THE SOUTH AFRICAN CRISIS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11319, 1 September 1899, Page 3

THE SOUTH AFRICAN CRISIS.

KRUGER'S COUNTER PROPOSALS. CHAMBERLAIN'S VIEWS THEREON. HE PROPOSES FRESH CONFERENCE. WAR REGARDED INEVITABLE. Becoived September 1, 1 a.m. London, August 31. Advices from Pretoria state that Mr Chamberlain does not regard the counter proposalamade by President Kroger as a reply to his proposal for a joint inquiry. He considers the. proffered five years' franchise and one-fonrth seats and equal rights in the election of President equivalent to Sir Alfred Milner's original proposals, but concerning the question of suzerainty he reaffirms his previous dispatch, declining any dismission thereon and noninterference in the future. He expresses the hope that there will be no occasion to do bo, if the question of the outlanders' equality is settled, but Great Britain is unable to relinquish the rights comprised in both Conventions. Mr Chamberlain proposed a second conference at Capetown to arrange arbitration. The Transvaal considers the counter proposals were to be considered on their merits, and intends to forward a reply in the course of a week, while many officials in Pretoria profess to regard war as almost inevitable.