The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-09-18
NEGATIVE,
DEFIANT !
Is the Transvaals Answer to Great
Britain's Latest Demands.
ANXIOUS FOR ARBITRATION.

The Transvaal Government "Trusts
the British Government, on Recon
sIderation, May Not Deem It Fit TO
Mako More Onerous Proposals"
Pretoria, Sept. 1S.-The reply Of the
government of the South African re
public to the latest dispatch, dated
Sept -. of the British secretary Of
state for the colonies, Joseph Cham
berlain, after acknowledging the re-
ceipt of the British note, proceeds in
part as follows:
"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 19 and Aug. 2l We're ELECTED
from this government by suggestions
made by the British diplomatic agent
in Pretoria (Conyngham Greene) to
the Transvaal state secretary IF. w.
Reits), suggestions which this govern
ment acted upon in good faith, and
they would be likely to prove accept
able to the British government. This
government had by no means an in
tention to raise again needlessly the
question of its political status, but
acted with the sole object of endeavor-
ing, by the aid of the local British
agent, to put an end to the strained
condition of affairs.
'This was done i'm the shape of a
proposal which this government
deems, both as regards its spirit and
form, to be so worded as, relying upon
intimations to this government, would
satisfy her maiesty's government. This
government saw difficulty as to the
acceptance of these proposals by the
people and legislature of the Trans
vaal, and also contemplated possible
dangers connected Herewith, but risk
ed making them on account of a sin
cere desire to secure peace, and be-
cause assured by Mr.. Chamberlain
that such proposals would not be
deemed a refusal of his proposals, but
would be settled on their merits.
"As regards the joint commission
the Transvaal adheres to the accept
ance of the invitation thereunto given
by her majesty's government, and can
not understand why such commission
which before was deemed necessary to
explain the complicated details OF the
seven years law, should now be deem
ed unnecessary, and why 1t should
now, without much inquiry, be thought
possible to declare this law inadequate,
Further, there must be a misap-
prehension If it be assumed that this
government was prepared to lay pro-
posals for a five years franchise and
a quarter representation of the new
population before the volksraad for
unconditional acceptance. AS to the
language, this government never made
any offer such as is referred to- con-
sidering, as it did such a measure
both unnecessary and undesirable.
The proposed conference, as dis
tinct from the joint commission of in
quiry, this government is likewise not
unwilling to enter upon, but the diff
ficulty is that an acceptance thereof
is made dependent upon the accept
ance, on the side of the Transvaal, of
precedent conditions which this gov
ernment does not feel at liberty to sub
NIT to the vOlksraad; and, moreover,
the subjects to be discussed at the con-
ference remain underlined.
This government ardently desires
and gladly accepts arbitration, as its
firm intention is to adhere to the terms
of the London convention of 1884"
The dispatch concludes by trusting
that the British government, on re-
consideration, may not deem it fit to
make more onerous or new proposals,
but will adhere to Great Britain s
proposal for a joint commission of
inquiry, as previously explained by the
secretary of state for the colonies to
the imnerial DarIiament {"