The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-05-09

Rhodes English History Would be Much |
Poorer and British Domiuions Much
smaller-L -Labouchere's Denunolation.
LONDON, May 9.-The house of COM
mons was crowded yesterday afternoon
and the peers gallery was packed, this
gathering of interested people being due
to the fact that the vote on the colonial es
Inmates was to be taken, and that it was
to be made the occasion of an Important
exchange of questions and answers upon
South African affairs.
The Liberal leader, Sir William Har.
court, asked the government to make a
statement regarding the raid into the
Transvaal In so doing he said that the
opposition had heretofore not unduly
pressed the government on this important
matter but they thought the time had
now arrived for the house 80 be informed
of the governments intention in the case.
The responsible directors of the British
Chartered South Africa company at Cape
town and Johannesburg were, he said, the
authors of the raid, and DIR. Jameson was
only their subordinate. The government,
the speaker declared, was responsible for
the acts of the Chartered company before
the nation and the world.
Continuing, Sir William Harcourt re-
marked that the partisans of the company
were trying to pass off on the credulity of
the people that the raid was an impulsive
action to protect the people of Johannes
burg against outrage. But he could not
think of anything more revolving than the
low slang of the ciphergrams, which
showed the true aspect of the affair.
Sir William Haroourt then proceeded to
analyze the kilograms exchanged between
/ 11th
Harris, Alfred Belt, Lionel Phillips, DR..
Jameson and others, just previous to the
invasion Of the territory of the South
African republic.
Later the opposition leader eulogized
the promptness, decision and courage of
the secretary of state for the colonies, Jo-
I seph Chamberlain, and dwelt upon the
course of the Chartered company, declar-
ing that it compromised Great Britain 5
reputation.
Mr., Chamberlain, replying to Sir Will
lam Harcourt, said that while Cecil
Rhodes recent actions are universally con-
demned, his past services must not be for
gotten. But for Englishmen like Rhodes
English history would be much poorer and
the British dominions would be much
smaller. Both the English and the Afri-
canders of the Cape continued Mr.. Cham
berlain thought Cecil Rhodes the great
est benefactor the colony ever had. He
was powerless in future to do mischief as
not an armed man could be moved with
out the authority of the governments own
officers, and they were ready to give Pres
ident Kruger any reasonable guarantee.
With the view of removing every shadow
of suspicion, the government has refused
to advise the Chartered company relative
To oti Rnt in xyiax
of the disturbances in Rhodesia and the
impossibility of finding out the opinion of
the settlers, they thought it fair that the
directors should be given time to consider
the matter. They thought that Rhodes
was in his proper place in South Africa,
whether as a director or as a shareholder,
and there he was best alone with the past
: After the judicial proceedings were ended
the government added Mr.. Chamberlain,
would review the situation in the light of
information obtained.
Mr. Chamberlain further said that the
government believed the proper course to
follow would be that joint committee of
both houses should inquire into the whole
situation, including the administration of
the British Chartered South Africa COM
pany.
r. The policy of the government, he ex-
planned, was to prevent absolutely the re-
currence of the regrettable proceedings to
continue by every Legitimate means the
efforts to secure fair and equal treatment
for British subjects in the Transvaal, and
to restore amity between two races there.
Sir William Harcourt, added Mr.. Cham
berlain, had dealt with only one phase OF
the question. His speech was a powerful
indictment not only of the Chartered com
Int nft ha Oft tCf.ia a
the men undergoing trial in England
Many interests were at stake and develop
ments were being anxiously and carefully
watched by foreign nations. Under these
} circumstances there were many things
which it was undesirable to mention al
present and which might be said in the
future. The speaker added:
"The object of ourpolicy in South Afric,
is to preserve our position as the para
mount state, and secondly to engende
union and concord between the race
there. The recent raid has jeopardized thu
first and has delayed the second. The
prosperity and happiness of South Africa
are dependent upon the realization of the
same state of things we attained in Can
ada, where two races less closely allied
than the English and the Dutch work,
fight and live side by side in perfect peace
and good Will
In conclusion, Mr.. Chamberlain said
that it had been suggested that the gov
ernment should have issued an ultimatum
to President Kruger But such an ulti
matum would certainly have been re-
jected, which would have led to war OF
course, he added, there might be contin-
- gencies in which great power would
have to face such an alternative But, he
/ noiDtad ont the Governments could not
take military measures 20 force internal
reforms in the Transvaal
Mr.. Labouchere, Radical member for
Northampton, made a violent attack upon
the British Chartered South Africa com
!, pany. The entire press, he said, had con
spired to blink at the real truth, The out
come of the situation was that they had a
Y gang of gamblers and fnaneiers, headed
by Cecil Rhodes, who wished to rob the
y public. Mr. Labouchere charged Rhodes
y with living to conceal his completely with