THE TRANSVAAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2358, 4 May 1899, Page 13

THE TRANSVAAL.

UITLANJDEBS' GRIEVANCES. INCREASING ANXIETY. LONDON, April 25. In Committee -of Supply in the House of j Commons, Mr Chamberlain defended the j item for the erection of barracks at Capei town, saying it was necessary for Britain ; to be ready to meet all possible attacks. , ' The Transvaal Government had enormously increased their forces, and therefore it was necessary to increase the British garrison. The policy was identical with that purI sued in regard to the navy. April 26. The South African League, sitting in Congress, have cabled to the Imperial i African League, which includes 50 members of the House of Commons, that they will ' support the Transvaal Uitlanders' great j petition to 'the Queen praying for a redress i of their grievances. April 29. In the House of Commons Mr Chamberi kin said Britain had informed President ' Kruger that the dynamite concession was a ! breach of the convention. President Kruger' s reply will shortly be published. The anxiety respecting the Transvaal is increasing. The Daily Chronicle says j President Kruger's obstinacy and disregard i of warnings are likely to have disastrous .. results. j . . , - ' On the subject of the Transvaal, Mr Chamj berlain, on March 20, .said that not one of President Kruger's promises to remedy-griev- ; ances had been fulfilled. Touching'upon the , speech delivered by President Kruger at HeiI delberg, South African Republic, during | which the President emphasised the necessity j of the State retaining the dynamite monopoly because the South African Republic,' being an inland State, might be cut off from supplies of explosives in the event of trouble with any of the Powers, and during which he also announced his intention to modify the mining 1 laws and to reduce the period entitling an aplicant to full burghership from 14 to nine years' residence, said the promises were all illusory. Mr Chamberlain then claimed that the proposed change in the franchise was not of the slightest value ; that dynamite was still ' a monopoly, and that there had be no advance toward remedying other grievances. Mr [ Chamberlain asserted that if President Kru- ■ ger would give the Johannesburgers a real municipality, with control of their own edu- ; cationnl system and civil police, as he could do without the slightest derogation to the mii terests and dignity of the Transvaal, he would remove nine out of 10 Uitlanders' grievances. y Great Britain, Mr Chamberlain then pointed out, could only intervene in the event of a ] breach of the London convention, or if the ; comity of nations was not observed. As the 1 i paramount Power in South Africa, Groat Bri- ' tain could make friendly suggestions, but he j (Mr Chamberlain) did not believe for a i moment that they would be successful now, ' and, therefore, it would be undignified to j make them. Mr Chamberlain concluded with saying: "As long as the present conditions j continue they constitute a real danger." We ! ; are watching the situation most carefully ; j but thus far there has been nothing to justify : an ultimatum, and, failing compliance, wax*, 1 which seems to have been suggested by a pret | vious speaker."