The record-union., 1899-09-16
But Is Willing TO Consider Any Suggestions
Concerning Its Workings.
In Regard to the Other Points of
British Colonial Secretary's Dis
patch, the Transvaal Boldly
Stands by the London Con-
vention - The Situation Very
Gloomy.

LONDON, Sept. 16.-A special dis
patch from Pretoria says: The Trans
vaal adheres to the seven years fran
chise law, but is willing to. consider
and if necessary to adopt any suggest
ions Great Britain may make With re-
gard to the working of the law.
In regard to the other points or MIR.
Chamberlain dispatch, the TransVaal
boldly stands by the London conVen-
tion.
1t is said that the reply is couched in
polite terms.
State Secretary Reitz in the course
Of an interview to-day expressed some
doubt as to whether any alteration
would be made in the existing franchise
law but said he believed way should
and could be found to establish an ar
bitration court. AS to suzera1nty, the
least said the soonest mended, re-
marked the State Secretary.
In the forecasts of President Kru2er's s
reply there is undoubtedly large basis
of truth which seems TO bring the cis-
pute within a measurable distance OF
war Last evening the press assocla-
tion issued a serious statement TO the
effect that as soon as the garrison IN
Natal had been sufficiently strength
ened, the Transvaal State provides for
the demolition of the forts and limits
the armed force of the Transvaal to a
number deemed sufficient to maintain
internal order.
According to the press association,
the convention will demand the diplo-
matte agencies be suppressed and the
judiciary made independent of the
executive This statement, which real
ICES the extreme demands of the Uit-
landers, must be accepted undeservedly
at the present stage, but it is not un-
likely to be a semi official hint as TO
the next move of the Government
should President Kruger prove obsti-
nate.
The morning paper editorials regard
the crisis as having reached its most
acute phase.
The Daily News" says: 1--WE refuse
to believe that President Kruger is so
foolish as to reject Mr.. Chamberlain
moderate demands.
The Daily Chronicle" which appeals
again to Mr.. Kruger ''to accept while
it is yet time and before England's s
terms become harder" he says: "A re-
fusal of the present terms will involve
the ruin OF the State over which Pres
ident Kruger presides. The British
Government have played their first and
second moves in the game. and must
perforce play the third and then the
fourth If Mr.. Kruger haggles, the sin
lister conditions in South Africa Will
grow worse until a catastrophe IS
reached"
Other. papers talk of the imminence of
war, and all the dispatches from South
Africa continue to describe the military
preparations on both sides.
The Pretoria correspondent of the
DAILY Chronicle" says: THE Beers
assert that Conyingham Green, British
diplomatic agent at Pretoria, knew it
was their intention to adopt the atti-
tude they have regarding suzerainty'
and that he tacitly encouraged them,
as the documents show, His forty-eight
hour demand and the string OF blue
book inuendoes, for which he and SIR
Alfred Miner are responsible, nave
produced an official atmosphere in
which anything is possible. At the
same time MIR. Hoymeyer and practic-
aHv every member of the Cape Afrl-
kander party have wired urging accept
ance of the British demands.
The Pretoria correspondent OF the
"Times' in his forecast cf the Trans
walls reply, declares that the Beers
will lay stress on the seven years fran
chise law, though offering to consider
their suggestions as to its working, and
for the rest take their stand in the Lon
don convention"
The Times" says: I'VE cannot be-
lieve that President Kruger will reject
the latest proposals of the Government.
and we would remind him that even
Mr.. Morley has indorsed the five-year
franchise, and urged him to accept the
Cape Town conference"
tits understood that Cabinet council
will be summoned as soon as the Trans
vaal's reply is received.
The Pretoria correspondent of the
Manchester Guardian telegraphing
Friday, says: THE situation has be-
come extremely grave. The material
changes in the draft of the reply de-
livered to Mr.. Green to-day are due
to representations from Bloemfontein
and the dispatch is not of the Volks-
raad'