Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-09-28
LETTER TO lIILNER.
CHAMBERLAIN PRACTICALLY DELlv-
ERS ULTlMATUM TO BOERS.

England Insists Upon Reduction of Fran
chise Term In a Manner Which Admits
No Misapprehension-Se to Throw
Blame Upon the People of South Africa.
LONDON, Sept 26.-The officials of
the foreign Office last evening gave out
the text of the letter of the secretary of
state for the colonies, Mr.. Chamberlain,
to the British high commissioner in
South Africa, Sir Alfred Miner, dated
Sept. %.
The British reply expresses regret
that her majesty's offer Of Sept. s had
been refused and says:
''The object her majesty's govern
ment had in view in the recent negoti-
ations has been stated in manner
which cannot admit of misrepresentation
viz: To obtain such substantial and
immediate representation for the out
landers as will enable them to secure
for themselves that fair and just treat
ment which was formally promised
them in 1881, and which her majesty
intended to secure for them when she
granted privileges of self f-government to
the Transvaal. No conditions less COM
prehensive than those contained in the
telegram of Sept. 8 can be relied on to
effect this object. The refusal of the
South African government to entertain
the offer thus made, coming as it does
after four months Of protracted negoti-
ations, themselves the climax of five
years Of extended agitation, makes it
useless to further pursue the discussion
on the lines hitherto followed and the
imperial government is now compelled
to consider the situation afresh and for
mulate its own proposals for final set
tlement of the issues which have been
created in South Africa by the policy
constantly followed for many years by
the government of South Africa. They
will communicate the result of their
deliberations in later dispatch"
LONDON, Sept. 25.-The attempt to
hold pro-Boer anti-war demonstration
in Trafalgar square yesterday resulted
in drastic failure. Thousands assem-
bled, but not to support the speakers.
On the contrary the crowd waved union
jacks and sang the national anthem and
Rule, Britannia, like mighty inyoca-
tions.
The speakers. who We're quite inaudi-
BILE, We're received with groans, decayed
apples and eggs and other missiles.
There We're cheers for Mr.. Chamber
lain and Kisses for President Kruger.
Some soldiers who We're present We're
carried shoulder high by the crowd
The opponents of the meeting finally
proposed resolutions in support of the
governments policy, which We're car
ried amid wild enthusiasm.
The Bloemfontein correspondent of
the Manchester Guardian, pro- Boer
organ, says: "Both President Steyn
and Mr.. Fischer (of the Orange Free
State executive) inform me that the
Volksraad is absolutely unanimous that
the two republics should stand or fall
together. President Steyn said: Sup
pose we remained neutral and the
Transvaal We're conquered, it is not like
ly that we would be long permitted to
stand outside British control Let a
rich gold field be discovered and what
would become of us? .
The special correspondent of the Daily
Telegraph at Pietermaritzburg, Natal,
says: sit is believed that the protracted
sitting of the Orange Free State Raad is
due to the elaboration Of decisive meas
ures.
"No rain has fallen in either republic
and it is doubtful whether the Beers
can commence hostilities before the end
of October"