The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-09
A PLEA FOR CECIL RHODES.
Mr.. Chamberlain Makes a Statement ID
REGARD 10 SOulh Africa Troubles.
KRUGER GETS PART OF THE BLAME
For His tailur. TO Cooperate WIN
Rhodes in Securing the Rights OF
the Uitianders and for His Re
fusai tn Come to England.

LONDON. May s.-The House Of Com
mons was crowded with members and The
press and the strangers galleries were
filed with visitors to-day upon the occa.
sion OF the presentation OK the colonial
estimates.
Sir william Harcourt, the leader Of the
Opposition. reminded the Government
that all inquiry mad been promised with
the object OF ascertanlng whether the
British South Africa Company was IN
the hands OF lit and proper persons TO be
entrusted with the administration OF the
affairs OF the companys territory.
Mr. Harcourt said that he trial Of the
members OF the Johannesburg Reform
Committee In Pretoria had disclosed inn-
portant circumstances. and the Govern
ment now owed the country an authorita-
tive statement In the present condition
OF affairs. he said. he would confne his
remarks to the position OF the chartered
company. into which inquiry was aDso-
,uteiy necessary. as II affected the tela.
tons between Great Britain and the South
African republic and the relations be-
tween the English and Dutch In South
Africa. In the light OF the recent dis
closure the case OF Or. Jameson had fai-
len directly into the back ground. What
the Government had 10 consider was the
matter of the instructions under which
DR.. jameson bad acted. From the cipher
kilograms which had been interpreted and
published. he declared IL was obvious that
the whole affair had been conducted be-
tween johannesburg and Cape Town by
the principal and responsible direction OF
the British South Africa Company. Sir
william said that the whole story was
an inexpresslbly revolving. sordid, and
squalid picture OF stock -iobbing imperial
ism. He admitted that Mr.. Chamberiaip
had been surrounded by difficulties and
had shown courage and decision worthy
of las position. but the question was,
What was the Government going TO doy
MR.. CUAMBERLAIN'S STATEMENT.
Mr.. Chamberlain. colonial secretary, saif
that the deplorable result OF Or. jane
sons raid had been 10 jeopardize English
predomlnance In South Africa and 1t 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. Further
more, the Beers had shown a great want
pf consideration for the rights or the
Uitlanders. Mr.. Chamberlain further said
that a harmonious settlement OF the ques-
tions OF the rights of the Uitlanders had
long been Mr.. Rhodes dearest object.
II he could only have found co-worker
IN President Kruger. the results would
have been oeneiicient in promoting the
federation of the South African States,
wherein local rights would have been
fully regarded. Though recent events
had sadly interfered with those objects
their accomplishment still remained the
governments chief aim.
President krugers refusal TO come TO
England at the governments request 10
modify the convention OF 1884, had ended
the prospects OF private conference upon
the leading difficulties. What then, he
asked. ought to be the right step2 Il
had been suggested that the government
ought To ahave sent an mltiuatum to
President Kruger. This would certainly
have been rejected and would have led
10 war. The government no declared,
could not think OF resorting 10 war IN or
der TO enforce international reforms in the
ITaBsvaal. This declaration was re-
ceived with cries Hear. Hear" Mr..
Chamberlain said that 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 tha
government awaited the fulnlment OF his
promises.
RHODES PAST RECORD.
In the meantime he had asked Sir Her
cules Robinson. Governor or the Caps
Colony TO come TO England bPs
the request for him 10 come was not In
tended as a recall. In regard TO the chas-
tered company. he said he did not dispute
the authenticity of the cipher telegrans
which the Transvaal authorities mad pub
lished, although there We're as yet no
legal proofs that they indicated com
plicity on the part or the directors of the
company. ('Iiearl Heari) But. he con-
tinued, as regards the actual invasion or
the Transvaal. there was reason TO be-
lieye that Mr.. Rhodes had expressed his
disapproval. and had endeayored 10 stop
the raid. Did the Opposition. he asked
demand the punishment OF Mr.. Rhodes?
Whatever may have been Mr.. RhOdes'
errors, he had also rendered great SER
vices. which could not be forgotten. Mr..
Rhodes was now deprived OF power for
mischief and the directors OF the char
tered company had shown their confidence
In him by deferring their acceptance or
his resignation.
Considering the disturbed state Of
Rhodesia and the influence OF Mr.. Rhodes
I'm that territory. he did not blame the
directors for their show OF confidence.
(Cheers.)
The Government, he said. adhered 10
their promise 10 make a searching inquiry
into the action OF the chartered con-
pany, but he held that such an inquiry
must not be opened until the judicial
proceedings connected with the Trans