, 1896-05-02

ISL, Love hlSely, Zuut AdDlduOl, OLu.
A special despatch from Pretoria announces
til col. Rhodes. Messrs. Leonard, Phillips,
HAMMOND, and Farrar, The 5 members of the
Johannesburg Reform Committee, who sign
cd the invitation to DR.. } ameson to come to
thai place, have been sentenced to be hanged.
Seventy Others have received sentences of
two years imprisonment and three years
Punishment from the country, together with
a fine Of two tn lusand pounds sterling each.
There appears to be some uncertainty re-
gardiug the sentence against Mr.. Leonard,
in consequence ST ONE confusion. Mr.. Ham
mond and t Of the others who have been
convicted are Americans.
The Secretary Of State for the Colonies
stated n the louise of Commons that he had
cabled Sir Hercules Robinson to inform Pre-
sident Kruger that tire Government feeling
no doubt that he would commute the death
sentences had assured Parliament that such
was his intention.
This action on the part Of Mr.. Chamberlain
is being discussed as Of doubtful discretion in
TOO positively suggesting and thereby in
fuencing President Kruger against such
cEemenoy, that it would have been better to
have left the matter to his discretion
aud understanding, without which it was
thought impossible chat the pleas of guilty
would have been entered or the sentences
pronounced.
The "Times,' in an editorial, expresses
the opinion that the sentences can be re-
garded with equanimity, because to carry
them into effect would be an e~gregious poll
tical blunder a d crime, and therefore, i'm
possible. England, lie article states, relies
not upon President K~uger's magnanim;ty but
upon his common sense and perception that
kIndling all inexpiab.o blood feud would be
fatal to the TranSyaal whatever its alliances
may be.
Mr.. Knight. the United States Vice Consul
at Cape Town, has autographed Mr.. Olney
that he believed The sentences will be COM
muted.
A Berlin despatch announces that the
committee Of the Relchstsg Lave passed the
sugar bill. The bounties will expire on the
3lst July 1903.
A telegram from Havana reports that a
destructive but not fatal explosion occurred
on Tuesday at the Captain Generals palace
in that city. The explosion is thought
to he the result of all insurgent bomb.
Other versions are, however, current.
Continental news states that Baroness
Hirsch has presented twenty thousand dol
lars to be distributed amongst the poor of
Paris.
Intelligence from Rome announces that the
Cabinet have decided not to reopen the cam
paign in Aby>sinia next autumn, on the
ground that such a course would be- disastrous
to Italy.
The London Standard states that the Rus
sian Government has ordered seven ironolads,
and ten cruisers for the Pacific feet in view
of Japan's extension of her naval prepare.
tons.
Other London news reports TINT numerous
Peers and Members Of the House of Commons
have formed a South African Association for
the purpose of supporting Mr.. Chamberlain
policy.
The death is announced from Sydney of
Sir Henry Parks, formerly Prime Minister of
New South Wales.
New York, May lst.-A despatch from Pre-
toria announces that DR.. II. j. Leyds, the
Secretary of State to the Transvoal Republic,
has informed Sir Jacobus de Wei, the British
Agent in thai capital, that the sentences OF
death on Col. Rhodes, Messrs. Phillips,
Hammond, Farrar, and Leonard Lave been
committed.
1t is reported that the Secretary Of State
for the Colonies has wired Sir Hercules
Robinson that the execution Of the other SEN
fences will be regarded as an act of dellber-
ate hostility which would be resented by the
adoption of active measures.
Sir Hercules Robinson has informed Mr.