The age-herald., 1899-09-03
A MORE PAcg : ASPECT The Foreign Z dment Will
 Have to 9S jpitiated. FAIRNESS OF -NGLISH CLAIMS
Present Crisis Shows Radical Change in Diplomatic Method Dom Paul Offers to Concede Sir AL
 fred Miners Demands.

London, September 2-Judging from surface indications. an altogether new phase seems to have come over the Trans. vaal crisis. The tables have been tnrned and now it is MT. Joseph Chamberlain. inc secretary or state for the colonies, who proposes further conference. In this and other respects the official negotiations pre- sent more pacific aspect than last week. but with the bare exception of these ne- gotiations every other circumstance points to war. Whether as has been suggested in these dispatches, higher powers than MT. Chamberlain have interfered in the inter- ests of peace or whether the secretary has taken a leaf out of the book of President Kruger of the Transvaal republic mean ing procrastination, can scarcely be deter. mined at this stage. It is also possible. though hardly probable that the unex- pected opposition and disaffection of the Dutch and descendants of the Dutch in British South Africa. as acutely eyinced this week, may have stayed the mailed hand"
 The Simplest Solution
 The simplest solution. however, of these latest developments, which puzzle none more than MT. Chamberlain's out and out supporters, is that the extreme amiabiltv and long suffering paraded in the last British proposals is merely peace offer ing which procedes a sacrifice. Such steps as these make war more righteous, and English wars characterized by precedents Of It's kind. The foreign sentiment must be propitiated. The continental press with lew exceptions. recognizes the fairness of English claims in the Transvaal and President Kruger knows he can expect no outside aid except perhaps In the most in- direct way from Russia. The spirit evinced yesterday by the Petit Journal of Paris cer- tainly does not voice the spirit of France which is usually complacent, over the Eng fish strictures prompted by the Dreyfus case.
 Changes In Diplomatic Methods
 The present Transvaal crisis shows a radical change in the diplomatic methods Of the secretary of state for the colonies MT. Chamberlain. In the negotiations fol- lowing the Jameson raid MT. Chamberlain was properly criticized for the novel and indlscreet procedure of publishing diploma ic notes even before they had time to reach the persons to whom they were addressed Now the public here is left in the dark un- til the publication of mutilated dispatches from the Pretoria forces the colonial office to issue correct versions The Transvaal dispatches of August 19 and 21 and the re- ply of the imperial government of August tic notes even before they had time to reach evening, emphasize the sharp contrast between the heat of MT. Chamberlains last public speech and the moderation and con- ciliatory tone of the dispatches, add little to the essentials of the situation.
 r esid, mt Kruger's Reply
 President Kruger of the Transvaal re- public has practically offered to concede to the demands of Sir Alfred Milner, the gov ernor of Cape colony and British high com- missioner of South Africa. regarding the question of franchise, but only on condition of getting impossible concessions regard ing suzeranty.
 Sir Alfred, in his conference with the Transvaal executive recently held at Bloemfontein, told President Kruger in the plainest language that "he didn't intend to buy franchises with any other ques- tions." That remark accurately represents the position today. Hopefulness lies in the fact, however. that Kruger seems to be in a yielding mood, and that the imperial government is not anxious to force matters unduly.
 Comparison of Situation
 The Spectator takes a sympa thetfc view of the attitude of Premier Schreiner, of Cape Colony It says he Is In very dif- ficult position, and his efforts to keep the Dutch residents of Cape Colony in hand must not be misrepresented or mis- understood.
 The situation, the paper adds is similar to that of the doubtful states at the out break of the American civil war.
 What Schreiner means,' says the Spec tator, "by keeping the Cape neutral is to keep the Cape Dutch from supporting the Boers, a very loyal and sensible object"
 The Spectator calls attention to the Ohio state democratic conventions denunciation Wednesday last in Its platform of the "secret and vicious alliance now in evidence between England and the republican ad- ministration, and says: "Englshmen need not pay close attention to platform items of this kind. It Is the mere babble of the political auction room. and has little seri- ous import"
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