The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-27
WILL KNOW THIS WEEK.
Question of War or Peace to Be Def
nitely Settled.

Copyright, 1899. by the Associated Press. }
London, August 26.-Though no actual
developments have apparently taken
place in the Transvaal situation. as pre-
viously reviewed in these dispatches,
public interest in the crisis has been
wonderfully quickened. This is due to
the dawning realization that Great Bri-
tain is making the most methodical
preparations for war. The utter lack
of official news and the serious outlook
have made the week one of tension.
Contradictory reports from home and
abroad have fourished and on the
strength of these the newspapers have
see-sawed from peace To war and vice
versa. hOpelessly at sea
Endless supposition has been INDUCED
in regarding President Kruger's coun-
ter-propositions, but from a broad point
OF view, such details are not important,
as compared with the fact that Presi-
dent Kruger has refused, some say
evaded. the '-irreduceable minimum of
Sir Alfred Miner the governor OF Cape
Colony. and British high commissioner
cf South Africa.
It is now nearly a week since the
British government has been in posses
sion of President KTuger'S reply
Whether. in the interest of peace, pow
MS higher than Mr.. Chamberlain, the
s-:setary Of state for the colonies, are
st.ll temporizing. or whether or not a
decisive ultimatum is already on the
way to the president Of the Transvaal,
Is pure conjecture. The most conserva-
tive opinion is that the Beers viii ulti-
nately back down, but there are no
signs. judging from the military activ-
ity in the South African republic, that
such - likely 10 be the case, although
botr sides may be using the movements
OF troops as a bluff.
That Mr.. Chamberlain is not in a pa
cific mood is evidenced by the publica-
ton subsequent to the reception of the
reply of Kruger, of the correspondence
between the Beers and Sir Alfred Mil
ner. According TO the Speaker, this ac
ton has UNNECESSARILY increased the
difficulty of keeping the peace. Com
,nenting upon this fact, the Speaker
says:
Unfortunately. neither in Downing
street nor at Pretoria, is the value of
moderation and good temper sufficiently
appreciated. The consequence is that
every day the situation becomes more
dangerous. and may yet see the two
races locked iii n sanguinary struggle
simply because the leading men on both
sides have failed to keep sufficient
command over their own tempers and
those of their immediate supporters
All that can re said is that in a very
short period. probably less than a week.
the world will know definitely whether
President Kruger finally. acknow lodges
British suzerainty and its potentiality.
or whether he really intends to resort
10 arms IN order to defend his conten-
ton. 1t is palpable that the British
will now refuse TO accept any evasion
of their suzerainty claims, whatever
other concessions President Kruger
might make.
The Transvaai correspondent of the
Manchester Guardian, a we'll known
writer on economics. says that he finds
widespread Willingness among the Jo-
ilannesburg Outlanders TO take the
franchise insisted upon by Mr.. Cham
heriain. but no eagerness. He says the
Outlanders' grievances are genuine, but