Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-13
NOT AN ULTIMATUM
British Note to Transvaal Does Not
Limit Time of Reply.
IMMEDIATE" ACTION Is URGED
Pail Mall Gazette's African Advices
Say War is Inevitable.
THE FEELING AT PRETORIA

LONDON, September 13.-A representa-
tive of the Associated Press learned toda!
that the British message to the Transvaa
does not demand reply in forty-eigh
hours the exact wording being a reques
for IAN immediate reply" The message !:
not an ultimatum in the general sense OF
the word 1t expresses the hope that Pres
ident Kruger will accept the proposition:
to relieve the present tension"
The only part which is at all aggressive
is the reiterated declination of the British
government to discuss the matter of SOW
ereignty in any shape or form.
The British officials refuse to deny OIL
affirm the correctness Of the latest Preto-
ria dispatches. saying the British terms are
as outlined in the special dispatch from
Pretoria. cabled to the Associated Press
last night, namely, a ffve-years franchise
a quarter representation for the gold fields
in the volksraad. equality for the British
and Dutch in the volksraad and equality
for the old and new burghers in regard to
presidential and other elections.
War Said to BE Inevitable.
A special dispatch to the Pail Mall Ga
zette from Cape Town says the British re-
ply is regarded as equivalent to ultima
Pretoria indicate that war is inevitable
A Pretoria special to the Cape Times says
the Transvaal has notified the miners of
Italy that it will give them a safe conduct
and protection in case they wish to remain
in the TranSvaal.
The report that the Rand Irishmen have
formed for the purpose of helping Presi-
dent Kruger is confirmed. and 1t is said at
Cape Town that a cablegram has been re
ceived there from New York, saying tha
ten thousand Irishmen there are ready 20
help the Transvaal.
The Orange Free State burghers are re-
ported to be bitterly divided over the mer-
its of the controversy and their probable
course in case of war.
The message of the secretary of state for
the colonies. Mr.. Chamberlain, says he un-
derstands the concessions made in Presi-
dent Kruger's note of August Is have been
withdrawn on account of the British atti-
tude regarding suzerainty. and adds:
TransvaaFs Sovereignty Repudiated.
Her majesty's government has abso-
lutely repudiated the view of the political
status of the Transvaal taken by the Trans
vaal government, claiming the status of g
sovereign state. and. therefore, are unable
to consider any proposal made conditionally
on their acceptanc of this view"
Continuing, the note says the British gov
ernment is satisfied that the law embody-
ing the proposed alleviating measures fol
Outlanders is inefficient to secure imme.
1t is understood. the TranSvaal admits tC
be reasonable. 1t then says:
Moreover. the presentation of the pro
posals in the note of August 10 indicates
that the government of the South African
republic themselves recognized that theil
previous offers might with advantage be
enlarged and the independence of the re-
public thereby in no way be impaired.
The dispatch then goes on to say that
Great Britain is still prepared to accept
the franchise proposals of August 10. pro
vided a court of inquiry. whether joint oi
uni'ateral. shows the new scheme to be
unincumbered by nuilifying conditions. II
this connection the British government as
sumes that the new members of the raad
Will be allowed to speak their own Ian
guage. and adds the acceptance of these
terms would at once remove the tension
and would. in all probability. render un-
necessary any further intervention of heI
ma iesty'S government to secure redress fol
grievances which the Iitlanders them.
selves would be able to bring to the notice
of the executive council of the volksraad
Danger of Further Delay.
Her maiesty's government is increasing
ly impressed with the danger of further de
lay in relieving the strain which has al
ready caused much injury to the in
terests of South Africa and they earn
cstly press for an immediate reply to the
present proposal If acCeded to, they vii
be ready to make immediate arrangements
for further conference between the presi
dent and the high commissioner to settle
all details of the proposed tribunal Of arbi
tration and the questions referred to in ms
note of August 20, which neither Uit-
lander grievances nor questions of the in
depreciation of the convention, but which
might be readily adjusted by friendly com
muncation between representatives OF the
two governments. If, however, as they
most anN'ously hope will not be the case
the reply of the Transvaal should be mega
tive of conclusive. l am to state that hel
ma ieSty'S government must reserve I,
themselves the right to consider the situa
tion de novo and formulate their own pro
poSaiS for a final settlement"
The exact franchise proposals which Mr.
Chamberlain says Great Britain is still pre-
pared to accept with the court of inquiry
provisO are five-years' franchise share fol
Outlanders in the election of the presiden
ANA equal rights and increased representa-
tion for the gold fields to the extent o
eight new seats. These were presented by
President Kruger August 10 and later wer.
Withdrawn
Bulletin. - LONDON, September IL. A
srccial dispatch from Pretoria saws the
leaders of the Afrikander Rund have teIe.
graphed to President Kruger urging him
to yield TO Mr.. tEamberlain's IS last demands
LOUrRANZO MARQUEE. Delagoa Bay
September 13.-The German cruiser Condo,
has arrived here.
Situation in Pretoria
PRETORIA. September IL delayed il
transmission).-The latest understandin,
here in regard to the British reply is tina
il asks for an answer from the Transvaa
within forty-eight hours. 1t is added tha
the executive has already deliberated upo,
the matter and has been In telegraph,
communication ell the afternoon with tn,
Orange Free State government, which Pres
ident Kruger consulted in regard to hi
reply. which Will be drafted tomorrow
morning after the views of the Orange Fre
State have been ascertained. The repl,
will then be submitted to the volksraad.
The situation is regarded as grave, bu
Secretary of State Reitz in an interview ha
declared that he did not consider it alto
gether hopeless