The morning news., 1899-10-18

President Kruger. The Beers asked that
all differences between the two govern
ments be submitted to impartial arbitra-
tl1n. Mr.. Chamberlain refused on Oct.
| lS' 1898, raising the claim of suzerainty
and saying that the convention was nor
IKE treaty between two independent
states, but was an agreement whereby the
queen as sovereign granted certain rights
OF Selt-goVetnment to the TransVaal while
retaining her suzerainty.
Ihls enVeloped the British government
IN an atmosphere of suspicion. and is
largely responsible for ali tba diflcnItios
since.
During the present summer the Beers
. actually granted all of Englands original
contentious They have passed law re
ouclnS the term of residence for naturall-
zatlon purposes to seven years. The hitch
h the negotiations has been partly the
question of suzerainty, partly the British
determination TO have a joint British Boer
inquiry into the workings of the franchise.
partly the British refusal 10 submit the
other dsagreements to impartial arbitra-
ton.
The rupture came about in this man.
ner:
on Aug. q the Beers, having been as
sured by the British agent ar Pretoria
Mr. Greene and by Sir Alfred Miner thai
lAe proposals they submitted would in no
way AFFECT the status of their case ana
would IN all probability be accepted sent
the following propositions:
1Hat they would reduce the residence
AoI ehlranchIsement to five years and in
s,Isule Csl an the electoral and representation
REFORMS asked by Britain on condition m
mat Great Britain should promise 10 not
interfere again in the Internal affairs of
the republic; % that nothing more should
De SAID about ''suzerainty;" 90 that al
matters in dispute should be submitted to
arbitration.
That is, the Beers were willing 10 RIM
the risk of being reduced 10 a minority in
tnelr own republic provided that the in
tesrlty OF the republic sEou,d be thus
Mr.. Chamberlain rejected these proposals
ana put forward fresh proposals, making
larger demands than ever The Trans
Naai government then withdrew its nro-
posais and asked that Great Britain drons
its fresh proposals and 90 back to The
original proposals. The TransvaaI govern
ment profeased itself ready to accent those
proposals.
On Sept % Mr. Chamberlain sent this
reply, breaking off negotiations and fore
shadowing an ultimatum:
The imperial government are now com
peLed to consider the situation afresb and
formulate proposals for final settle1,ont
OF the issues which have been created in
south Africa by the policy constantly fol
iowed Tor many years by the government
OF the south African Republic 0he Trans
vaaO.
They Will communicate the result of
their deliberations in a later djsnatcb "
me Boers had been stunned by the Brit
lsh rejection of their proposals of Ans
Il Mr Greene had told them that those
proposals would probably be accented He
recommended them to Sir Alfred Miner
m rn an oIhclal note for acceptance bv the
bIlush government. During the latter MARI
Oh august and throughout September
freat Brltain pressed preparat ions for war
III oouth Africa. After Mr.. Chamberlain
sent MS ultimatum, or rather foresbadou,
ing OF an uitimatum, on Sept. % these nrnn-
aralons We're pushed with vigor. and Mr.
Chamberlain and other members Of The
sOverhneht made war speeches.
Inc Boers decided that the last hone or
pedce was gone. They waited for Ntr
Cham pertains promised ultimatum untii
Oct. D. Ihen they sent him an ultinnat,,y,
demanding an agreement to impartial a.
pltratlon ana the eessa ton of the 90
paign OF military investment of the Trans
Vaal. u 'le trans
MT. Chamberlain's ultimatum. embodvir..
the nhal proposals of the British eoI,arr
meht, winch the Transvaal must accan,
OF go to war, was going over the U,ira..
to South Africa while the Boer nlttr,at,,r-s
""s On It's way 10 London II has never
oeeh published. There is up to the nres-
ent time no trustworthy information as ~
its contents. 'S u