The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-10
CHAMbERLAIN'S STATEMENT.
The Same Cautious Plan Of Saying Little
the Policy Of the Cabinet.
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR TALK REVIVED.
The Beers Seem Determined to Secure the
Entire Indepe nden of the Transyaal.
War Would Involve Tremendous
Cost of Life and Money

LONDON, May 9.--The tenor Of thy
speech made by Colonial Secretary Cham
Derlain I'm the House OF Commons yester-
day on the situation in South Africa was
discussed by the Cabinet before the meet
ing OF the House. Whatever Mr.. Cham
berlains personal desire might have been
TO attack Cecil Rhodes and President
Kruger. Of the Transyaal, against both
OF whom he is said TO be lncensed, the
Cabinet decided 10 maintain the eau
uous ana tentative policy embodied In
the Colonial Secretarys pronouncement
The House therefore learned nothing
new. Keeping within his brief. AIr.
Chamberlain repeated his promise 10
make 4 searching Inquiry into the actions
OF the British South African Company
but maintained that such an inquiry must
not be opened until the judicial proceed
ings against those who took an active
part IN the raid into the Transvaal should
be ended, as such an investigation as II
was proposed TO make might IN some way
initiate against the interests OF the de-
fendants. lie added that when these
proceedings were concluded he would pro-
pose the appointment OF a joint commit
tee OF members Of the House OF Com
mons and House OF Lords to thoroughly
pany and ascertain what responsibility,
If any. attaches to the company's OF
ficials for the Transyaal raid.
The speech generally left the situation
untouched. The company, the oppo-
nents Of which steadily demanded the
revoca ton of its charter. loses nothing
Mr. Rhodes is not despoiled OF his au-
thority and Is not recalled from Khodesia,
and the British High Commissioner In
South Africa, Sir Hercules Robinson,
Governor of Cape Colony. comes 10 Eng
land not 10 be deprived OF his Official
head, as has been intimated, but only
to confer with the members OF the Gov
ernment here regarding President kru-
gers refusal to accept Mr.. Chamberlain's
invitation to visit London TO discuss mat
ters pertaining to the Transyaal Neither
Mr Chamberlain speech nor Biue"Book
that was issued yesterday. which seemed
to surprise the English press, disclosed
any more than was stated in these dis
patches over a month ago.
WANT INDEPENDENCE.
The Beers demand the entire independ-
ence of the Transvaal. and they mean
TO obtain H. Mr.. Chamberlain s declara-
ton that Great Britain does not desire
To interfere with the internal ahairs OF
the South African republic is mere verbal
fencing, and will in no way ward on
the Boer movement for absolute tree-
dom from British control, international
or external The Cabinet has the strong
est reasons 20 treat with reserve tie
whole South African question. Governor
Robinson telegraphs from cape Io"h'
.Our best policy IS to sit stu, and ma
jority OF the Cabinet agrees IN TINS opin-
ion. A secretary of the ministers IN
Guiding Chamberlain, whose amour ptopre
has been hurt, believe that the bo''
nresldent has outwitted him in diplomacy,
and desires that active measures sho"'u
ne taken 10 assert Great Britain 5 aleseu
rights In the Transvaal put III ule lhen4.-
time thew coincide IN tho opinion that It
will be best for the GoFeihihS"C W -,
los, and wait some aggression on the ptIl
- go. Roars that will justify the sending
~ an ulumatum involving "aI' lI'
Ministry has not closed It's eyes 20 the
fact that war is the possible outcome VI
tho NEGOTIATIONS : question thdt mas
ho.r debated I'm the l4lsterlai circie y
,,betber the retention OF South Africa -
18th a war ,,.pt would involve an I'M
,,,o,ee ,>xpenditare of money anu nlSN,
srho almost unanimous feeling ihsiuo ai,e
1,,,efdo the cabinet is for war shOu-u
~. poers declare the convention oi Ioof
'.-,..,,od and unite with the OIaNs9
1,.ao stato and the Cape AtrkahdeiS
,o de6auce Of Great Britain a..
In high military quarters Nhclo 80,
,,tans Of a British campaign hdFe -"
considered, the difficulty Oh ho'uln5
,.og+ territory OF South Africa hBalNa'
General Afrikander rising Is in'iy Ie.'e
nized. 1t ia seen that the "ahl y.
a. Of 4F4
Iaree expedition is the lnltlai lrouD.e.
;rhe whole coast of South Africa mas no
s,ch mort. Hence the War once mas pe"h
lin, the Government TO acquire Deia-
90 paw Africa. from the Portuguese, OF
I1,1.+noaI's assent for the landing or
pri,ish troops there. The British Minis
tere renudiate the idea OF a war, but the
,rransvaal Government continues lt' pre-
parations for such a eontlnsehoy'
PRESS COMMENT.
The whole situation points to ire
'1o,,s humiliation OF Great Britain II
She does not accept the TransNaal ehai-
Icnge and submits 10 thTitteraton OF the
An9Io-Boer Convention which President
t[r,oer demands Tif Liberal press adj
vocates the adoption OF immediate meas
me, to satisfy Afrikander sentiment by
aboIishing the British South Africa COM
Many and the placing of Rbodesla undeF
tbe control of the Government or cape
Colony. ..,.,,
ultimately" says the speaker 'ne
Afrikauders must govern khodeSia. III Is
necessary. therefore, that representative
South Africa Dutchmen be consulted ne
fore anything Is done. Ii will be good
consequences OF DR.. Jameson's raid II out
OF II there arises South African do
minion."
A conference has been held by the iri.'h
rrnIonist peers and members OF the
House OF Commons. at which it was de-
clded to sound the Government on tne
proposition to abolish the vice royalty IN
Ireland before coming to definite reso-
luton OF the question. A majority or the
=, far.os fnrnre1 the nrOnOSed change.