orange Free
State. denying any intention on the part
of that state to take UP arms against
Great Britain or Cape Colony. The let
ter caused a profound impression. as
showing the purpose of the importation
of firearms.
Eventually Sir John Gordon Sprigg
withdrew the motion for an adjourn