The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-05-13
The Middle in South Africa.


Commons was crowded with mem.
bers and the press and strangers
galleries were filled with visitors
to-day upon the occasion OF the
presentation OF the colonial estl-
mates.
Sir William Harcourt. the leader Of
the Opposition, reminded the Gov
ernment that an inquiry had been
promised with the object of ascer-
tanning whether the British South
Africa Company was in the hands OF
ft and proper persons to be entrust-
ed with the administration OF the
affairs of the companys territory.
The trial of the members OF the
johannesburg Reform committee In
Pretoria had disclosed important cir
cumstances, and the Government
now owed the country an authorlta-
tive statement. In the present con-
dition of affairs he would confne his
remarks to the position of the char
tered company, into which inquiry
was absolutely necessary because 1t
affected the relations between Great
Britain and the South African Re.
public and the relations between the
English and Dutch in South Africa.
In the light of the recent disclosures
the case of DR.. Jameson had fallen
directly into the background. What
the Government had to consider was
the matter of the instructions under
which DR.. Jameson had acted From
the cipher kilograms which had been
interpreted and published he de-
clared it was obvious that the whole
affair had been conducted between
Johannesburg and Cape Town by the
principal and responsible direction of
the British South African Company
Sir William said that the whole
story was an inexpressibly revolving,
sordid and squalid picture of stock
jobbing Imperialism He admitted
that Mr.. Chamberlain has been sur
rounded by difficulties and had
shown courage and decision worthy
of his position, but the question was
what was the Government going to
do.
Mr.. Chamberlain, colonial secre-
tary, said that the deplorable result
of Jameson's raid had been to jeopar-
disc English predominance in South
africa, and it had also delayed the
concord of the two races, which was
Eugland's main policy. lie was
convinced, he said, that there had
been faults on both sides, but until
they had gotten to the bottom of the
matter the Government could not
properly Judge the merits of the
case. There had been frequent Boer
invasions, he said, not merely into
territory outside of the TrausvaaI,
but also into British territory. Fur
thermore, the Beers have shown
great want of consideration for the
rights of the Uitlanders.
Mr.. Chamberlain further said that
harmonious settlement of the ques.
ton of the rights Of the Uitlanders
lad long been Mr. Rhodes's dearest
object. If he could only have found
co-worker in President Kruger the
results would have been bene6cent
in promoting the federation of. the
South African States, wherein local
rights would have been fully regard.
ed 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 mod;.
fy the convention of 1884 had ended
the prospects of private conference
upon The leading difficulties. What,
then, ne asked. ought to be the right
step? It had been suggested that
the Government ought to have seut
an ultimatum to President Kruger.
This would have certainly been re-
iected and would have led to war
The Government, he declared, could
not think of resorting to war in order
to enforce internal reforms in the
Transvaal. This declaration was re-
ceived with cries of Clear hear -
SIr Chamberlain said that he had
not threatened President Kruger at
all bat had claimed the right to
make friendly representations Presi-
dent Kruger promised to consider
these representations, aud the Gov
erment awaited the ful6lment of his
promise.
In the meantime he had asked Sir
Hercules Robinson, Governor of the
Cape Colony, to come to England.
but the request for him to come was
not intended as recall. in re-
gard to the chartered company he
said he did pot dispute the autheenti-