The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-09-18
II PRACTICALLY RFPUDIATES
suzerainty, Reverts to the Fran
ehise, and is Generally In.
conclusive in Character.
COMMENTS OF BRITISH PRESS
Indicate that Everything Now
Trends Toward war..Blame
it All on Kruger.

PRETORIA, Sept. 17.-The reply of
the government OF the South African
Repubttc to the latest dispatch dated
September 12, Of the British secretary
OF state for the colonies, Joseph Cham
b,rlain, after acknowledging the re-
ceIpt of the British note, proceeds in
part, as follows:
THE government deeply regrets the
withdrawal, as the government under
stands It, Of the invitation contained in
the British dispatch of August % and
the substitution, in place thereof, Of an
entirely new proposal.
"The proposals now fallen through
contained in the Transvnal dispatches
OF August 10 and August q. were elic-
tied from this government from sugges-
tlons mnde by the British diplomatic
agent in Pretoria (conyngham Greene)
TO the Transvaal state secretary F.
W. Reltz). suggestions which this gov
ernment acted upon in good faith and
after specially aseertaInlng whether
they would be likely to prove acceptable
to the British government. This gov
ernment had by no means an intention
TO raise again needlessly the question Of
its political status, but acted with the
sole object of endeavoring by the aid of
the local British agent to put an end to
the strained condition of affairs.
This was done in the shape Of a pro-
posal which this government deems.
both as regards its spirit and form, to
be so worded as, relying upon intima-
tions to this government, would satisfy
her majesty's government. This gov
ernment. saw q difficulty as to the ae-
ceptance Of those proposals by the peo-
pie and legislature of the Transvaal
and also contemplated possible dan
gers connected Herewith. but risked
making them on account Of sIncere
desire to secure peace and because as
sured by Mr. Chamberlain that such
proposals would not be deemed a re-
fusal Of his proposals, but would be
settled on their merits.
The Joint Commission.
"As regards the joint commission, the
Transvaal adheres to the acceptance of
the Invitation thereunto given by her
majesty's government, and cannot un-
derstaud why such commission which
before was deemed necessary to explain
the complicated details of the seven
years law, should now be deemed un-
necessary, and why It should now.
without much inquiry, be thought pos
elbIe to declare this law inadequate.
Further, there must be misuppre-
hension IL It be assumed that this gov
ernment was prepared to lay proposals
for q five years franchise and a quarter
representation OF the new population
before the volksraad for unconditional
acceptance. As to the language, this
government never made any OFFER such
as Is referred to, considering, as 1t did
such a measure both unnecessary and
undesirable.
"The proposed conference, as distinct
from the Joint commission Of inquiry.
this government is likewise not unwill.
ing to enter upon, but the dithculty rs
that an acceptance thereof is made de-
pendent upon the acceptance. on the
side Of the Transvaal. of precedent
conditions, which this government does
not feel at liberty to submit to the
volksraad; and, moreover the subjects
to be discussed at the conference, re-
main underlined,
This government ardently deslres
and gladly accepts arbitration as its
firm intention Is to adhere to the terms
Of the London convention of 1884. The
dispatch concludes by trusting that the
British government on reconsideration.
may not deem 1t ilt to make more oner-
GUS or new proposals but will adhere
to Great Britain's proposal for n joint
commission Of inquiry ns previously
explained by the secretary of state for
the colonies to the imperial parlla-
ment."