The Portland daily press., 1896-05-09
RHODES UPHELD.
Secretary Chamberlain Defends Him
in the House Of Commons.
HIS REMARKS CHEERED BY THE
MEMBERS.

Sir William Harcourt Characterizes the
story as a Revolving Picture of Stock
Jobbing Imperalism-He Admits Diff
| dculty of the Position of MIR. Chamber
| lain,
London, May SIN the House of Com
mons today Sir VIM. Harcourt said, the
trlal OF the members Of the Johannesburg
reform committee in Pretoria disclosed
important circumstances and the govern
ment now owed the country an authori-
tative 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 absolutely necessary
because it affected the relations between
Great Britain and the South African re-
public, and the relations between the
English and Dutch in South Africa.
In the light OF recent disclosures, the
case Of DR.. Jameson had fallen directly
into the background. What the govern
the instructions under which DIR. jane
son had acted. From cipher kilograms
interpreted and published, he declared, it
was obvious that the whole affair was
conducted between johannesburg and
Cape Town by the principal ana respon-
s1ble direction Of the British SouthAfrioa
company. Sir William said the whole
story was an inexpresSibly revolving, sor-
did and squalid picture Of stock jobbing
imperialism.
i He admitted that Mr.. Chamberlain had
been surrounded by difficulties and had
SHOWN courage and decision worthy o.
his position. but the question was what
was the government to do.
Mr.. Chamberlain, colonial secretary said
the deplorable result of Jameson's raid
had been to jeopardize English predom-
lnanoe In South Africa and it delayed,
the concord of the two races, which was
v1nced, he said there had been faults on
both sides, and until they had got to the
bottom OF the matter, the government
could not properly judge the merits of the
case.
There had been frequent Boer inva-
sions, he said, not merely into territory
outside Of the Transvaa1, but into Brit
| ish territory. The Beers had shown
great want Of consideration for the rights
OF the Outlanders. The harmon ious set
tlement of the question of the rights of
the Outlanders had long been Mr.. Rhodes
dearest object.
j # he could only have found COW ork-
or in President Kruger, the results would
hsve been benefcent in the federation of
the South African Estates wherein local
rights would have been fully regarded.
Though recent events had sadly inter
fered with these objects, their accom-
plishment still remained the governments
chief aim.
President Kruger's refusal to come to
England at the governments request to
modify the convention of 1884, ended the
prospects of private conference upon the
leading difficulties. It had been sug-
gested that the government ought to
have sent an ultimatum to President
Kruger. This would certainly have been
rejected and led to war The govern
ment. he declared, could not think of re-
sorting to war to enforce internal reforms
i'll the Transvaal. This declaration was
received with cries of "hear, hear"
Mr.. Cham berlain said that he had not
threatened President Kruger, but claimed
the right to make friendly representation.
PRESIDENT Kruger had promised to consid-
or GheSe representations and the govern
ment awaited the fulfllment of his prom
1ses. 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 recall.
Insregard to the chartered company, he
SAID, ne did not dispute the authenticity
OF the cipher telegraph the Transaval au-
thorities published, although there were ss
, yet no legal proofs that they indicated
completely on the part of the directors of
the company. (Hear, hear.) But, he
continued, as regards actual invasion of
the Iransvaal there was reason to believe
that Mr.. Rhodes expressed his disap-
proval and endeavored to stop the raid
Did the opposition. he asked, demand
the punishment of Mr.. Rhodes. What
ever may have been Mr.. Rhodes errors,
ne had rendered great services, which
could not be forgotten. Mr.. Rhodes was
the directors of the chartered company
had shown confidence in him by defering
their acceptance of his resignation. Con-
slder1ng the disturbed state of Rhodesia
and the influence of Mr.. r hodes in that
territory, he did not blame the directors
Tor their show Of confidence. (Cheers.)
Ihe government. he said, adhered to
: thslr promise to make Ii searching in
quiry into the action of the charterd com
pany. He held that such inquiry must
not be opened until the judicial proceed
ings connected with the Transvaal raid
were ended. Then, he said, he would
propose an inquiry by joint committee of
both houses
Henry Laboucher described the compa-
ny as gang of shady fnanciers running
gambling concern with the Union Jack
ny1ng over 1t. Cecil Rhodes, he said,
disgraced and dishonored the high ira
dlt!on that British ministers did not
make money from their positions
Holmes Buried in Cement,