The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-01
'AFURIaER CONFERENCE
Between Agents Of Great Britain
and the Transvaal.
A TEMPORARY EsD OF WAR TALK

Portugal's Action in Permitting the
Transis of Ammunition by Way Of
DelaGoa Bay Is Acknowledged as
Not Unfriendly to Great Britain.
London, Sept. THE Transvaals
note to Great Britain offering the five
year franchise and the other conces-
sions was strongly worded and ex-
planned that the concessions were
made with sincere desire fully to set
tie all differences, to put an end to
strained relations and to avert q dis
astrous war. Therefore. q prompt
answer was requested.
The note of Mr.. Conyngham Greene
in reply was conciliatory and tanta-
mount to an acceptance Of the five
year offer. 1t agreed to waive the sug-
gested commission Of inquiry, provided
representative. to be appointed by
Sir Alfred Miner. should be. given
facilities in Pretoria to make an in
vestigation of the franchise question,
and provided the report Of such repre-
sentative should prove satisfactory.
Otherwise the Transvaal government
was requested to await further sug-
gestions from the imperial government
before submitting new proposals to the
volksraad. Mr.. Greene's note, in con-
clusion, suggested further conference
at Capetown.
The situation in South Africa has be-
come rather complicated. The strong
feeling Of the Dutch element in the
Cape Colony evidently influences the
secretary Of state for the colonies, Mr..
Chamberlain, to do everything pos
sible to avert rupture and explains
the further endeavor after a confer
ence at Capetown to arrange for the
constitution of an arbitration court
and to deal with the question of suzer-
ainty, which, rather than franchise,
now takes the leading place in the
controversy.
Portugars action In permitting the
transit of the ammunition consigned to
the Transvaal by way Of Delagoa bay
occasioned some surprise at first, but
after the action of the Cape govern
ment, and until an actual state of war
fare exists, it is recognized that the
Portuguese government could hardly
have acted otherwise. The British pa
pers now solace themselves with the
remark that England can easily pre-
vent such shipments, If crisis de-
mands extreme measures, and that the
action of Portugal does not imply I'M
friendliness toward Great Gritain.
The Standard, however, says: Dip
lomatic dalliance only postpones the
evil day and prepares for us still
severer conflict. Until we resort to
decisive measures every day adds to
the offensive and defensive strength of
the Beers and proportionately fosters
their infatuated belief In their own
inyincibilty, which lies at the root of
their obduracy. Thus we are con-
fronted with an exceedingly grave
question"
The Daily News says: "Mr. Cham
berlains dispatches exhibit game of
patience almost in the aspect of COM
edy."
The special dispatches from johann
nesburg express the belief that the
vollssraad will oppose President Kru-
ger going to Capetown. General Jou-
bert is credited with saying: There
will not be war, but Great Britain will
not get all she wants" The outlanders
are much irritated at the prospect of
further delays.
The Pretoria correspondent of The
Daily Chronicle says: President Kru-
ger is not likely to agree to confer
with Sir Alfred Miner at Capetown,
but he might go to Colesburg, just
within the borders Of the Cape Colony.
The Daily Chronicle publishes the
following, dispatch from Capetown: 1t
is rumored here that Sir Alfred Mil
ner, governor of the Cape Colony, con-
templates Diminishing the Schreiner
ministry under his special powers. If
he does, it is feared that rebellion
will break out. as the Dutch would be-
lieye that Great Britain is again fore
ing Cecil Rhodes to the front.
The Standard and Diggers News, of
Johannesburg, describes the Boer wo-
men as very warlike. They are form
ing rife clubs in many districts and
petitiOning the Transvaal government
against granting the franchise to the
outlanders on the basis of five year