The record-union., 1896-05-11
Chamberlain Was Expected to Freely Ad-
NIT the Guilt Of Rhodes.
German Officials Astounded on Read
ing His Speech.


Africa-Utterances of the Press
Labor Troubles Growing Out of
rlay-Day Observance.
BERLIN, May 10-The temper which
the dominant party in England is dis
playing in the British House Commons
has excited intense indignation
throughout Germany. The debate in
the English Parliament on the Trans
Vaal situation was awaited here with
probably as keen interest as was popu-
larly manifested in England, and the
tone of the advices received here from
London created feeling of expectation
that Mr.. Chamberlain, the British Sec
retary of State for the Colonies, would
freely and fully admit the guilt of Cecil
Rhodes and announce the decision of
the Government to treat him and his
accomplices as criminals. This having
been the general feeling, German official
circles and press, and the public as
well, were astounded upon reading the
preciS of the speech delivered by Mr..
Chamberlain which was telegraphed
here from London, wherein the Colonial
Secretary minimized the outrage upon
law which had been COM
mitted by Rhodes, and suggested that
the English Government had found
reasons justifying their defending
Rhodes, Sir Hercules Robinson, Gov
ernor of the Cape Colony, and the
others who were direct or indirect ac-
IN ~ al +I<
vaal.
The attitude of the German Govern
ment toward England is now coldly
ne utral, and implies that Germany will
not exert Immediately any direct in
fiuence in South Africa, but the popular
sympathy with the Beers and the gen
eral contempt for English methods
have become SO strong that the Govern
ment may be constrained to adopt some
form of German interference in South
Africa before long. While the semi
official press maintain certain degree
Of reserve, the Independent organs
condemn England. The
.Neuste Nachrichten' contends that
is blind to the strength
sof the Afrikander element and in
capable of forming a just conception of
the dangers which are menacing the
English regime or of knowing how to
avert them. The. English policy of du-
plicity and the disregard of justice in
dealing with the conSpirators, the paper
says, will not retard, and may possibly
hasten, the triumph of the Dutch in the
whole of South Africa.
The National Zeitung," in an article
mn hi iCh EriH hot
unless Mr.. Chamberlain announced
prompt and vigorous action on the part
of the British Government against
Rhodes and his aiders and abettors,
England would lose prestige in the eyes
Of the world and Mr.. Chamberlain
would show himself in the light of an
acomplice. The National Zeitung's"
remarks, combined with the tenor of
Mr.. Chamberlain's speech, have revived
reports here that Mr.. Chamberlain has
guilty knowledge of Rhodes designs
which he does not dare to disclose.
The ''Vossische Zeitung'' ridicules
Mr. Chamberlain's professions of conf
dence in Sir Hercules Robinson and
SCOTS at the latter'S pretended ignor-
ance of Jameson's intended raid. The
paper then goes on to praise the Trans
vaal Government for it's foresight in de-
ma nding explanations from England Of
the gathering of British troops at
Mafeking, and declares that full ex-
plantations must be made Most of the
German newspapers quote with ap-
proving comments from a communica-
ton from johannesburg which has been
issued by the Berlin "Altedutessche
Verlind," the feature of which is that
the Germans in the Transvaal are very
bitter against the English and are
joining the Beers. A voluntary corps
of companies has been formed. COM
posed solely of Germans who wear the
German national colors on their breasts.
fashioned in black, white and red
rcsettes These Germans, the COM
munication says, share the feeling of
the whole people of the Transvaal, who,
as well as the Transvaal Government.
are desirous of seeing the beginning of
a war TO decide the question of su-
premacy in South Africa.
A French Minister has come from
Paris to consult with the Foreign Office
as to the selection of a successor to M.
Herbette, the French ambassador to
Germany, who has now been definitely
recalled. The candidates for the post
include M. Billot, now French Embas-
sador TO Italy, Count Lefebre de Be
haine, French ambassador to the Vat
lean, and NJ. Poubelle, Prefect of the
Seine. NJ. Billot would be persona
grata here, but no matter who might be
selected, any change from NJ. Herbette
would please the Emperor, who detests
brusque Frenchmen as cordially as that
diplomat hates the Kaiser, and would
also be welcomed by the officials of the
Foreign Office, whose enforced contact
with Nj. Herbette has been anything
but pleasant.
The observance of May Day by the
working men has resulted in a number
OF troubles between the employees and
the employers. Fifteen metal working
establishments in Berlin have locked
out their men for not working on May
Day. and the men have since declared
q general strike of metal workers unless
they are granted a nine-hours' working
day and an increase of % per cent in
their wages. Three thousand instr,l-
ment makers have gone out on a strike
ard 5000 other workers at that ira de
nave remained at work in order to sup
port the strikers. The Hamburg cigar
exporting firms have discharged all of