The age-herald., 1899-09-22
GOVERNMENT IS CRITICISED
England DilatOry in Sendin| Troops to
 Seat of ConlIic 2
PARLIAMENT MAY
President Steyn Tells G 2 Free State Law-Making Body c the Boers Have Been Def by Her
 Majesty's DIps1mat

London, September 22.-While the precise result of the secret session of the voiksraad of the Orange Free State is not yet known here President Steyn's speech at the open ing of the session is regarded as an almost infalhble indication of the attitude which the Free State will take. Commenting from this point of view:
 The London morning papers are all impressed with the added gravity of the l situation, and murmurs beginning l to be hear regarding dilatoriness of the government tn getting troops forward. Military men are said to be inpatient They assert that everything is ready and that they are only waiting for or- ders IL is recognized that the attitude Of the Orange Free State makes the original estimates based upon Dutch neutrality too small. Evidently much larger force will be required. The gov
 ernment is faced with something like d
 dilemma. The leader of the opposition
 has publicly denounced the precipitancy
 Of the colonial office in forcing on con-
 fiict Therefore ministers are dlsu-
 chned to convoke parliament. Must Convoke Parliament If on the other hand so large an expendi- ture as the apparent attitude of the Or ange Free State would involve should be- come necessary, the government would be obliged to summon parliament In order to get adequate supplies. It is understood that the money question accounts for the dribbling manner in which the troops are being forwarded.
 German military experts realizing the l seriousness of the campaign before Great | Britain are commenting with astonshment upon the fact that England is So behind l hand in her preparations. In Berlin it is also believed that Dr.
 Leyds is acting as President Kruger evil
 genius and misleading him by reports that l he is likely to get similar, If not assistance, l from the European powers. No member of the Cape cabinet was pres ent at the meeting of the Afrlkander members of the Cape parliament yesterday. dispatch from Pretoria announces that | arms continue to be served to the burglh- l CTS.
 Reuters Telegram company announces this evening that no message had been re- ceived by Queen Victoria from President l Kruger
 Secret St ss on of Raad
 Bloemfontein, September 2l.-Ihe volks-
 
 President Steyn read a carefully prepared l speech After welcoming the burghers he 1 expressed regret that the relations between Great Britain and the Uitlanders had be- | come strained.
 | The members, he said, were aware of the meeting of Sir Alfred Milner and President Kruger al Bloemfontein when President l Kruger made proposals, which although l fused by the British high commissioner | were unanimously considered throughout | the Orange Free State to be exceedingly 1 fair.
 | Proceeding to review the negotiate President Steyn said the Transvaal had
 been decoyed by the British diplomatic
 agent at Pretoria. Conygham Greene and l he practically accused the imperial govern- | ment of breach of faith. He said he was l disinclned to advise the Transvaal gov | ernment to accept the latest British de- mands. Will Afford Assistance | The present critical state of affairs could not be matter of indifference to the Orange Free State, which was bound by treaty to afford assistance to the Transvaal | and he had therefore, convened the volks- raad to decide what attitude should be | taken.
 There is nothing" declared the presi- dent that warrants war an attack upon the Transvaal. Such differences as exist can be solved by arbitration. War would l be an insult to religion and civilization In conclusion, President Steyn said he l would take this opportunity of laying cer- tain drastic laws before the volksraad for consideration, praying God to give the members strength to pass resolutions, mot only conducive to peace and prosperity, but also in the interest of their beloved state."
 Immediately after the speech, President Steyn asked the volksraad to go into se- cret session, which was agreed to unani- mously
 More Hope for Peace
 London September H.-The speech of Sir William Vernon Harcourt, the former liberal leader, to his constituents at New Tredegar last night and the message of the Capetown Afrkander members of par Hament to President Kruger, have proved red rags to the "war-at-any-price" party.
 The Cape papers declare the action of the members of parliament amounts al- most to treason, and the same terms are applied to Sir William Vernon Harcourts remarks by the English anti-Boer papers. Those who claim the situation has not yet reached the rubicon of pacific negotiations see in President Kruger's answer to the Afrkanders genuine desire to avoid hos tilities The report that he has personal ly petitioned Queen Victoria to avert hos tilities. certainly does not bear out the