The record-union., 1899-09-15
Evidently Not as COncillatory as Was Ex-
pected, From Action Taken.
A Correspondent at Cape Town
Telegraphs That the Outlook is
of the G1oomiest Character -
The Burghers of the Orange
Free State Pass a Resolution
to Stand Shoulder to Shoulder
With the TransvaaI in Case of
Hosti1ities.

PRETORIA, Sept. 14.-The decision
of the first draft of the reply to the
British note ended this evening, Pres
ident Kruger having left at o'clock,
and not having returned.
1t is understood that the Government
will draw up the reply in it's final form
tomorrow morning, and immediately
submit the same to the Volksraad. The
reply will be in terms strongly infiu-
enced by the Orange Free State, and
among other features, the maintenance
of the convention of 1881 will be
strongly asserted.
The situation this evening is not
considered so favorable as it was dur
ing the forenoon.
LONDON, Sept. IA forecast of the
draft of the TransvaaPs reply to the
last note of the British Secretary OF
State for the Colonies, Mr.. Chamber
lain, now under discussion by the
yolksraad, has been received by Mr..
Chamberlain, but its nature is not yet
known.
At the Colonial Office a reporter of
the Associated Press was Informed that
nothing will be given out for the pres
ent.
It was regarded as significant, how
ever. that the nature of the Boer reply
was communicated to the Commander
in Chief, Field Marshal Lord Wolseley,
who Immediately summoned Generai
Sir George Stewart White, Y. c., former
Quartermaster General, the prospective
commander of the British force in Ma
tai.
800 D. NAT this hour the South
African advices continue most con-
fiicting regarding the tenor of Presi-
dent Kruger's answer to Mr.. Cham
berlain.
The Morning Post" in second ed1-
ton, in a special dispatch from Pieter-
martizburg. capital of Natal, says the
reply is 'truculent, loquacious and bias
phemous."
The Manchester Guardians" corre-
spondent at Cape Town telegraphs say
ing the outlook is of the gloomiest
character.
The Cape Town papers themselves
take a more hopeful view of the situa-
ton, basing their belief on the prob
able acceptance by President Kruger
of the franchise measures suggested N
Mr.. Chamberlains latest dispatch. But
even they admit that it is impossible
to learn or foreshadow President Kru-
gers attitude toward the suZerainty
of Great Britain, which, after all, is
still the main issue.
The tension now existing here and at
Io a14i1x
at any moment by the publication OF
President Kruger's reply On the other
hand it may be several days before
the general public learns what answer
the Transvaal has made. If President
Kruger has answered defiantly, it does
not necessarily mean the immediate
breaking off of negotiations. The Brit
ish would probably reply with an un-
mistakable ultimatum. It is scarcely
to their advantage to bring about nos
tilitieS until their reinforcements are
nearer the scene of action than they
are at present. Whatever the nature
of President Krugers reply, it is prob
able that several more stages of dip
lomatic processes will be gone through
with before there is a definite war or
peace. unless. of course, President Kru-
ger should take the initiative and raid
Natal. 1t is the possibility of this
move that makes definite news of his
reply SO eagerly and anxiously awaited
REPLY WILL BE UNSATISFAC-
TORY.
LONDON, Sept. 1.-THE Consul Gen.
eral of the South African Republic,
Montague White, said to- a representa-
tive of the Associated Press to-day:
81 have good authority for believing
that the Transvaal reply will be un-
satisfactory to the British Govern
ment."
The news received by Mr.. Chamber
lain to-day, it is now said, was prob
ably information regarding the nature
of the Boer reply. Whether this came
from President Kruger, or was merely
the British agents forecast, it is inn
possible to say.
The text of the reply will not be
received, in all probability, for several
days.
The latest advices from Pretoria say
the Transvaal Government has COM
pleted the first draft of the reply which
was then being considered by the
RaadS in secret session.
PUBLIC FEELING RUNNING VERY
HIGH
LONDON, Sept. 1.-THE Pretoria
correspondent of the Times says: 1t
is very doubtful whether an unqual-
flied acceptance of Great Britains de-
mands will be given.
The Paris correspondent of the
Times says Del Casse, the French
Foreign Minister, has directed the
French Consul in the Transvaal to
endeavor to persuade President Kru-
ger to accept Mr.. Chamberlain pro-
posal.
The Pretoria correspondent Of the
Daily Telegraph says: The members
of the Volksraad received Mr.. Cham
berlain's dispatch defiantly to-day
CThursday). Individual members de-
clare that Great Britain must moder-
ate her demands. On the other hand,
y11te1 iS c1rY.rn,,t 3I1,.er;s1ay,i