The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 9, 17 June 1899, Page 2

The Transvaal.

The Transvaal outlook is more hopeful, and South African stocks are recovering, | Mr Chamberlain awaits despatches giving particulars of the Bloemfontein conference, before { issuing further instructions to Sir A. Milner. The Times states that the Cabinet has decided to exert a steady progr-essve pressure on the Transvaal Goverment. Sir A. Milner has assured a deputation that the Ontlanders 1 grievances are very real, and they are kept in a state of subjection. President Kruger's scheme which is being framed, would exclude an enormous majority, and affords no solution of the \ difficulty. Mr Chamberlain, in reply to the Uitlanders' petition, says it contains a strong indictment of Boer tyranny. The paramount power cannot permanently square the XJitlandes' treatment. He had urged reforms and suggested that the Milner-Kruger Conference be held at Pretoria, but President Kruger had induced the Orange Free State to invite him to Bloemfontein. Mr Leyds has received despatches stating that the Transvaal will continue to make concessions in regard to the franchise, independently of Britain's acceptance of arbitration. A Blue Book on the Transvaal diSßculty has been issued. Sir A. Milner in his despatch dated May sth, said that the case for intervention was overwhelming. The Uitlandera' position had tremendously cnanged for the worse since the Jameson raid. The Hpectacle of thousands of British* ers permanently in the position of helots was undermining British influence and encouraging Dutch * riisaifectio-u. There wa^ no cure for the situation except by a striking proof of Biitain's intention noii to be Gristed from South Africa. A fair measure of Uitlauder representation, was the 'true remedy for extinguishing political unrest and race feuds. Mi* Chamberlain in a despatch 1 r .said that Britain -was reluctant to ,< fceparb from her attitude of re- *,; jjks yve anji expectancy. -He hoped <r vilikt'£b& TraasYa&L would remove

the standing danger to peace, thus removing any pretext for British interference. The publication of the despatches is regarded as a veiled ultimatum. The Daily Telegraph states that the Dutch Ministry cautioned President Kruger that his policy would prove disastrous. The moderate section of the Burghers appears to favour the granting of the franchise to Uitlanders seven years after naturalisation, instead of twelve as at present, the concession to be retroactive, with the existing probationary provisions in regard to residence prior to naturalisation, j. President Kruger, in thanking the Raad for accepting his franchise proposals, declared that the other side would not concede one tittle. He did not want war, but he would not give more, God had' always defended the Boers in maintaining their independence; . The Johannesburg conspirators have been committed for trial. The feeling at Capetown / is not warlike. Enormous quantities of forage have been sent to the cavalry depots in Natal,