THE TRANSVAAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1263, 14 May 1896, Page 36

THE TRANSVAAL.

Pretoria, May 5. President Krugor's message to the Volksraad was of a pacific nature.

He stated that he hoped soon to meet the delegates of the Orange Free State to discuss the terms of union with them. Pretoria, May G.

The Transvaal Government has published extracts from the letter-book of Mr Lionel Phillips, one of the prisoners. Writing to Mr Werner, hi* financial agent, in London, in July, 1891, he says Lord Loch stated that he would certainly come if Johannesburg possessed 3000 rifles and ammunition,

Much drilling is si ill going on at Pretoria.

It is reported tint Sir J. Do Wet, the British agent, lias been recalled. President Kruger's messages to the Volksraad indicates that it is intended to bring down measures dealing with th« education question, but he makes no references to the grievances of the Reformers or to concessions Heaffiibules Dr Jameson's raid to malevolence. The President also announced his intention of establishing two Consular agencies in Germany. Pretoria, May 7.

It is reported that the Executive has been delayed m coming to a decision upon the question of the Sentences passe.l upon the Reformers owing to General Joiibert's insisting upon unanimity. HoBART, May (>.

The Premier has wired to the Premier of New South Wales, urging that a joint cable message lie sent by the colonial Governments to President Kruger, a-kin;;-that leniency be extended towards the members of the Reform Committee. London, -May 9. In the- House of Commons, Sir Win. Ilareourt, Leader of the Opposition, discussing the Transvaal question, declared that the cypher messages recently discovered among the effects of the raiders of the Transvaal proved that the professions of the Outlanders for reforms wore merely a stock-jobbing dodge which Mr Cecil Rhodes had actuated. The power of settlement in the Transvaal and the removal of the racial difficulty were, ho held, impossible whilst such matters were controlled by the South African Chartered Company. Ho demanded the removal of Mr Rhodes, and a re-forming of the Chartered Company's board of direcMr Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, in reply, condemned the cypher, though, ho said, it was not of supremo importance as compared with the main principle at stake—that it was the Government policy to maintain a paramount State and reunito the races. No doubt there were faults on both sides, and the Boers, he declared, were constantly breaking the condition. It was

not, Mr Chamberlain went on to say, the intention of the Government to recall Sir Hercules Robinson from Capo Colony, but the action which had been taken in summoning him to London was only for the purpose of consultation. Referring to the statement that Sir Jacobus De Wet, British Consul at Pretoria, had been recalled, he explained that that gentleman had had a long term of oliice, and by his close attention to official matters was entitled to well-earned rest. Though there was only an opinion as to the complicity of MiRhodes in the Transvaal raid, it would bo unfair to forget his great services to South Africa. He offered no opinion as to the acceptance of Mr Rhodes' resignation. When the judiciary had finished there would bo a searching enquiry into the affairs of the Chartered Company by a committee of the Lords and Commons.

The speech generally was well received, though the Opposition aro clamorous for Sir H. Robinson's removal.

Additional cipher messages, also extracts from White's note-book, show that Colonel Rhodes in November demanded that the entire Government must be in the hands of Mr Cecil Rhodes, and that the Rand was arranging for 1000 men to assist Dr Jameson's entry on December 29th.

Mr Hawksley, solicitor, has published a statement at tho request of Dr Jameson, exonerating the Chartered Company from complicity in the raid. The directors of the Company cabled to Mr Cecil Rhodes slating that President Krugor's revelations had caused universal excitement, in consequence of which they hesitated to accepo his (Mr Rhodes') resignation.

Mr Rhodes replied asking the directors to defer the final decisiou of the matter, and the directors have agreed to do so. Berlin, May 9.

An inspired article in a newspaper states that President Kruger possesses a proclamation of the Reform Committee to the effect that Charles Leonard was to be President of the Republic, Lionel Phillips Secretary of State and J. 11. Hammond Attorney-General.

The at tide adds that the revolution failed owing to a disagreement between the reformers and Mr Rhodes, who was confident of his action being sanctioned, and who, if successful, would have claimed the Presidency of the South African States. Capetown. May 9.

The House of Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution to the ell'eet that it hopes that Sir Hercules liobiuson will peodily return

Sydney, May 7

Tho Cabinet discussed the proposal of the Premier of Tasmania that a joint cable message bo sent to President Kruger, appealing for clemency for the prisoners, and it was decided to lake no action in the matter.