New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-04-08

unexpectedly withdrawn, explaining their with
Transvaal. that there exists a promise to the
railway
NATAL PREFERRED TO ENGLAND.
About this time the chances of the company
seemed so desperate that the King had actually
signed decree resembling the concession OF wnlcn
more than year unexpired. and the rever-
sion had been definitely promised to the Transvaai
Government. Fortunately, however, group OF
Delagoa Bay and East African Railway Company,
when agreed 10 undertaHe te V rt+'e+ ne 1857
1TSlI"ay ana began the work IN Ine Spills S ~,
The Trausvaal Government was thus placed IN
its hatred of Great Britain. it ought to have
joiced in the good which the Portuguese Min
colleague Mr. Van Blokland. Writing. however.
guese Minister reported bad quarter or an hour'
The visit which had to-day from the Transvaal
Minister decided me to communicate you by
telegraph my Impressions. He told me that me
resolution adopted by the Government (to continue
the concession with the Portuguese company dis
pleased in high degree the South African Repu6-
Lourenco Marques and which rather than submit
TO English influence, would prefer to unite with
In a dispatch from Mr.. Van Blokland, to the
st had the satisfaction to learn c0nhdentially on
September u last from the Colonial Minister that
His Exceency had the fixed intention TO with
draw the concession January l. 1887. In fact,
the commencement of the month of March
signed. Persons of the highest honor have affirmed
positively that they have seen the decree Never,
theless, the decree mas not appeared IN the official
Y.
maintained and satisfaction has been expressed
that the money to build has been found in London.
possible to withdraw the concession but that
nsToIg G4 DC aD 3i oy b nv 6oIarn
ment expected something else and that it has not
Tor mere question Of tariffs Your Exeelency has
| can do nothing else for the moment
In the early part of 1888 negotiations foot
from Colonel McMurdo Of a controlling interest in
the shares of the Delagoa Railway Company. and
Tir,aa he urpSS nd I.Or1
| in the House of Lords were insistent in pointing
But she nteres 9r PSeTupo r vRn
accompanied by Mr. Ovens, the banker OF the ne
| London and saw Colonel McMurdo The result of
| their visit is seen in the following kilograms:
| "Oyens London, Leyds. Pretoria, February IL.
from chief Interested party controlling interest
Delagoa Bay Railroad for e 100 GOO If +. y e3G
each Ny proposal for paying amounts s 79S T Te-
esoo o60 Tmmediafa cabie renv Beeaerts neces-
sary.'
-Blokan md London to KRUGER Pretoria February
Am here. Have read oyens telegram. Political t;s
reasons recommend proposal McMurdo told hin him
H Hag3lsn buying 0nef' are MADE AO's 'SD''
KRUEGER's ARTFUL DODGE.
President KRUGER however, thought that the rail
| way might be obtained more cheaply by coerclng
order erect this stoPpsd al Tq5 On the
Govefnment Should fix an impossible period for the
| construction of the last section by the company.
the file Of the tribunal the foowing resolution OF
| the VOlksraad, dated July Is, 1855
| Minute P, 6363s concerning the purchase OF
| shares from Mr.. McMurdo by the Governments or
| the Crown Colonies of the Cape or Natal: Minute
K, 6953-sS respecting the modification OF Articles
SO and Z Of the Railway Concession; 49,, ,-.r,
Honorable Volksraad this Correspondence, with the
| request TO approve the action of the Government
! IN temporarily stopping the continuation OF me
! works Of the railway company until an equitable
| and suitable tariff and regulation OF the railway
/ shall have been brought about"
J In a dispatch from the Transvaal State Secretary
of March 10, 1883. he insisted that the Portuguese
! Government should declare the concession forfeit
/ had not been completed. and continued:
! Il need not assure Your EXceIlency that if your
sacrifices in connection with the cancellation OF
| this concession this Government prepared To
| bear their fair share thereof. Lastly, am In
! Structed to assure Your EXceencY that this Gov
/ eminent guarantee the due carrying out of the
terms Of the railway concession in the event of It's
| being Withdrawn from the present railway com
! pany."
The Portuguese Minister at The Hague in a dis
| The Government Of Pretoria presses abso-
lutte condition of signing the frontier convention
the fixing of the LIST Of next December the date
struct the last section OF the railway TO the from
tier the alternative being the concession of tram
way 10 the Transvaal from the frontier TO LOurencC
! MARQUES. SAID 10 Ar. van Eokland that the
/ period seemed to short enough
! The Transvaal Government was thus only willing
10 allow the unfortunate company i've and one-hali
months for the construction, but the Portuguese
Government did not it's way with any PLAUSIBLE
ity accord less than eight months. of which II is
few months later the sword of Damocles" fell on
| the head Of the unfortunate company. the Trans
"a ordering the construction of the last section
I within eight months, OF which five in the
rainy season. was Issued, resulting ultimately In