CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

Manawatu Herald, 23 May 1899, Page 2

CONDENSED CABLEGRAMS.

The Transvaal. Among the residents of Petoria. there has been much excitement with regard to the arrests of British subjects at Johannesburg. The interest in the matter is, however, now subsiding. The Continental press endorses the view taken in England that the alleged conspiracy at Johannesbury is an incident of a very trivial character. The Secretary of State for the Colonies (the Bight Hon. J. Chamberlain) has Bent another important despatch to the Transvaal Government with regard to the grievances of the British residents in Johannesburg. The subjects chiefly dealt with are the restriction of the franchise, the lawoourt scandal and the dynamite monopoly. It is stated that the tone of the despatch it somewhat peremptory. Dr Leyds, formerly State Secretary in the Transvaal Government, and now diplomatic representative of the Republic in Europe, has just visited Paris, and had an interview with M Delcasse, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs in the endeavour to procure support as against the pressure which Britain is expected to exert for the purpose of ensuring reform in Transvaal affairs. The reply of the French Minister to the Boer diplomatist's advances showed that the policy of France towards the Transvaal had become more closely identified with that of Great Britain than had been supposed. Sir Alfred Milner, the Governor of Cape Colony, and High Commissioner of South Africa has agred to meet Mr Paul Kruger, the President of the Transvaal at Bloemfontein, the capital of the Orange Free States, on the 30th inst. with the object of endeavourtng to arrive at an arrangemant which the British Government could recommend to the outlanderg to accept as a reasonable settlement of their difficulties. Mr Kruger states that be is

prepared to discuss proposals for a good understanding between the Boers and the outlanders, provided the independence of the Transvaal is not impugned.