Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-13
The BRITISH MESSAGE.
Chamberlain's Dispatch to Kruger
An Ultimatum In Effect, II
Not In Form.
Spirited Deolination to Discuss In
Any Manner the Question Of
Suzerainty.
England Will Accept franchise Pro.
posals If Inquiry Court Finds
Them Satisfactory.

London, Sept. 13.-The Associated
Press learned today that the British
message to the Transvaal does not de-
mand reply in forty-eight hours, the
exact wording being q request for an
'immediate reply" 1t is not an ultima
tum in the generally accepted sense of
the word. 1t expresses the hope that
} Kruger will accept the propositions to
relieve the present tension The only
part at all aggressive is the reiterated
declination of the British government to
! discuss the matter of sovereignty in
tany form.
The Pail Mall Gazette's Cape Town
i special says: The British reply is re-
lgarded as equivalent to an ultimatum,
and the correspondents advices from
! Pretoria indicate that war is inevita-
, BILE.
J The report that the raad Irishmen
have formed a corps to help Kruger is
confirmed. 1t is said at Cape Town
that cablegram was received from
New York. saying that 10000 Irishmen
are ready to help the Transvaal.
The Orange Free State burghers are
: reported to be bitterly divided over the
; merits of the controversy and their
probable course in case of war
! In his message Secretary Of the Colo
nies Chamberlain says he understands
the concessions made in Kruger's note
of Aug Is have been withdrawn on ac-
count of the British attitude regarding
suzerainty, and adds: Her majesty's
government has absolutely repudiated
the view of the political status of the
Transvaal taken by the Transvaal gov
ernment, claiming the status of SOW
!, ereign state, and is, therefore, unable
to consider any proposal made condi-
tionally on their acceptance of this
view" The note adds that the British
government is satisfied that the law
n embodying the proposed alleviating
!. measures for the outlanders is inefficient
: to secure immediate and substantial
representation. which. it is understood,
the Transvaal deems to be reasonable.
The dispatch then goes on to say that
!, Great Britain is still prepared to accept
the franchise proposals of Aug. 8. pro-
j lvided a court of inquiry. whether joint
or unliteral, shows that the new scheme
is unencumbered by multiplying condi-
. tions.
Her majesty's government is increas-
f lingly impressed with the danger of fur
ther delay in relieving the strain and
, earnestly presses for an immediate re-
! ply
If. as. they most anXiously hope will
not be the case, the reply from the
Transvaal should be mega tive or incon-
elusive, I am able to state her majes-
tvs government must reserve to itsel-
the right to consider the situation de
novo and formulate their own proposals
for a final settlement"
Another View of the Reply.
J London Sept. 13.-The so-called Brit
ish ultimatum reached Pretoria yester-
day. The Dalziel agency in Pretoria is
the first in the field with summary of
Il its contents. 1t says the British govern
! ment demands a FIVE years franchise, a
| quarter representation in the Volksraad
for the gold fields, equality of the Dutch
and English languages in the Volks-
raad, and equality for old and new
burghers in regard to presidential and
: other elections.
If these proposals are accepted con-
| ference will follow to draft measures so
Lila lAS 1ieiSN detA government call uOl
insert unnecessary conditions or pass
new bills invalidating these proposals.
t The dispatch then goes on to demand
, an instant acceptance of the proposal;
, otherwise her majesty's government
| will at once take the whole situation
under reconsideration so as to bring
about permanent settlement.
DalZiel adds that the situation is
acute.
l 1t is probable that this summary is in
5 the main correct. although it must be
, remembered that the Dalziel agency has
, Boer leanings and sometimes colors
news.
1t is worth noting that all the papers
here agree in regarding the British dis
lpatch as an ultimatum and all, with the
:. exception of the Daily Chronicle and the
Westminster Gazette, approve the Brit
ish attitude.
Neither the Chronicle nor the West
minister Gazette can state exactly
where the dispatch, such as reported by
,, Dalziel errs.
AS for the result the Mail this morn
ing ridicules Dalziel's intimation that
the situation is acute. and predicts
prompt acceptance by the Beers.
y The Times naturally finds an import
ant clause IN the latter part OF the dis
patch, and says it is evident that If the
!, Dalziel report is correct the dispatch
gives the Beers one last chance of
maintaining their Independence under
the convention of 1884, but If Kruger
haggles over terms or refuses to accept
, them 1t remains for Great Britain to
: take the whole matter under reconsid-
: Grafton. which plainly means the abro-
cation of the London convention and
the end of the South African republic.
This would. of course, necessitate the
occupation of Pretoria.
The Chronicle cries out against the
enormity of such conduct, but the opin-
ion seems to be that since Great Britain
granted the Beers independence in 1884
it surely has a right to take back the
gift il 1t is abused in such way as tc
, endanger the peace of South Africa.
1t is useless to deny that the nation
will thoroughly indorse the govern
ment In such a course. A few months
Z ago an attack on Transvaal independ-
: ence would have caused q popular OUT
lcry. but since then Kruger's obstinacy