Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-03
LONDON CABLE LETTER
The Shah'S Death May Cause
Serious Trouble
BETWEEN BULL AND BEAR
Recent South African Disclosures Are Causing
Much Excitement in London-Ceci
Rodes' Arrest Demanded.

London, May 2.-The questions exciting
the lobby of the house of commons and
all the political clubs are how far the in
ner cabinet knew of the revelations made
at Pretoria before they were known to
the public, and whether Sir Hercules
Robinson, governor of Cape Colony and
British high commissioner in South At
RIGA, is implicated in the conspiracy
against the Transvaal. The plea of guilty
entered by the members of the Johannes
burg reform committee who were on tri-
al at Pretoria is now believed to heve
been due to a concerted attempt to avert
the publication of the evidence involving
Cecil Rhodes and Governor Robinson,
who assured the members that the impe-
rial government would Intervene to bring
about the quashing of the sentences that
might be imposed upon them. No sus-
picion attaches to Mr.. Chamberlain, the
secretary of state for the colonies in
connection with the initial conspiracy,
but his prolonged tentatives with Pres
ident Kruger are held to be partial proof
that he learned the ramitica lions of the
plot more completely than he ever dis
closed to parliament. Mr.. Chamberlain
is not to be blamed for necessary reti-
cence, but his reputation as the keenest
statesman in the cabinet has been weak
Sueu ny lHe TACT tHdC is now ADMITTED on
all sides that he has been checkmated by
President Kruger at every point Re
garding Sir Hercules Robinson's COM
plicity in the conspiracy, the references
to chairman" contained In the cipher
dispatches have been examined in the
light of sequence of events and the
known relations between him and Mr..
Rhodes prior to the raid.
Inference Identifies chairman" with
Governor Robinson. 1t is not supposed
that Mr.. Rhodes confided to him the de-
tails of the plan; certainly not DR.. jane
sons preparations to enter the Trans
vaal but Mr.. Rhodes relied upon the as
sistance of Governor Robinson to ar
range terms after a successful rising in
Johannesburg. The immediate outcome
of the publication of the dispatches will
be the appointment of a committee to
inquire into the whole matter and report
thereon to parliament.
Mr.. Chamberlain in January promised
the house of commons a commission
which would inquire into the policy of
the British South Africa company. If he
had not been absent last night in Bir-
mingham he would have been asked to
explain the delay in the appointment of
the commission. The consensus of opin-
ion in the lobby is that an inquiry is i'm
perative. Responsible ministerialsts
privately concur in the BELIEF that Mr.
Rhodes, Governor Robinson and every
one concerned in the matter should be
summoned to explain their connection
with the conspiracy and that the trial
of DR.. Jameson and his colleagues now
pending, should be postponed until the
plot shall be probed to the bottom.
The largeness of the majority-177
voteS-on the second reading of the ag-
ricultural bill in the house of commons
Thursday night was due to the fact that
Mr.. Chaplin, president of the local gov
eminent board and the introducer of the
bill, limited the operation of the measure
to five years. This induced the urban
conservatives to vote with the govern
ment and reconciled some of the liberals
The period covers the full length of the
Tory regime. The matter will be the
leading question at the next general cleo
ton. The Tories are displeased with
Mr.. Chaplin's concession in view of the
certainty that the country will not as
sent to permanent spoilation in the land
owners interests. During the debate on
the second reading of the measure the
radical members showed that the minis
tiers inside and outside of the cabinet will
personally benefit through the bill to
the extent of E67, 900 yearly. The Duke
of Devonshire, president of the council
will save $4,000 yearly and Mr.. Chaplin
200.
Official opinion here regards the death
of the shah with grave appreh ension as
it is feared 1t will hasten a collision be-
tween British and Russian interests in
Persia. The foreign office holds copy
of a secret convention signed by the de-
ceased shah conceding to Russia the
right to Occupy northern Persia in the
event of a foreign (meaning a Brtish)
attack or internal discord menacing his
reign or the succession of the crown
prince, Muzaffer-Ed-Din The shah HIM
self communicated the convention to the
British minister, explaining that he did
not doubt the friendship of Great Britain,
but submitted the convention IS helping
to foil the Russian plans for the annexa-
ton of the provinces of Khorassan and
Mazanderan. Prince MuZaffer- Ed Din s
knowledge of this treaty led to his adhe-
sion to Russia. Through him Russian
agents obtained special privileges, in
Guiding the concession for the construc-
ton of a railway which is now approach
ing the Persian gulf. 1t may not be
groundless suspicion that Muzaffer-Ed-
Din's adherents were concerned in the
assassination of the shah. Recently
bitter feud existed between the shah and
Muzaffer-Ed-Din over the misuse of the
taxes collected in the provinces ruled
over by the prince. This trouble led the
shah to threaten to nominate his second
son, Massul Mirzz, as his successor,
though Prince Massul suffers from glau-
coma. He was operated upon by an ocu-
list in Paris last year. He is of weak
physique, If not intellect. He has five
sons and numerous following support
ing his claims to the throne. In the event
seize the northern provinces under the
convention, and this will cause the gray
est interna ional complications.
When the colonial vote is discussed
next Friday the liberals will insist upon
the ministry making a full disclosure of
the latest Transvaal developments. If
the government tries to postpone the de-
bate on the vote the liberals will resist 1t
by moving the adjournment of the house
Mr. Chamberlain's followers deny that
he has any desire to conceal anything or
any interest in SO doing. Mr.. Chamber
lain wants to appoint a. commission to
inquire into the affairs of the British
South Africa company and awaits de-
cision of the cabinet on the question. He
proposes, 1t is said, to Immediately sum-
mon Cecil Rhodes to London to stand
trial beside DR.. Jameson.
1t Is reported today that the directors
of the company have sent dispatch to
MIR. Rhodes advising him to voluntarily
surrender himself and stating that they
are ready to relieve him from the man
nrffa &c co. ,ra1