The Forrest City times., 1899-09-15
B|T0NS 70 THE B0[RS.
The Tenor of the British Message
Transmitted to the Trans
vaal Republic. -
the MESSAGE IS NOT AN UlIIMAIUM.
Nevertheless n Prompt Reply IL RE-
auested. and the Hope Expressed
that President Kruger VIII Ac-
cept the G'ropositions to .Relieve
the Present Tension.-

London, Sept. IA representative
Of the press learned that the British
message to the Transvaal does not de-
mand reply in rs hours. the exact
wording being request for An i'm
mediate reply" The message is not
m ultimatum, in the generally ac-
cepted sense of the word. 1t ex-
presses the hope that President Kru-
ger will accept the propositions to
Relieve the present tension
rhe Only Aggressive Part.
The only part which is Mt all ag-
gressive is the reiterated destinations
Of the British government to discuss
the matter of sovereignty IN any
shape or form
The British officials refuse to deny
or affirm the correctness of the latest
Pretoria dispatches. saying the Brit
ish terms are as outlined in the spe-
cial dispatch from Pretoria, cabled
Tuesday night, namely, five-years'
franchise, a quarter representation
for the gold fields in the volksraad,
equality for the British and Dutch in
the volksraad. and equality for the old
and new burghers in regard to pres-
Dental and other elections.
How Regarded mt Cape Town.
A special dispatch to the Pail Mall
Gazette from ape Town saws the
British repl5 regarded as equiva-
tent to an ult latum, and the CORE
spondent's advices fron Pretoria indi-
cate 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 safe conduct ant, protection in
ease they wish to remain i'm the Trans
vaal.
alrishmen Would Help the Beers.
The report that the Rand Irish men
have formed corps 10 help President
Kruger is confirmed; ard it is said
at Cape Town that a cablegram has
been received there from New York
saying 10000 Irishmcn there are ready
to help the Transvaal.
The Orange Free State burghers are
reported to be bitterly divided over
the merits of the controversy and
their probable course in case of war.
ChansbcrIain's Understandings.
The message of the secretary Of
state for the colonies, Mr.. Chamber
lain, says he understands the conces-
sions made in President Kruger's note
OF August Is have been withdrawn on
account of the British attitude regard
ing s,lzerainty, and adds:
"Her majesty's government has alb
solntely Regulated the view of the
political status of the Transvaal taken
by the Transvaal government, claim
Ing the status of sovereign state. and,
therefore, are unable to consider any
proposal made conditionally on their
acceptance of this view"
An inefficient Law.
Continuing, the note says that the
British government is satisfied that the
law cmbodying the proposed alleviat-
ing measures for Outlanders is inef-
hcient to secure immediate and sub
gtantial representation, which, it is
understood, the Transvaal admits 20
Be reasonable. 1t then says:
Moreover, the presentation of the
proposals in the note of August in
dicates that the government of the
South African Republic themselves
recognized that their previous offers
might with advantage, DE enlarged,
and the independence of the republic
thereby in no way be impaired"
The Proposals. of August o.
The dispatch then goes on to say
that Great Britain is still prepared to
accept the franchise proposals of Au-
gust D, provided court of inquiry,
where joint or unilateral, shows the
new scheme TO be unincumbered by
multiplying conditions. In this connec-
ton. the British government assumes
that the new members of the raad will
be allowed to speak their own Ian.
9uage, and adds that the acceptance
of these terms would at once remove
the tension. and would, in all prob
ability, render unnecessary any fur
ther intervention of her majesty's gov
eminent to secure redress for griev-
snces which the Outlanders themselves
would be able to bring to tho notice Of
the executive council and volksraad.
Danger of Delay.
Her majesty's government is in
creasingly impressed with the danger
of further delay in relieving the strain
which has already caused so much in
jury to the interests of South Africa.
and they earnestly press for an inn
mediate reply.
Under the Shadow.