Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-19
Kruger Charges That England
Broke Faith With Him
Conference Rejected.
He FAYORs AN INQUIRY
Tone of the Reply Is Regretful But
Firm-It's Influence on the War
situation Not Yet Known
What LondonThinks.

I london, Sept. 1s.-(By Associated
Press. )-The Transvaal situation re-
mains practically unchanged. General
apprehension in regard to the outcome
k reflected by the decline in consols
and stocks on exchange, where, al
Enough all stocks continued depressed,
there is not the slightest approach to
excitement. The text. of Kruger's re-
ply was issued by the secretary OF
state for the colonies. this afternoons,
but it adds nothing of Importance to
the summary cabled to the Associated
Press last evening. The language in
pany places is taken to indicate firm,
nnyielding position. The reply, how
ever, concludes: ''If Her Maiesty's
government is willing and feels able to
make this decision joint commission
as first proposed it would put an end
TO the present state of tension. Race
hatred would decrease and die out, the
prosperity and welfare of the whole
of south Africa would be developed
and furthered, and determination be-
tween the different nationalities would
Increase"
The second edition of the Times con-
tains a dispatch from Johannesburg,
which says: .'There is, I am informed,
an early coup in contemplation.
Quantities of compressed forage have
sbeen forwarded in the direction of the
Natal border and indicate some move
pn the part of the troops in that quar-
ter. The government is buying horses
freely today
Ihe-exening papers indicate, the Sc
( riohsness of the crisis, but the St.
james Gazette says: sit need not be
imagined that anything will be done
on our side in a hurry. The cabinet
has fist to reconsider, and secondly to
formulate fresh proposals OF conrse
St is quite possible the Beers may begin
hostilities, in which case our troops
will have to defend British territory,
but unless the Beers take the offensive,
the negotiations will be prolonged un-
til the re-inforcements now .enroute
reach South Africa"
synopsis of Reply.
Pretoria, Sept. 1s.-The reply of the
government of the South African re-
public to the latest dispatch, dated
Sept. 12, of the British secretary of
state for the colonies, Joseph Chamber
lain, after acknowledging the. receipt
OF the British note, proceeds in part as
follows:
s'The government deeply regrets the
withdrawal, as the government under
stands it, of the invitation contained in
the British dispatch of Aug. %, and
the substitution in place thereof of an
entirely new proposal.
"The proposals, now fallen through,
contained in the Transvaal dispatches
OF Aug. 10 and Aug. 81, We're elected
frim this government by suggestions
made by the British diplomatic agent
in Pretoria (Conynghant Greene) to
tlie, Transvaal state secretary Or. w.
Reitz), suggestions which this govern
ment acted upon in good faith and af-
ter specially ascertaining whether
they would be likely to prove accepta-
BILE to the British government.
"This government had by no means
an intention to raise again needlessly
the question of its political status, but
acted with the sole object of endeav-
oring by the aid of the local British
e agent TO put an end to the strained
condition of affairs.
ssThis was done in the shape of a
proposal which this government
deems, both as regards its spirit and
form, to be so worded as, relying up
on intimations to this government
would satisfy her Majesty's govern
nent.
"This government saw difficulty
as to the acceptance of those proposals
= by the people and legislature of the
Transvaal, and also contemplated pos.
sible dangers connected Herewith, but
risked making them ON account of .
sincere desire to secu-e peace and be.
cause assured by Mr.. Chamberlain
that such proposals would not be
deemed refusal of his proposals, bul
would be settled on their merits.
"As regards the joint commission
s. the Transvaal adheres to the accept.
ance of the invitation thereunto given
by her Majestyts government, and can.
not understand why such commission
which before was deemed necessary tc
explain the complicated details of the
seven years law, should now be deem
ed unnecessary, and why it shoulG
now without much inquiry, be though
possible to declare this law inadequate
sFurther, there must be misappre
hension if it be assumed that this gov
ernment was prepared to lay proposal:
for five years franchise and quar-
ter representation of the new popula
Z ton before the Nollksraad for uncon
ditional acceptance.
.As 10 the language, this govern
ment never made any offer such as j.