Evening journal., 1896-05-09
The Trnnsvnnl Plot.

The Transvaal Plot.
LONDON, May 0.-The house Of com
q mons was crowded with members, and
q the peers and strangers galleries were
81 filed with visitors upon the occasion OF
# the presentation of the colonial estimates.
Sir William Harcourt, the leader of the
opposition, reminded the government that
an inquiry had been promised with the
81 object Of asoertaining whether or not the
British South Africa company was in the
hands Of fit and proper persons 20 be in
trusted with the administration of affairs
% Gf the eompany's territory.
The trial of the members Of the JohaD
a nesburg reform committee in Pretoria,
Sir William said, had disclosed important
circumstances, and the government now
n owed the country an authoritative state
ment In the present condition of affairs,
he Said, he would conhne his remarks to
+ the position of the Chartered company,
into Which inquiry was absolutely neces.
sary because it affected the relations be
tween Great Britain and the South Afri-
& can republic and the relations between the
English and the Dutch in South Africa.
in the light of the recent disclosures the
case of DR.. Jameson had fallen directly
into the background. What the govern
& ment had TO consider was the matter OF
Z tho instructions under which DR.. Jameson
had acted From the cipher kilograms
which had been Interpreted and published,
he declared, it was obvious that the whole
y affair had been conducted between Johan-
nesburg and Capo Town By the principal
and responsible direction of the British
South Africa company.
Sir William said that the whole story
s was IAN inexpressbly revolving, sordid
and squalid picture of stock jobbiDg i'm.
S perialism.
Jeopardized England's Interests.
Mr.. Chamberlain said that the deplora-
BILE result of Jameson's raid had been to
jeopardize English predominanoe in South
Africa, and it had also delayed the con-
cord of the two races which was Eng
laad's main policy. He was convinced,
he said, that there had heen faults on both
sides, but until tsey had got to the bot
q tom Of the matter the government could
not properly judge the merits of the case
There had been frequent Boer inyasions
he said, not merely into territory outside
of the Transvaal but also into British
territory Furthermore, the Beers had
shown great want Of consideration for
the rights Of the uitlanders.
Mr.. Chamberlain further said that n
harmonious settlement Of the question of
#" lnb TlHulh Oi llt ulNlbuutLo ilbu 4OnE Dttn
MIR. Rhodes dearest object If he could
only have found coworker in President
Kruger, the results would have been benef-
icent 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 accomplishment still
remained the governments chief aim.
President Kruger's refusal to come to
England at the governments request to
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 step? 1t had
been suggested that the government ought
to have sent an ultimatum 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 enforce in
ternal reforms in the Transvaal.
Had Not Threatened Kruger.
This declaration was received with cries
of Hear. hearl"
Mr.. Chamberlain said that he had not
threatened President Kruger at all, but
had asserted the right to make friendly
a representations. President Kruger prom
ised to consider these representations, and
the government awaited the fuldllment Of
& his promises. In tho meantime Sir Her
cules Robinson. the governor of Cape Col
| ony had been requested to come 20 Eng
: land, but the request for him 70 como was
g not intended as a recall In regard to the
81 Chartered company, he said he did not
s dispute the authenticity of the cipher tee-
s grams which the Transvaal authorities
had published, although there were as
i yet no legal proofs that they indicated
1s.f4 10 bo Of
the company.
Considering the disturbed state of
Rhodesia and the influence of Mr.. Rhodes
in that territory. do not blame the di-
rectors for their show Of confidence"
Mr.. Labouchere Radical, member for
Il northampton, who followed Mr.. Cham
beriain, made a violent attack upon the
& British Chartered South Africa company.
q lie was inclined to believe he said, that
& If Mr.. Chamberlain had been given O free
hand they would not have heard much
moro Of Mr. Rhodes and his company.
+ The entire press, he went on, had con-
n spired to blind the real truth. The out
come OF the situation was that they had
y gang of gamblers and finanoiers headed
by Cecil Rhodes, who wished to rob the
4 public.
Mr.. Labouchere charged Rhodes with
lying to conceal his completely with the
4 fIinvasiOn Of the Transvaal and with using
. his position to advance his personal and
. sordid interests. With incredible infamy,
4 said the editor of Truth he allowed his
Il instrument DR.. Jameson, to be tried,
& when he himself was responsible. Every
& one OF the directors in the Chartered
South Africa company, Mr.. Labouohere
concluded with intensified bitterness, was
guilty Of culpable negligence. and showed
not even the proverbial honor among
4 thieves in their financial transactions.
Lecture at Friends School.
Professor William I Hull of SwArth
more College, delivered = very interest
Ing illustrated lecture at FfiendA School |