The Transvaal.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume 29, Issue II, 3 August 1899, Page 3

The Transvaal.

In the House of Loids, Lord Salisbury said that the conventions with the Transvaal must not be considered' immovable landmarks. If they are disturbed something must be substituted which will not allow of a revival of the old formidable difficulties. 1 1' Satisfaction is expressed at Pretoria at the tone of 'the Imperial debate" on the present difficulty. It is considered |that Mr Chamberlain's suggested joint iinquiry reference to ihe'fr'anclnsa ;ought to ba extended to all existing dispute's. ( , Mti Reitz, interviewed, express^! . himself pleased with Lord Salisbury^ speech. Unless the joint cbmimssjon inquired into the' question of arbiijra" ,tion and the scope of thg conventions, , besides the franchise, it would bo tanta-V 'mount to legislating on the internal affairs of the Transvaal through the Commission, thus infringing its independence. President Kruger has aelced the

Valksraad to abolieh..t}iß raligj^tig^ disabilities clause in the ontK of allegiance. ' . . i „ ,%i \ .. General Joubert has - accepted th# proffered services of the Besaiy* Artillery, numbering 1000, hx&riy^pf whom are German and Dutch eisoldiers. Colonel Viljoen orgauises a volunteer cavalry corps of Continental ex-soldiers. Sis hundred lances and 600 sabres have been ordered from Germany, t , I The Times warns President Kruger i that unless the minimum demand of | the Uitlaiiders, as set forljh In Sir Aj ■ M liner's proposals at tb§ Bloemfontein Conference, is conceded in full, the Uitlandeis' rights will be enforced. The St James' Gazette announces' that the Boers are making headlong prepai'atioas in case of emergencies, and that ammunition is being distributed in both republics. The Standard stated that the feeling in Pretona is one of indignation and anuoyance. The Boers believe that seven years' franchi»9 would have sufficed. Some tear that the 'insistence on an irreducible minimum by England implies annexation, and they advocate arming forthwith, and declare that the Transvaal is ready with 30,000," and the Orange Free State with 20.000* troops. Both the Daily Telegraph and Daily News state that the Transvaal Government will accept a joint Commission of Enquiry if arbitration a* woll as all outstanding points are included.