The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-15
DOM PAUL'S REPLY RECEIVED.
FORECAST OF 1T NOW IN MIR. CHAM
BERLAIN's HANDS.

T.
Reports From south Africa Say the
Outlook There Is Gloomy.
London, Sept. 14-A forecast of the first
draft Of the Transvaals reply to the last
note of the British secretary of state for
the colonies, Mr.. Chamberlain now under
discussion by the Volksraad, has been re-
ceived by Mr., Chamberlain, but It's nature
is not vet known.
AT the colonial Smce a reporter of the
Associated Press was informed that moth
ing will he given out for the present
1t was regarded as significant, however,
that the nature of the Boer reply was
communicated 90 the commander in chief,
Field Marshal Lord Wolseley, who imme-
diately summoned Gen. Sir George Stew
art White V. c., former quartermaster
general the prospective commander of
the British forces in Natal.
The tension existing here and at the
Cape may be temporarily settled at any
moment by the publication of President
Krugers reply. On the other hand IL
may be several days before the general
public learns what answer the Transvaal
has made
If President Kruger has answered def
antly 1t does not necessarily mean the
immediate breaking off of negotiations
The British would probably reply with
an unmistakabe ultimatum 1t is scarce
ly to their advantage to bring about hos
tilities until the reinforcements are nearer
the scene of action than they are at pres
ent.
Whatever the nature of President Kru-
gers reply. ii Is probable that several
more stages of diplomatic processes win
be gone through with before there Is def
mite war or peace, unless of course, Pres
ident Kruger should take the initiative and
raid Natal 1t Is the possibility of this
move that makes definite news of his re-
ply so eager and anxiously waited.
Different Views of II.
The consul general of the South African
Republic Mr.. Montague White, said to a
reporter of the Associated Press to-day:
Il have good authority for believing that
the Transvaal reply will be unsatisfac-
tory TO the British government"
The Morning Post, in its second edi-
tion, prints special dispatch from Pie
termartzburg, capital of Natal, saying
the reply Is "truculent, loquaeious and
blasphemous"
The Manchester Guardians correspond
| ent at Cape Town telcgraphs that the
outlook is OF the gloomiest character.
The Cape Town papers themselves take
more hopeful view of the situation, bas-
| ing their belief on the probable accept
ance by President Kruger of the fran
chise measures suggested in Mr.. Cham
| berlan's latest dispatch. But even they
| admit it is impossible to learn or fore
shadow President Krugers attitude toward
the suzerainty of Great Britain, which,
| after ALL is still the main issue.
NJ. Iii
maintain continuous communication to-
| night with Mr.. Chamberlain at Birmins-
| ham, it IS not believed now that the re-
| suit of the debate in the Nolksraad will
| be received before Friday.
An Important Article.
Dispatches from Cape Town, dated mid
night, attach great Importance to an ar
| ticle in the Onsand, the organ of the
| Afrikander Bund which urges the Trans
| vaal government to renew its offer re-
| garding a conference, declaring that there
| is no reason why the Transvaal should not
accept a conference, and calling attention
| to the fact that the word "suzerainty' Is
| not mentioned by Mr.. Chamberlain, and
| that therefore there Is nothing to indi-
| cate any obligation on the part of either
| government to abandon its views on this
| subject
This article is understood to be the out
1 -
| held 10 discuss the Chamberlain note, and
| II is understood that the argument has
| been fortified by strong messages TO Pre-
| toria urging the Volksraad to forego the
| suzerainty objection and TO concede the
| British proposals. There is every reason
to believe that Mr. Hoffmeyer the Afri-
| kander leader, has wired President Kru-
| ger to the same effect and similar repre-
| sentations have been telegraphed from the
| Orange Free State
Feeling in south Africa.
The Pretoria correspondent of the Times
says:
1T is very doubtful whether an unqual-
! flied acceptance of Great Brtalns de-
mands will be given"
| The Paris correspondent of the Times
says NJ. Delcasse. the French foreign min
ister has directed the French consul in the
| Transvaa 10 endeavor to persuade Presi-
dent Kruger to accept Mr. Chamberlain s
| proposal
The Pretoria correspondent OF the Daily
| Telegraph says
"The members of the Volksraad received
| Mr.. Chamberlan's dispatch dehantly to-
| day Crhursday). Individual members de-
clare that Great Britain must moderate
her demands on the other hand a rumor
| Is current that President Kruger favors
| compliance and has even suggested that
he desires the irreconcilable to leave Pre-
| toTia, and consult their constituents, there
| by avoiding their opposition. This belief
| Is held in Johannesburg and accounts for
| the hopeful condition of the market, but
the general public Is pessimistlc."
The Cape Town correspondent of the
Daily News says:
"A thousand men are engaged In
strengthening the defenses of Pretoria.
Trenches are being excavated and earth
works constructed. II Is reported that both
Raads viii adjourn at the end Of the work
to enable members to consult their con-
stituents on the questions raised in Mr..
Chamberlains dispatch"
Situation Not So Favorable.
Pretoria, Sept 1.-THE discussion Of the
first draft Of the reply to the British note
ended this evening, President Kruger hav-
ing left at O'Clock and not having re-
turned.
Ii is understood that the government
will draw up the reply IN its final form
tomorrow morning and Immediately sub
nit the same TO the Volksraad. The reply
will be In terms strongly Influenced by
the Orange Free State, and among other
features, the maintenance of the conven-