The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-09
DIR. Jameson's Raid and the Chartered
C0mpany's Doing Discussed in
the House OF Comm0ns.
SPEECH BY MR.. HARCOURT
AND STATEMENT BY COLONIAL
SECRETARY CHAMBERLAIN.
Vigorous Attack by the Hon. sIabby''
ON Mr.. Cham rlain, Cecil Rhodes
and the Public Press.

teIesteu people being due 10 the TACT that
the vote of the colonial estimates was to
be taken and that 1t was to be made the
occasion OF an important exchange of ques-
tons and answers on South African affairs.
United States ambassador Bayard was
among those present
The Liberal leader. Sir William Harcourt.
asked the government to make statement
regarding the raid into the Transvaal. In
so doing, he said that the opposition had
heretofore not unduiy pressed the govern
ment on this important matter, but he
thought the time had now arrived for the
House ito be informed of the governments
intention in the case. The responsible di-
rectors Of the British Chartered South Afri-
ca Company at Cape Town and johannesburg
were, ne said, the authors Of the raid and
DR.. Jameson was only their subordinate
The government. the speaker claimed, was
responsible for the acts of the chartered
company before the nation and the world.
Applause from the opposition benches.) Con-
tinung, Sir William Harcourt remarked that
the partisans Of the company were trying
to pass off on the credulity of the people
that the raid was an impuls.ve action to
protect The people Of Johannesburg against
outrages But he could not think of any
thing more revolving than the low slang Of
the ciphergrams, which showed the true
aspects Of the affair. Sir William Harcourt
then proceeded to analyze the kilograms ex-
changed between Cecil Rhodes, Colonel
Rhodes. Rutherford Harris, Alfred Belt,
Lionel Phillips. DR.. Jameson and others just
previous to the invasion of the territory of
the South African Republic Later the OPP
position leader eulogized the promptness, de-
cision and courage of the Secretary of State
for the Colonies, Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain,
ard dwelt on the course of the chartered
Great Brit. in's reputation. Sir William
Harcourt also SAID he did not believe that
Cecil Rhodes was actuated by the desire of
GAIN but rather by greed of power The
speaker also remarked that he had noticed
with regret the deterioration of the morals
of the English press in dealing with the
CHAMBERLAIN'S REPLY.
Mr.. Chamberlain, replying to Sir William
Harcourt, said that while Cecil Rhodes's
recent actions are universally condemned,
his past services must not be forgotten.
But for Englishmen like Rhodes, English
history would be much poorer and the Brit
ish dominions would be much smaller. Gap
plause) Both the English and the Afri-
canders OF the Cape, continued Mr. Cham
beriain. thought Cecil Rhodes the greatest
benefactor the Colony had ever had. He
was powerless in future to do mischief as
not an armed man could be moved without
the authority of the governments officers
and they were ready to give President
Kruger any reasonable guarantee. With the
view or removing every shadow of suspicion,
the government had refused to advise the
chartered company relative to Mr.. Rhodes's
resignation. But, in view Of the disturbances
In Rhodesia and the impossibility of finding
Out the opinion of the settlers. they thought
1t fair that the directors should be given
time TO consider the matter. They thought
that Rhodes was in his proper place in
South Africa, whether as a director or as
shareholder, and there he was best alone
with the past After the judicial proceedings
were ended the government. added Mr.
Chamberlain. would review the situation in
the light of information obtained. Mr.
Chamberlain further said that the govern
ment believed the proper course to follow
would be that joint committee of both
Guiding the administration of the British
Chartered South Africa Company. The
policy OF the government, he explained. was
to prevent absolutely the recurrence of the
regrettabe proceedings. to continue by every
legitimate means the efforts to secure a
fair and equal treatment for British SUBJ
jects in the Transvaal and to restore amity
between the two races there.
Mr.. Chamberlain further said that recent
events had reopened the Whole of the great
South African question which had been the
grave Of many regulations. Sir william
Harcourt he added. had dealt with only one
phase of the question. His speech was a
Cnar-
tered company but Of the prisoners at Pre-
toria and the men undergoing trial in Eng
land. He CMr Chamber.ain) could not dis
cuss that part of the affair. He could only
say he believed there was but one feeling
in the House. namely. that if the sole OBJ
ject was to get a condemnation of the cry
this could be obtained without any further
discussion. But, many interests were at
stake and Developments were being anxious
ly and carefully watched by foreign nations.
Under these circumstances. and in view
also of the situation of the prisoners at Pre-
toria. there were many things which 1t was
might be said in the future. The speaker
added: 1.-The object of our policy in South
Africa Is to preserve our position as the
paramount state and secondly TO engender
union and concord between the two races
there. The recent raid has jeopardized the
first and has delayed the second. The pros
dependent on the realization Of the same
state Of things we attained in Canada,
where two races less closely allied than the
English and the Dutch work. fight and live
side by side in perfect peace and good will"
Mr.. Chamberlain then proceeded TO point
out the Transvaa"s breaches. of the con-
vention with England, and said that II there
was trace Of suspicion on one side. there
was cause for suspicion on the other side.
ROBINSON NOT RECALLED.
In conclusion. Mr.. Chamberlain said that
1t had been suggested that the government
should have issued an utimatum to Pres-
dent Kruger. But such an utimatum would
certainly have been rejected. which would
have led to war. OF course. he added, there
might be contingencies in which a great
power would have to face such an alterna-
tive. IL some of those wild rumors attrib-
uting to President Kruger designs to break
the convention and TO make an armed at
tack on Natal had been true. we would then
have been on the defensive but, he pointed
out the government could not take military
measures TO force internal reforms in the
Transvaal Mr.. Chamberlain denied that
Governor Sir Hercules Robinson had been
recalled from his post, and he asserted that
the latter hoped 10 return to South Africa
and complete his work there after comforting
with the government.
Mr.. Lsbouchere. Radical member for
Northampton, VINO followed Mr.. Chamber
lain, made violent attack on the British
Chartered South Africa Company. He was
inclined to believe. he said, that IL Mr..
Chamberlain had been given a free hand
they would not have heard much more of
Mr. Rhodes and his company. The entire
the real truth. The outcome of the situa-
ton was that they had a gang of gamblers
and finarciers, headed by Cecil Rhodes. who
wished TO rob the public. Mr.. Labouchere
charged Rhodes with trying to conceal his
completely with the invasion of the Trans
vaal, and with using his position to advance
his personal and sordid interests With In
he allowed his instrument, Dr. Jameson.
10 be tried when he himself was RESPONSE
ble Every one Of the directors in the Char
tered South Africa Company, Mr.. ISabou-
chere concluded, with intensified bitterness,
was guilty of culpable negligence. and