The age-herald., 1899-09-07
PREPARING FOR THE CONFLICT Transvaa YEilI be at Once Put Un= Martial Law. WOOD Z; g. COMMAND ENGLISH
 Y :
 S2 South = ,an Republic in It's Latest Al to Chumberlain's Demands Stn Professes to Hope for an
 Amioable Agreement

London, September, 7-(4 a. m)-The col. onal office officials were busy until after 3 o'clock this morning. Dispatches have been passing by special messenger between the queen and Lord Salisbury for the last few days.
 There is a persistent rumor that in the event of war General Sir Evlyn Wood, ad- jutant-general to the forces, will have su- preme command, with Colonel Lord Paul Sanford Methuen chief of staff
 The Times advises the government 10 convoke parliament immediately if neces- sary to vote the needed supplies, adding that "a further loss of time may be dan- gerous and humiliating."
 Mir Chamberlain remained at the foreign office until shortly before midnight. He declined to make statement regarding the Transvaal situation, but expressed desire to see copy of the following transcript of the Transvaal governments reply issued by the Transvaal agent in Brussels to- night, which was forwarded to him by the Associated Press:
 Tee Transvasrs Reply
 Tn reply to the last dispatch of the British government the Transvaal govern ment on Saturday handed to the British u6thl III ittOlld u lSSpOuSt Ol WlllSIl llld following is a purport:
 "The government of the South African Republic regrets that Great Britain is of the opinion that 1t is unable to accept tho proposals made by the Transvaal in the dispatches of August 19 and 21, by wficn the term for obtaining the franchise was fixed at five years and the representation of the Witwatersrand district was increas- ed. The government regrets this the more, inasmuch as it considered itssil able to de- duce from the negotiations previous to It's formal proposals that the latter would De accepted by the British government In these conditions the Transvaal considers it's proposals are annulled and finds 1t nec- essary to submit them to the volksraad and the people. It remains of the opinion that its proposals are very liberal and more extensive than those presented by the British high commissioner at Bloemfon- tein. It is also of the opinion that the con- ditions attached to these proposals are rea- sonable.
 Hopes for An Understanding 'The Transvaal never deslred Great Britain to abandon any reports possessed by nights of the virtue of the London con- vention of 1884, or by virtue of lnterna- tional law. The Transvaal still hopes that | these declarations will lead to a good un- derstanding and a solution of the existing | difficulties.
 With regard to the question of suzer- | ainty, the Transvaal government refers 10 | the dispatch of April 16, 1898, and con- sders it unnecessary to repeat that dis l patch.
 ''The Transvaal is disposed to furnish all the information possible but is of the opinion that so far as its position is con- cerned no new facts can be elicited in be- half of Great Britains claim.
 Nevertheless the government is desrous of satisfying Great Britain in the matter of the electoral law and the representa- tion of the mining districts" The reply then refers to MT. Chamber lain's proposal respecting a joint inquiry and says: Considering that by these proposals Great Britain does not aim at any interference in the affairs of the Transvaal and that the action will not be regarded as precedent but has solely for it's object to ascertain whether the franchise law fulfills It's purpose the Transvaal government will await the ulte- ror proposals of Great Britain as to .hs eventual constitution of such commission as well as the place and time of meeting" A Fresh Reply
 The TranSVaal government further pro- poses at an early date to send a fresh reply to the letter of July 27 and expresses satisfaction that Great Britain has decar- ed a willingness to negotiate on the ques- tion of court of arbitration. It says 1t would like to learn, however. whether the free state burghers would be admitted to such court of arbitration and what would be the scope of the courts discussions, it appearing to the Transvaal government that the restrictions imposed will prevent the attainment of the objects aimed at. With regard to the ulterior conference the Transvaal awaits the communications of Great Britain.
 The Brussels agent of the Transvaal claims that, in making it's recent proposals the Transvaal government has acted oil the advice of the British agent in Pretoria, Conyningham Green.
 The Standard, referring to the abstract of the reply of the Transvaal government to MT Chamberlain, as given out by the Transvaal agent in Brussels, says:
 "The dispatch Is a positive insult to the British government Clearly we are with
 in measurable distance of an ultimatum."
 Early this morning the colonial office be- gan to receive the reply of the Transvaal government direct. MT. Chamberlain. n being again requested to make statement. declined to do so until after the cabinet council tomorrow FridaO.