eptember._

Mr. Chamberlain replied in his despatch of September 8th. He was unable
to accept the terms of the Note of April 16th, 1898, which he had
formally refused.

He maintained that the Franchise Law was insufficient to guarantee an
immediate and effective representation of the Uitlanders.

He demanded that a joint, or unilateral, Commission should be instituted
to examine whether the law on the Franchise were not rendered
inoperative by the conditions which would make such representations
impossible.

The acceptance of these propositions by the South African Republic
would put an end to the tension existing between the two
Governments, and, in all probability, would render ulterior
intervention on the part of Her Majesty's Government to ensure
redress of the Uitlanders' grievances unnecessary, as they
themselves would thenceforth be entitled to bring them directly to
the cognizance of the Executive and the Raad.

Mr. Chamberlain adds that the British Government is prepared to
authorise a fresh Conference between the President of the South African
Republic and the High Commissioner in order to settle all details of a
Tribunal of Arbitration, and the questions capable of being submitted to
it on the basis of the Note of August 30th.

This very moderately worded despatch, embodying equally moderate
propositions, ended as follows:

"Should, however--which Her Majesty's Government earnestly trusts
may not be the case--the reply of the South African Government be
negative, or dilatory, it reserves to itself the right to consider
the situation _de novo_, and to formulate its own propositions for
a final settlement."

The Government of Pretoria replied on September 16th, by referring to
its Note of September 2nd. It devotes an entire paragraph to the
statement that the English language will not be admitted in the
Volksraad. It refuses to consider at that juncture the appointment of a
fresh Conference; it accepts, however, the proposed Joint Commission.

Mr. Chamberlain replies in his despatch of September 22nd, in which he
clearly states the attitude of the British Government. It has no desire
to interfere in any way with the independence of the South African
Republic. It has not asserted any other rights of interference in the
internal affairs of the South African Republic than those derived from
the Conventions, or "which belong to every neighbourin