Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-15
TRANSVAAL'S REPLY.
1T MAY NOT DE MADE PUBLIC FOR
SEVERAL DAYS YET.
GLOOMY VIEW AT PIETERkkRITzDURG
a Special Dispatch from That Point
Says the Answer is "Truculent,
VIII Kruger Precipitate Warf

VIII Kruger Precipitate Warf
LONDON. September l3.-A forecast Of
the first draft of the Transvaals reply TO
the last note of the British Secretary OF
State for the Colonies, Mr.. Chamberlain.
now under discussion by the Yolksraad,
has been received by Mr.. Chamberlain,
but its nature is not yet known. At the
Colonial office a reporter of the Associ-
ated Press was informed that nothing
would be given out for the present.
1t is regarded as significant, however,
that the nature of the Boer reply was
communicated to the Commander-in-
Chief. Field-Marshal Lord Wolseley, who
Immediately summoned General SIR
George Stewart White, V. G., formerly
quartermaster-g general. the prospective
commander of the British forces in Natal.
The tension now existing here and at
the cape may be temporarily settled at
any moment by the publication of Presi-
dent krugers reply. ON the other hand,
it may be several days before the gene
raj public learns what answer the Trans
yaal has made. IL President Kruger has
answered defiantly, it does not neces-
sarily mean the immediate breaking of
of negotiations The British would prob
ably reply with an unmistakable ultima
tum. 1t is scarcely TO their advantage 10
bring about hostilities until their rein
forcements are nearer the scene of action
than they are at present.
THE PROBABILITIES.
Whatever the nature of President Kru-
gers reply, it is probable that several
more stages of diplomatic procedure
will be gone through with before there
IS definite war or peace, unless, of course,
President Kruger should take the initia-
tive and raid Natal. 1t is the possibility
of this move that makes definite news OF
his reply so eagerly and anxioJsly wait
ed.
The Consul-General Of the South Afri-
can republic. Mr.. Montagu White, said 70
reporter for the Associated Press to-
day: II have good authority for belev-
Ing that the answer of the Transyaal
republic will be unsatisfactory to the
British Government"
The Morning Post, in a second edition,
prints a special dispatch from PETER
maritzburg, the capital Of Natal. saying
the reply is "truculent, loquaclous. and
blasphemOus."
"OUTLOOK GLOOMY"
The Manchester Guardians correspon-
dent at Cape Town telegraphs that the
outlook is Of the gloomiest character.
The Cape Town papers, themselves
take more hopeful view of the situation
basing their belief on the probable ac-
ceptance by President Kruger of the
franchise measures suggested in Mr.
Chamberlain's latest dispatch. But even
they admit it is impossible to learn OF
foreshadow President Kruger's attitude
toward the suzerainty of Great Britain
which. after all. is stili the main issue.
ORANGEMEN STAND WITH Beers
BLOEMFONTEIN, September 1.-THE
members Of the Rad Of the Orange Free
State have been notified 10 be ready %
be summoned for an extraordinary ses-
sion at a moments notice. The burgh-
ers Of the Orange Free State, at meet
ing just held. passed a resolution TO stand
shoulder to shoulder with the Transvaal
in case Of hostilities.
AFRIKANDER ADVICE TO BOERS.
LONDON, September 1L--While the
staff Of the Foreign Office will maintain
continuous communication tonight with
Mr. Chamberlain, at birmingham, it is
NOT believed that the result of the debate
I'm the Nolksraad will be received before
Friday. Dispatches from Cape Town
dated midnight attach great Importance
10 an article In the Onsaad, the organ
OF the Afrikandar Bund. which urges the
Transvaal Government 10 renew its ofer
| regarding n conference, declaring thai
there is no reason why the Transvaal
should not accept a conference, and call
ing attention 10 tho fact that the word
"suzerainty" is not mentioned by Mr..
Chamberlain, and that therefore, there
is nothing to indicate any obligation on
the part Of either government 10 abandon
its views on this subject. This article is
understood to be the outcome Of an I'M
portant Afrikander caucus held 10 cis-
cuss the Chamberlain note, and 1t IS un-
derstood that the argument has been for
titled by strong messages TO Pretoria,
urging the Volksraad 10 forego the SUI
zerainty and TO concede the British pro
posas
There is reason TO believe that Mr..
Hofmever. the Afrikander leader has
wired President Kruger to the same eff
feet. and that similar representations
have been telegrapned from the orange
Free State
ACCEPTANCE DOUBTFUL.
The Pretoria correspondent Of tae
Times says: 1T is very doubtful whether
an unqualified acceptance Of Great Sri
tain's demands will be given"
The Paris correspondent of the Times
saws that VI. Delcasse. the French For
eign Minister. has directed the French
Consul in the Transvaal 10 endeavor to
, persuade President Kruger TO accept Mr..
Chamberlain's proposals.
The Pretoria correspondent Of the Daily
Telegraph says: "The members Of the
Volksraad received Mr.. Chamberlaln's dis
patch defantly to-day Thursday. Indl-
yiduai members declare that Great Bri-
tain must moderate her demands. on
the other hand, a rumOr is current that
President Kruger faYOrs compliance, and
has even suggested that ne desires the
irreconciables to leave Pretoria and con-
suit their constituents. thereby avoiding
their opposition. This belief is held IN
johannesburg and accounts for the hope
ful tendency Of the market, but the gene
raj public is pessimistic."
PRETORIA BEING FORTIFIED.
The CapetoWn correspondent or the
Daily News says: "a thousand men are
engaged in Strengthening the defences
Of Pretoria. Trenches are being. exca-
waited. and earthwOrks constructed. II IS
reported that both Raads will adjourn at
the end OF the week. TO enable members
To consult their constituents on the ques-
tions raised in Mr.. Chamberlains dis
patch" ,..o,,,,
PRETORIA. September 1.-THE discus
sion OF the first draft OF the eDly 70 the
British note ended this afternoon. Presi-
dent Kruger having left AZ O'Clock, and
not having returned. II Is understood
that the government will draw up the
rerlv i'm it's final form tomorrow, and
Immediately submit the same 10 the
VoIksraad The reply will be n terms
strongly Influenced by the orange Free
state. and among other ,eatn-es. the