The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-22
TRANSVAAL MAKES A REPLY.
RELIEVED ENGLAND'S PROPOSE
TION Is REFUSED.

In London 1t Is Said There Is No
Doubt of Krugcr's RefusnI-CoIo-
niaI Office Relieves War the Only
Recourse Left-OmciRIs Sorry INru-
Ger TempOrizes-Memb of Colo
nial Omce DcnOunces the Presi-
dent.
Cape Town, Aug. H.-The report that
the Tranvaal government had handed its
reply to the British agent at Pretoria. to
be forwarded to Sir Alfred Miner, Brit
ish high commissioner for South Africa
and governor of Capt Colony, is con-
firmed
1t is believed, however, that the propo-
sitlon of Great Britain for a joint COM
mission to investigate the effect which
the franchise reform legislation would
have on the Ouuanders has not been ac-
cepted, but that fresh proposals have been.
advanced.
Sunday was observed throughout the
Orange Free State and Cape Colony with
humiliation, prayer and sermons advocat-
ing peaceful solution Of the crisis There
is evidence of growing uneasiness at Jo-
hannesburg Great crowds gather at the
railroad station, expressing disapproval at
the departures for Cape Colony and Dur
ban Natal
According to Afr.kander reports the
Transvaals reply is a countor-p proposal Of
five years retrospective franchise in the
election of the President and an increased
representation 1t Is said that the sug-
gestion is made to submit all differences
to arbitration
London, Aug. 2l.-There is no longer any
doubt that President Kruger has refused
to submit TO he demand of Mr.. Chamber
lain for the appointment Of a court of in
quiry He may have done so diplomatl teal
ly. Bul, mat his answer is regarded by
the British government as tantamount to
positive refusal, is now established.
The report that President Kruger has
proposed new terms is somewhat verified
by the guarded comment of the colonial
office officials and the irrtabity display
ed there. There is not the slightest doubt
that they believe war is now the only
way to settle the controversy They would
far rather have had a curt defiant an
| swer than the temporzing reply which
the BOer President has sent.
With the former Great Britain would
have plain grounds for a quick commence
ment of hostilties. Under the circum-
stances 1t is believed now exist aggres-
sive action needs considerable explanation
| to justify 1t in the eyes of the world and
English minority, who still declare that
| war would be an outrage. However II
! Mr.. Chamberlain has his way, 1t Is belieV-
| ed President Kruger's counter proposals
| viii meet with scant attention, and unless
| the Beers completely back down, which
| is not likely. the crisis will quickly de-
! VelOp into war.
| 1t is gathered that the colonial Office has
been aware of the nature of the Trans
| walls reply for some days. Hence il is
| probable that Great Britain will delay the
denouement as little as possible. A high
colonial official frankly expressed to a rep
resentative of the Associated Press his
| disgust at what he termed "Kruger's Gu
pidity and hypocrisy"
He said: "1he kind OF game which Kr1-
| ger is playing must be clear 10 Americans.
| The protestatons Of the Beers that they
wish to live a quiet agricultural life may
| be the tune Of some of the veldt, but the
| gang In Pretoria is simply after money.
| Though President Kruger says many harsh
/ things Of the Uitlanders, he never hesitat-
| ed 10 make money out Of them, either by
4 fair or foul means. This Transvaal ques-
| ton cannot be judged by recent occur
rences You must go back fifty years. 1t
| has been hanging fire all that time, and the
| sooner 1t is settled now the better"
| Though the official did not actually say 20,
| il was clear that he believed war was the
! only method of settlement.
1t is learned that the government is
somewhat annoyed at the public's slight
! interest in the Transvaal. The official
/ above quoted said to the Associated Press
representative; "Dreyfus seems the only
| thing our people think about though Eng
| land is in most serious crisis. This in
| a ference is DQrhaUS tVpiCal"
A special dispatch from Cape Town says
| there Is great danger Of an outbreak of vi
olence on the frontier and that the scum
Of South Africa is enisting throughout
the colony and being sent to Pitsani and
| Jameson on the border.