The sun., 1899-10-09
STEYN PLEADS FOR PEACE.
FUTILE EFFORTS OF THE ORANGE
FREE STATES PREsIDENT

BLoEMFoNTE1N. Oct. S-President steyn OF
the Orange Free State on Sept 27 wrote to
sir Alfred Miner. the British High
Commissioner. complaining that by aban-
doning her proposal for q Joint in
quiry Great Britain had departed from the
basis on which the negotiations with the
Transvaal had been opened. and also protest.
ing against Great Brltain's ever increasing
military preparations.
He also notified Sir Alfred that It had been
deemed necessary to call out the Orange
burghers.
Sir Alfred replied. saying he regretted
the calling out OF tho burghers. After further
letters respecting the military preparations,
Sir Alfred wrote on Oct. saying that re-
ordinations were useless. The question was.
would the burghsrs invade the Queens do
minions. thereby closing the door to the possi-
bity Of pacific settlement.
Such an act OF aggression had not yet been
committed. and he would not despair OF peace.
He felt sure that any reasonable proposal
would be favorably considered by her Majesty's
Government.
President Steyn replied on Oct. 5, that 1t
would be useless to submit proposals unless
assurances were given that all despatch OF
troops would cease. and that those on the way
to South Africa would remain as far from the
scene as possible.
The next day Sir Alfred intimated that such
an assurance was i'm possible. but he was pre-
pared to exchange assurances that no hostile
act would be committed during negotiations.
President Steyn replied that an increase OF
the British force during negotiations would
be virtually n hostile act. He added that the
Transvaal would refuse. while troops were
pouring in avowedly TO coerce the Repu bile. to
accept whatever terms Great Britain imposed.
He urged the need OF immediate action II
further attsm pts at peace were to be made.
and renewed his offer OF his best service to se-
cure peace.
LONDON. Oct 8. "A despatch to the Daily
Mail from Cape Town says that both the
Transvaal and the Orange Free State during
the past week demanded declaration of the
British intentions in such a way as to convey a
threat.
Tho Pletermaritzburg correspondent OF the
Morning Post says that the Boer camps on
the border are In a state OF confusion
The commissariat is mismanaGed. and
the men are Rrumbling and demand
ing that they be allowed to fight
or return to their homes. 1t 10 stated that tho
Zulus have been told that If the Boers attempt
to pass through Zululand from Vryheid into
Natal they may fight in defence Of their homes
The war correspondent of the Telegraph, who
has visited the Orange Free State. says
that the burghers OF that republic are in
two large camps. each containing
5000 men, One OF these camps is twelve miles
from Harrismith and the other at Albertina
Station. In addition to these there are several
small camps a few miles from the Natal
frontier. The B ritish residents OF Harrismith
have all been enrolled by the Beers as ambu-
lance tenders.
PRETORIA. Oct. S.-A Green Book has bsen
issued containing the reply OF the Transvaal.
dated Sept 20. to Mr. Cham berain's note Of
May 10. In it reference is made to the peti-
ton OF the Uitlanders to Queen Victoria. II
says:
The Transvaal protests earnestly and en-
phatically against Great Britain taking notice
OF the ehimeric grievances Of the so.called
Uitlanders. and also against Great Britain
making representations thereon to this Gov.
ernment."
The reply declines to notice the allegations
contained in the petition or to discuss Great
Britain'S observations on them 1t describes
the petition as emanating from some British
subjects who are unwilling to comply with the
laws and lawful institutions OF the country ac-
cordng to the Convention"
The despatch declares that false and insufi-
Client statements regarding the facts lead to
wrong deductions and says that the situation
as described in Mr.. Cbamberlain's note lis in
every respect exaggerated. and In many cases
untrue"
Despite the refusal to discuss the grievances
OF the Uitlanders. the reply proceeds to rebut
in detail the various grievances enumerated in
the petition. 1t declares that II the complain
ants had approached the Transvaal instead OF
the Imperial Government. steps would have
been taken imm edately to correct these griev-
ances
The Transvaal reterates It's objection to in
reference in its'internal affairs. and says:
The Government even now cannot find
reason to Justify such interference. or see any
reason which would escape the accusation Of
being breach Of the Convention"
Finally the document lays the responsibility
for the trouble on the South African League,
which. 1t declares. makes propaganda Of race
hatred.
30 insignificant In numbers can enjoy such O
high degree Of influence. The answer Is that
tn is body relies for protection and support on
the Imperial Government. Both its members
and It's newspapers openly boast OF the inlu-
encS exercised by them over the policy OF the
Imperial Government.
This Government would not ordinarily
notice such contentious. but when it seas tho
views OF this body constantly reflected In
speeches OF members Of the Imperial Govern
ment. and when it secs Blue Book
Issued. principally consisting OF docu-
ments made up by members OF the
League and lying articles and reports
from the newspaper organs OF that body In
sertion in Blue Books giving them official
stamps. this Government can easily UNDER
stand why so many well-disposed British sub
jects get the wrong impression that the policy
OF the League Is approved by her Majesty's
Government.
IF this wrong impression could be sup
pressed and the fact made known that the
League. so far as this republic IL concerned. is
an organization having the object to
create revolution and undermine the
independence OF the republic. then this
body would very soon lose its influence.
ard the tension between the two Gov
ernmsnts would speedily disappear;
then tho Afrikander people in this
part would not fear any more that the interests
OF the British Empire necessarily imply the de-
Struction OF the republics and the enSlavemsnt
OF the Airikander population. and then both
aAofinna ~ tha whita raca In 9nnfh Afr,oa