Los Angeles Herald, Number 358, 23 September 1899 — British Cabinet Council [ARTICLE]

British Cabinet Council

London, Sept. 22.—A Cabinet Council was held today, beginning at 2:30. A large crowd assembled about Downing street early in the day. The Cabinet Ministers were loudly cheered, the Secretary of State lor the Colonies Mr. Chamberlain, receiving the lion's share of the applause. Previous to the meeting of the Cabinet, Baron Rothschild visited the First Lord of the Treasury, Mr. Balfour. The circumstance is unusual and it is said to be in connection with the money difficulties the government is encountering regarding the prospective military campaign. When the Cabinet went into session no new developments in the Transvaal situation had transpired. The dispatches from the Cape continued of a warlike tone and voiced the indignation of the British contingent against the Orange Free State and Africander attitudes. The impression current here, though not based on anything tangible, was that, publicly, the Cabinet would only take steps tending to protect the negotiations, while, secretly, it would prepare the details of an aggressive campaign, perhaps deciding to convoke parliament, though it was scarcely believed the latter determination would be announced immediately. News from South Africa is eagerly awaited, as many think the Cabinet Council will be immediately followed by a Boer raid. The Pall Mall Gazette this afternoon published a dispatch from Cape Town, which says it is stated the Boers have given a guarantee to their sympathizers in the Orange Free State and Cape Colony that the Transvaal will be the first to make war. The Cabinet meeting ended at 2:40 p. m. The Ministers were cheered as they came out. Nothing transpired regarding the action taken, though the general Impression spread that a vigorous line had been adopted. The Secretary of State for War, the Marquis of Lansdowne, and the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. George Goschen, at once proceeded to the War Office. Immediately after the Cabinet Council, the German Ambasador, Count von Hatz-feldt-Wildenburg, visited the Premier, Lord Salisbury, and Had a long conference with him. The fact that a similar visit Immediately followed the previous council, leads some persons to attach significance to it, and to Infer that Emperor William of Germany Is taking an active part in Transvaal affairs. The official German press, however, has been so outspoEen in telling President Kruger that he need not expect German aid that it is scarcely possible to attach credence to that interference. It Is much more probable that the question of Delagoa Bay was discussed, If the dispatch printed today by the Pioneer of Allahabad, saying negotiations had been concluded by Great Britain for taking possession of "Delagoa Bay November 1, is correct. Many rumors are current regarding the result of the Cabinet, many professing to be based on reliable sources. But they are vague and contradictory. One news agency announces that immediate and decisive action has not been decided upon. Later in the day various rumors were still current regarding the Cabinet meeting, but the following, which the Pall Mall Gazette publishes, is believecT to be correct: "The comparatively short duration of the Council warrants the conclusion that nothing of importance was decided at it and such we believe to be the fact.* ••Information in our possession is to the effect that it was an Interim Cabinet summoned to consider an interim dispatch. It is believed that this paper, which met with the universal approval of Mr. Chamberlain's colleagues, will be published as soon as received by the Boer government cn Monday or at least on Tuesday." According to the P%ll Mall Gazette the dispatch opens with an expression of regret at the unfavorable character ot Sec-

retary Reltz's latest reply, and confTnuefl with a very llrm Insistence upon the repudlation of the claim of the Transvaal to the status of a sovereign State, one# more pointing out British readiness settie at once the nature of the proposed arbitration tribunal provided the other British conditions are promptly and upreservedly accepted, and concluding with the intimation that the Imperial government is now engaged in drawing up its own terms and that the Transvaal may expect to hear from them very shortly.