The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-11

5o'Ciock This Afternoon-Englnnd May
not Reply at AHA Cabinet Member
speaks Publicly for war-Text of the
TItinatum British Preparations for
Hostilitie,. and Chamberlain's Delay of
the Diplomatic Negotiations the Rea-
sons cited for the Republics Action.
special Cdbis Despatch to THE Sun
IoSpoS, Oct 1O.--Ths Beers have astonished
England by behaving lust as il they were
great Power. equal in dignity and resources to
the British Empire They have demanded the
instant withdrawal OF the hostile forces mass
ing on their frontier. and have announced that
they would construe failure to comply within
t,rty-eight hours as a declaration Of war.
Any other sef-rcspecting state threatened In
the same manner would have taken the Same
position but this natural action by the little
African Republic. impresses Englishmen as
great efrrontery. 1t is a rnost regarded as de-
cisive move which destroys the last posi-
hity of peaceful solution OF the crisis
and yet this Is not its inevitable meaning.
An examination Of the terms OF the Beers
depntch. given below. shows that they are by
no means unreasonable from the point OF view
OF diplomacy and precedent. The ultimatum
is bellicose only in its peremptory tone. and IL
points out that certain British dispatches have
recently been couched in almost the same
abrupt language
The Beers waited for nearly fortnight for
the fresh demands that Great Britain had
notified them were about to be made. 1t was
evident, according to the Beers natural con-
eus.oN. that these demands. which would
Ir baby be oner'u' were being withheld to
enable the comrletion OF the British hostile
preparations. and 1t would he simple suicide
tp out
such plan. Hence to- days bold declaration.
which throws the onus OF war upon Great
Britain.
Asamatter OF fact. however. the Beers have
TO some extent misjudged the British Govern
ment and msinterpreted its purpose. The
correspondent OF THE SUN has the authority Of
amember OF tho Cabinet for saying that the
British demands would have been presented
within a week. and that they would have
been extremely mild" in their nature.
Whether their presentation will be fastened
by to-days Boer ultimatum or tho latter
be denied or ignored. it is impossible to say
The British Government has only itself to
thank for to-day's development and the
embarrassment in which IL finds itself. Its
hope that the Beers would save the morale OF
the British position by acts OF war on the
frontier Is now gone.
There 10 lille doubt that President Kruger ia
finding 1t Increasingly difficult to keep tho
burghers In hand on the frontier Of Natal. but
unless Great Britain adopts the Illuminating
course OF abandoning her hostile policy she
cannot escape the responsibility which the
Boer ultmatum puts upon her
The belief held in certain well-in'ormed po-
ltical circles to- night is that II the British
Government vouchsafes any reply tomorrow
twill include the demands which otherwise
would have been presented a few days later.
There 10 no doubt. however. that the Boer
movement has greatly infianed English public
opinion. and 1t is impossible to believe that
any genuinely conciliatory policy will be toler-
ated. English public sentiment has responded
only too readily to the mpaign OF Indictment
80 cleverly conducted during the past three
years and 1t is now practically beyond the
control OF any government. Tho chances
strongly favor an outbreak OF hostilites at
the beginning OF next week.
ACablnet Council will be held on Friday
Lord James. Chancellor of the Duchy OF
Lancaster. is the irst member OF tho
Cabinet TO refer publicly to the ultimatum
from the Transvaal. Speaking at Aber-
been this evening. he announced tho Boer de-
mands and asked his hearers if it was their
wish to grant them. The audience responded
with loud and excited shouts OF No" Lord
James said he was certain that the country
would say no. However. he much regretted
that there was now no alternative but war.
This statement evok ed loud cheers.
Military circles in London are convin ced
that the Beers will Immediately attack the
British. Nevertheless. they profess equa-
nimty They are confident that Gen. Sir
George White with tho $4,000 troops now in
Nata! will be able to make a successful
defensive and even offensive campaign. Ma
tekng Is regarded as less secure. but 1t is
believed that this place can hold It's own until
re"nforcements reach 1t. The chief anxiety 10
over the possibility Of the Beers in tho Cape
ioIony and Natal rising against tho British.
which it is believed the ultimatum was largely
Intended to preclpitate.
10 far as can be ascertained. the Govern
ment has received nothing from tho Orange
free state The probable action OF this repub-
lie smurh spceulated upon.
IN" ultlmatum OF the Transvaal was handed
% 'onyngham Greene. the British Diplomatic
agent at Pretoria was forwarded by Mr.. Greene
70 Sir Alfred Miner. tho British High Com
missioner at Cape Town, ana was transmitted
uY Sir Alfred to Joseph Cham berlain. Colonial
secretary in London. The time within which
an Affirmative answer is demanded will expire
tomorrow afternoon at o'clock.
following is the text OF the TransvaaIs note:
SIR The Government OF the South African
-'''"''I' ltelS 'OUIelleu 10 REFER tne tOVeFn-
m'Ht II her Majesty the Queen Of Great Brit
an aud Ireland once moro to tho Convention
OF London Of 1884 concluded between this
h'FubL" and the United Kingdom. Its four
tsehth article secures certain specified rights
10 the white IopuInt on OF this Republic
haMNy, that her" follows Article XIV OF the
''LI"ntlon ~ London OF 1884,
ms government wishes further to observe
Va' tho above are the only rights which her
'a!'siyh Government has reserved in the
a"'Ne convention in regard to the Uitlander
ioIuhtion OF this Republic, and that a viola
wv" ""y OF those rights could give that Gov
e'"IneRt the right Of Diplomatic representa-
"''s 'r intervention. while, moreover, the
''H"au"n OF all other questions affecting the
I"'"n or rights OF the Uitander population
inner III" above mentioned Convention is
'aN'e' over To the Government and reprssen-
a'NeF "' N" p"ou.o Of the South African
EepplGc
AH.ng the questions. the regulation Of
" e." itIl- exclusively within the competence
.I ms Il. ypTurupUt and NpIk mr., InoI,,J