The record-union., 1899-09-14

CAPE TOWN, September 13.-It is
asserued in Afrikander circles here that
the Transvaal Government will accept
the British note leaving the question
of suzerainty on the basis of the con-
vention of 1884.
The report as to a time limit of for
ty-eight hours arose from the fact that
the British diplomatic agent at Pre-
toria, Conyngham Green, in presenting
Mr. Chamberlain's dispatch, expressed
a hope that a reply would be given by
the TransvaaI Government by Thurs
day.
Military developments continue and
the work of preparation for emergen-
cies goes on. Upon the arrival of the
next batch of British troops the head
quarters staff of the royal artillery will
be transferred to Kimberly whittier a
battery will proceed to protect the dia-
mond mines.
REPLY MAY BE MADE TO-DAY.
PRETORIA, Sept 13- President
Kruger and the Executive Council met
here this evening to consider the re-
ply to be made to the British Secre-
tary of State for the Colonies, Mr..
II.
by telegraph with the Orange Free
State The decision is anxiously await
ed by the crowds outside the executive
building.
A communication has been received
from the Imperial Government stating
that although anxious for a prompt re-
ply, the imperial authorities do not de-
sire to tie the Transvaal authorities
down to forty-eight hours.
The reply will possibly come before
the Volksraad tomorrow. The decis-
ion Of the Executive will undoubtedly
be influenced by the action of tnS
Orange Free State.
The Government is still willing to
attend the joint committee originally
proposed.
The Transvaal War Office denies any
knowledge of the reported offer of TO-,
COO Irish-Americans to fight against
Great Britain.
KRUGER URGED TO YIELD.
LONDON, Sept. 13.-A special dis
patch from Pretoria says the leaders of
the Afrikander Bund have telegraphed
to President Kruger urging him to
yield to Mr.. Chamberlain's last de-
mands.
CHAMI3EKIAIN. - MULE.
LONDON, Sept. 13. A representa-
tive Of the Associated Press learned
to-day that the British message to the
Transyaal does not demand a reply in
forty-eight hours. the exact wording
being a request for ''an immediate re
ply" The message is not an ultimat-
um, in the generally accepted sense of
the word. but it expresses the nope
that President Kruger will accept the
propositions TO relieve the present ten
sion"
The only part which is at all aggres-
sive is the reiterated declination of the
British Government to discuss the mat
ter of sovereignty in any shape or
form.
The British officials refuse to deny
or affirm the correctness of the latest
Pretoria dispatches. saying that the
British terms are as outlined in the
special dispatch from Pretoria, cabled
to the Associated Press last night,
namely, a ffve-years' franchise, a quar-
ter representation for the gold fields in
the Volksraad, equality for the British
and Dutch in the Volksraad and equal
ly for the old and new Burghers in re-
gard to Presidential and other elections.
A special dispatch to the Pail Mall
Gazette" from Cape Town says:
1.-The British reply is regarded as
equivalent to an ultimatum, and the
correspondents advices from Pretoria
indicate that war is inevitable"
A Pretoria special to the Cape
Times says the Transvaal has noti-
fed the miners of Italy that it will
give them a safe conduct and protec-
ton in case they wish to remain in the
Transvaal.
The report that the. Rand Irishmen
have formed a corps to help President
Kruger is confirmed, and it is said at
Cape Town that a cablegram has been
received there from New York saying
ten thousand Irishmen there are ready
to help the Transvaal.
The Orange Free State Burghers are
reported to be bitterly divided over the
merits of the controversy and then
probable course in case of war.
The message from the Secretary of
State for the Colonies. Mr.. Chamber,
lain, says he understands the conces~
sions made in President Kruger's note
of August 18th have been withdrawn
on account of the British attitude re-
garding suzerainty, and adds:
Her majesty Government has abSO-
lutely repudiated the view of the polit-
ical status of the Transvaal taken by
the Transvaal Government, claiming
the status of a sovereign state, and
therefore are unable to consider any
proposal made conditionally on their
acceptance of this view
Continuing, the note says that the
British Government is satisfied that the
law embodying the proposed alleviat-
ing meaures for Outlanders is ineffi-
cient to secure immediate and substan-
tia1 representation. which, it is under
stood. the Transvaal admits to be rea-
sonable. 1t then says:
Moreover. the presentation of the
proposals in the note of August 9th
Indicates that the Government of the
South African republic themselves rec
ognized that their previous offers might
with advantage be enlarged and the
independence of the republic thereby
in no way be impaired"
The dispatch then goes on to say that
Great Britain is still prepared ito ac-
cept the franchise proposals Of August