The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-05
Joseph Chamberlain Back I'm London
to Remain Until the Question of
Peace or War Is Decided.
Beers READY FOR TROUBLE
MAY OPEN HOSTILITIES ON ONLY
FORTY-EIGHT HOURS NOTICE.
Explanation of the Arrest Of Uit1an-
ders Not Satisfactory-NewC Charge
Against Editor Pakeman.

conflicting dispatches from South Africa re-
garding the Transvaal situation, 1t is still
impossible to say exactly what has hap
pened. 1t seems evident, however, that
President Kruger has withdrawn the five
year franchise which was dependent on
Great Britain's acceptance of impossible
conditions regarding suzerainty, and has
made some sort of temporizing counter sug-
gestions regarding a conference.
A dispatch from johannesburg to Reuters
agency definitely announces that the reply
of the Transvaal Republic to the British
communication withdraws the franchise
proposition and agrees in principle to a
conference at Cape Town. Some of the
newspapers take the view that If the fore
going dispatch is correct President Kruger,s
reply is ominous, as 1t was palpably made
to gain time. Sir Alfred Miners sugges-
tion for further conference at Cape Town
was instigated with the sole purpose of con-
sidering details and for the enforcement of
the concessions offered by the Beers. If
these concessions are withdrawn there can
be no object, from a British point Of view.
for parleyng longer. The only inference
to be drawn is that the Beers have taken
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, the secretary of
state for the colonies, at his word in
broader sense than he intended, and that
they now want to begin negotiations over
again on an entirely new bases. The
shrewdness of this reported move is not
likely to save it from being interpreted by
the British government as thinly-veiled
defiance and unless 1t is accompanied by
vague agreement to further confer it would
generally be taken as sufficient cause for
immediate hostilities.
The Standard and Diggers' News gives
what purports to be report of the secret
session of the Volksraad on Saturday. Ac-
cording to the account, the Volksraad not
only determined to reject the five-year pro-
posal, but also stoutly opposed President
Kruger visiting Cape Town and resolved
to make a stand for the abrogation of Eng
lands claim to suzerainty. The Boer organ
to-day asserts: THE government, both the
Raads and the Burghers, feel that they
have offered all they intend to offer and
are now resolved to stand or fall by this
decision" Boer statements of this kind,
coupled with the arrests at Johannesburg,
speak louder than the wrigging pretenses
of Pretoria about arriving at an under
standing. Certainly Mr.. Moneypenny and
the other refugees will not be in hurry
to return to johannesburg on account of
the fine assurances of the state attorney.
The secretary of state for the colonies,
Joseph Chamberlain, arrived in London yes
terday afternoon and at once proceeded to
the Foreign Office. 1t is understood that
he will remain here until the end of the
crisis. There was a hurried called meeting
of the Cabinet last night, and it is sur
missed the Transvaal situation was dis
cussed. The War Office refuses to confirm
RIM haf cIov, tior min I.o
issued calling out the reserves.
The johannesburg correspondent of the
Standard says: II learn from an official
who has been earnestly striving for peace
that the matter Is now hopeless. The
Beers will probably declare war at forty
eight hours notice and will try to raid Natal
before the British troops arrive. believe
the Orange Free State will join the Trans
vaal, but that the Beers i'm Natal and the
Cape Colony will remain quiet at the out
set unless irritated by the dismissal of the
Cape Colony Cabinet. The Beers have the
fullest confidence in their magazine rifle
and their skill in craftsmanship. State At
torney SHUTS is the chief inciter of the war
party. Thirty thousand men in the Trans
vaal and 10000 in the Orange Free State
will take the field
The Times prints letter from the bishop
of Pretoria appealing for funds TO relieve
the terrible distress caused by the pro-
tracted tension and the fears of war.
A dispatch to the Daily Mail from Della
goa bay says the refugees from Barberton
declare that they were warned TO leave, as
the Beers intended to Gordon the district.
There are numerous other dispatches giving
rumors as to war plans and preparations
the probable attitude OF the natives and
possible Developments.