Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-14
British Colonial Office Refuses to Dis
close Its Purport
MILITARY CHIEFS In CONFERENCE
News From South Africa of Very
Conflicting Character.
FEAR OF RAID ON NATAL

LONDON, September H.-The Trans
walls reply to the last note of the Brit sh
secretary of state for the colonies, Mr..
Chamberlain, has been received, but its
nature is not yet known.
At the colonial office reporter of the AS
sociated Press was informed that moth ng
will be given out for the present. 1t was
regarded as significant, however, that the
nature of the Boer reply was commun cat
ed to the commander-in-ch eff, Field Mar
shall Lord Wolseley, who Immediately sum-
moned General Sir George Stewart White,
the prospective commander of the British
forces in Natal.
South African advices continue most con-
iicting regarding the tenor of President
Kruger's answer to MIR. Cnamberla
The Morning Post, in a second edition,
prints a special dispatch from PietermaritZ-
burg, capital of Natal, saying the reply is
"truculent, loquacious and blasphemous."
Gloomy View at Cape Town.
The Manchester Guardians corresp ndent
at Cape Town telegraphs that the outlook
if of the gloomiest character.
1ne Cape Town papers themselves take
a more hopeful view of the situation, bas-
ing their belief the probable acceptance
by President Kruger of the franchise meas
Ures suggested i'll Mr.. Chamberlains latest
Gispatcn. But even they admit ii is i'm
possible to learn or foreshadow President
kruSer's attitude toward the suzerainty
Of Great Britain, which, after ali, is still
the main issue.
The tension now existing here and at the
Cape may be temporarily settled at any
moment by the publication of President
kruSer's reply. On the other hand it may
be several days before the gen raj public
learn what answer the TransvaaI has
made. If President Kruger has answered
defiantly, 1t does not necessarily m an the
immediate breaking off of negotiations.
The British would probably reply with an
unmistakable ultimatum. 1t is scarcely to
their advantage to bring about hostilties
until the reinforcements are nearer the
scene of action than they are at present
Whatever the nature of President kru-
gers reply, it is probable that several more
stages of diplomatic processes will be gone
through with before here is 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 Probably Unsatisfactcry.
LONDON, September 1.-THE consul gen.
eral of the South African Republic, Mr..
Montagu White, said to a reporter of the
Associated Press today:
Il have good authority for believing that
the Transvaal reply will be unsatisfactory
to the British government
Iie news ItCelktu pv CndElDerldln
today, it is now said was probably infor-
nation regarding the nature of the Boer re-
ply.
Whether this came from President Kru-
ger or was merely the British agents fore
cast it is impossible to say. The text of
the reply will not be received, i'll all proba-
blllty, for several days.
The latest advices from Pretoria say the
Transvaal government has completed the
first draft of the reply, which was then
being considered by the raads in secret ses-
sion.
Grunge Free State With Kruger.
BLOEMFONTEIN, September 1.-THE
members of the raad of the Orange Free
State have been notified to be ready to be
summoned for an extraordinary session at
a moments notice
The burghers of the Orange Free State
at meeting just held, passed a resolution
to stand shoulder to shoulder with the
TranSVaal in case of hOStiiities