The San Francisco call., 1896-05-09
ALL VERY REVOLVING.
The British South Africa Com.
pany and the Raid of
Jameson.
CHAMBERLAIN SHIELDS RHODES
Harmonious Settlement of the Rights
of Uitlanders Was His Dearest
Object.

LONDON, Eng, May s.-The House of
Commons was crowded with members, and
the press and strangers galleries were
hlled with visitors to-day upon the occa-
sion OF the presentation of the colonial es-
Inmates.
Sir William Harcourt, the leader of the
opposition, reminded the Government that
an inquiry had been promised with the OBJ
iect of ascertaining whether the British
South African Company was in the hands
OF fit and proper persons to be intrusted
with the administration of the affairs of
the company's territory. Continuing, he
said the trial of the members of the Jo-
hannesburg Reform Committee in Pretoria
had disclosed important circumstances,
and the Government now owed the coun-
try an authoritative statement
From the kilograms which had been in
terpreteG and published he declared that
1t was obvious that the whole affair had
been conducted between Johannesburg and
Cape Town by the principal and response
BILE director of the British South African
Company.
Sir William said that the whole story
was an inexpressibly revolving, sordid and
squalid picture of stook-jobbing imperiaI-
ism. He admitted that Mr.. Chamberlain
had been surrounded by difficulties and
had shown courage and decision worthy of
his position, but the question was what
was the Government going to do.
Mr.. Chamberlain, Colonial Secre tary,
said the deplorable result of Jameson's
raid had been to ieopardize English pre-
dominance in South Africa, and it had
also delayed the concord of the two races,
which was England's main policy. He
was convinced, he said, that there had
been faults on both sides, but until they
had got 70 the bottom of the matter the
Government could not properly Judge the
merits of the case. There had been fire.
Quent Boer invasions, he said, not merely
into territory outside of the Transvaal, but
also into British territory. Furthermore,
the Beers had shown great want of con-
sideratlon for the rights of Uitlanders.
Mr.. Chamberlain further said harmoni-
Gus settlement of the question of the
rights of the Uitlanders had long been
Mr.. Rhodes dearest object. If he could
only have found a co-worker in President
Kruger the results would have been bene-
fcial IN promoting the federation OF the
South African States wherein local rights
would have been fully regarded. Though
recent events had sadly interfered with
these objects, their mplishment still
remained the Governments chief aim.
President Kruger's refusal to come to Eng
land at the Governments request to
modify the convention of 1884 has ended
the prospects of a private conference upon
the leading difficulties.
What then, he asked, ought to be The
right step? 1t had been suggested that
the Government ought to have sent an ul-
timatum to President Kruger. This would
certainly have been rejected and would
have led to war. The Government, he
declared, could not think of resorting to
war in order to inforce internal reforms in
the Transvaal. This declaration was re-
ceived with cries af "Hear, hear"
Mr.. Chamberlain said he had not threat
ened President Kruger at all, but had
claimed the right to make friendly rep
resentations. President Kruger promised
to consider these representations and the
Governm snt awaited the fulfllment of his
promises. In the meantime he had asked
Sir Hercules Robinson, Governor Of Cape
Colony, to come to England, but the re-
quest for him to come was not intended as
a recall. In regard to the Chartered Com
pany he said be did not dispute the au-
thenticity of the cipher kilograms which
the Transvaal authorities had published.
although there were as yet no legal proofs
that they indicated completely on the part
of the directors of the company. G"HearI
hear"l But, he continued, as regards to
the actual invasion of the Transvaal there
was reason to believe that Mr.. Rhodes had
expressed his disapproyal and had en-
deavored to stop the raid.
Did the opposition, he asked, de-
mand the punishment OF Mr.. Rhodes2
Whatever may have been Mr.. Rhodes er-
rors he had also rendered great service,
which could not be forgotten. Mr.. Rhodes
was now deprived Of power of mischief,
and the directors OF the Chartered Com
pany had shown their confidence in him
by deferring their acceptance of his resig-
nation.
Considering the disturbed state of Rho
desia and the interference of Mr. Rhodes
in that territory he did not blame the di-
rectors for their show of confidence
[Cheers.
The Government, he, said, adhered to
their promise to make ,earching inquiry
into the action OF the Chartered Company,
out he held that such an Inquiry must not
be opened until the judicial proceedings
connected with the Transysal were ended. |
Thsn he said he would prolose an inquiry
by joint committee of botl houses.
Henry Labouchere, who i, a bitter op.
,ponent of the British South Africa Com |
pany, described the company as gang of |
shady fnanciers who were running a |
gam bling concern with thesUnion Jack |
4ying over it. Cecil Rhodes, he said. had
uttered deliberate falsehoods, hasely de-
Giving Governor Robinson, and had. when |
Pine Minister of Cape Colony, disgraced