Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-09-28

London. Sept. 23-The Imperial gov
eminent, it is understood, last night
cabled Sir Alfred Miner, British
high commissioner for south At
RIGA, message, in accordance
with the cabinets decision.
This message is to be handed to the
Transvaal government and will prob
ably be published by it Tuesday. 1t
opens with an expression of regret at
the unfavorable character of Secretary
Reitz's last reply and proceeds with
firm insistance upon reputation of the
claim Of the Transvaal to the satus Of a
sovereign state, once more pointing
out Great Rritain's readiness to settle
at once the nature Of the proposed ar
bitration tribunal provided other Brit
ish conditions are promptly and unre-
servedly accepted and concluding with
an inJimation that the imperial gov
eminent is now engaged in drawing up
its own terms and that the Transvaal
may expect to hear them shortly.
Another meeting of the cabinet will
take place next Thursday or Friday
|
more serious shape. In the meantime
no active steps will be taken to send an
army corps to south Africa, but prepa-
rations Of a general nature will con-
tinue quietly for the dispatch of
number Of troops under General Sir
Redvers Butler should President Kru-
ger decline to avail himself of the
further opportunities now given for
compromise. The Standard says it is
| believed that the government has de-
cided to convene parliament next
| month.
Many Foreign Volunteers.
Pretoria Sept 23.-President Kru-
ger was in Geographic conference with
| President Steyn Friday regarding the
situation, and the decision of the raad
of the Orange Free state is awaited
with interest. Large numbers of local
Danes, Germans, Frenchmen, Hol-
! landers and Americans have offered
| their services to the cOmmandant, Col.
Joubert, in the event of hoStilities. The
elder burghers still fail to see grounds
for casus belli, but if Chamberlain
makes what they would characterize as
'humiliating demands" such as, for
instance, disarmament, war would be
inevitable.
A green book has been Issued con-
tanning the report of State Attorney
SHUTS to the government on the con-
| ferences between himself and the Brit
ish Diplomatic agent, COnyngham
greene, leading to the conditional five
year. franchise proposal. SHUTS as
serts that the proposal was the result
OF private discussion and the ar
rangement was that both should in
formally decide about the offer and it's
acceptance before the offer should be
formally submitted. He also contends
that the exact draft of the offer was
wired to the British high commission
er, Sir Alfred Miner, and that the i'm
perial government sent a dispatch to
Greene which the latter interpreted as
al acceptance of the offer. SHUTS
says that had the Transvaal known
! that any difficulty would
| be raised about suzerainty
his government would never have
made the proposal but would have
probably Immediately accepted the in
vitation for joint commission Of in
quiry regarding the seven year pro-
posal. He also denies that he prom
Used Greene that the new members Of
the raad would be allowed to speak
English. All he said on this subject,
he declares, was that the matter would
easily settle itself, and he shows that,
in telegram to Sir Alfred Miner, no
mention was made of this subject.
The government denies that State
Attorney SHUTS has informed Conyn-
ham Greene that Iurther British mObi-
lization would be regarded as an I'M
friendly act. F. w. Reitz, state secre-
| tary, says that when martial law is
proclaimed it will apply to the who'll
country.
Kruger Is Hopeful
Cape Town, Sept. 23.-Writing to an
intimate friend here, President Kruger
says: Things are serious and will
! become graver, but peaceful settle
/ Ii