New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-01
THE TROUBLE N SOUTH AFRICA.

The Transvaal has carried It's blufiing too far
That. III the collo1uial phrase of the day APP
pears to be the explanation of the present omi-
aous state Of affairs in South Africa There is
4 point AT which patience in diplomatic negota-
lions will give out. We DO not say it has been
reached In this case We most sincerely hope It
nas not. But there is 10 concealing the fact that
It is at least within measurable distance and
MAT 1t now rests with the Transvaal itself 10 de-
lermlne whether it shall be attained or further
removed. To say that is by no means to say
that the Transyaal is altogether in the wrong
Il is merely to echo what the Transvaals fore
most advocate and champion in England re-
.cntly admitted would be said with added force
that the conduct Of the Pretoria Government is
shlfty and impractical OF course 1t might be
that and yet be largely In the right good
sause may be advocated In bad or at least an
Unfortunate. way Without attempting to judge
he goodness or the badness of the Transvaals
tausc let us see in what way II has been urged
The British demand has been practically fixed
md unchanged from the outset. To wit: That
the Outlanders shall be enfranchised fully and
As a matter of right after not more than five
gears residence; that there shall be readjust-
ment of representation in the Legislature; that
he question Of suzeranty shall stand as ii has
been since the Convention of 1884. and that all
sther matters shall be left TO future friendly ne
goiiatl0ns between The governments or TO the
natural working out which time will bring.
That was what Sir Alfred Miner asked at
Bloemfontein. That is what Mr.. chamberlain
has since been asking The Transvaal at nrst
refused il. Offering nothing better than partial
citizenship after nine years. Then II changed II
10 seven years Then il changed it to i've years
but added the Indispensable condition that Great
Britain should absolutely renounce all sue
rointy claims Then ii withdrew that offer ana
accused Great Britain of trckery and bad faith
charges which have not been in the least sub
,tantiated and which the British Government
promptly and emphatically denied. In the mean
lime the Transvaal pressed with feyerlsh haste
every possible preparation for war. Ana now
hat Great Britain. after repeated warnings that
The would have in time TO do so, has cancelled
al former offers and proposes 10 start anew the
rransyaal President declares that he is being
forced into war. That is the case as ii stands
Today.
What the British Government will now do IS
not publicly known. One reasonable report IS
that IL will simply revert 10 the Convention Of
1884 aud demand its fulfilment. Another report
from q not always accurate source says six
things VIII be demanded: Full and free fran
ehise on five years residence; municipal self
government at johannesburg; independence Of
he judiciary; abolition Of the dynamite mOnop
by; removal Of the forts menacing Johannes
burg and teaching Of English in the Johannes
burg schools which are supported by English
men and attended by English children We
suppose that no one outside of the Transyaal
will for moment dispute the fact that every
,ne OF these demands is reasonable and ought to
De granted. But neither is it TO be denied that
zone Of them are matters pertaining solely to
the domestic affairs Of the Transvaal with
which Great Britain is pledged not to meddle