Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-14
CONDITIONS ARE DIFFERENT
Reasons Why England is Willing to Arbi-
trate the Trinidad Dispute.
DEBATE ON THE DILLON AMENDMENT
Loyalty of the Colonies Under Home
Rule Cited ms nm Example for
relnnd-COmparisons with
American Conditions.

mons today Mr.. George N Curzon under sec
retary for the foreign Office, replying to a
question as to why Great Britain had pro-
posed to Brazil that the dispute regarding
the possession Of the island of Trinidad be
decided by arbitration, said that Great Brit
ain occupied Trinidad in 1881 and abandoned
1t in 1882 on the representations of Portugal
The late government, Mr.. Curzon said, re-
occupied the island. Because 1t had been
abandoned for century the government pro-
posed arbitration as the best means of set
tling the question Of the ownership CT the
island.
the financial secretary to the treasury, M.
X. w. Hanbury, replying to Mr.. j. Hen ckoc
Heaton. member for Canterbury said the
government was considering the question of
Britain and the United States. Mr.. Hanbury
could not at the present time say what steps
had been taken, but he hoped that the
United States government would consent to
extend the system to the United Kingdom.
When the debate on the address in reply
TO the queens speech was resumed Sir Will
liam Vernon Harcourt, supporting the
amendment of Mr.. John Dillon, anti-Parneil-
lite, censuring the government for not pro-
posing self-government for Ireland, pointed
out that the colonies, from which there was
recently splendid testimony of loyalty to
the crown, enjoyed home rule and he main
tanned that the policy Of home rule would
be as successful in Ireland as in the col
onies
Mr.. Dillcn's amendment to the address in
reply to the speech from the throne was
rejected by a vote of 276 to 100.
Mr.. A. j. Balfour, first lord Of the treas
ury, in reply. said he did not believe home
rule would cure the condition of Ireland.
Many Irish gentlemen on the opposite side
of the House, he added had gone to the
United States on political lecturing tours and
had represented to citizens of the United
States that all Ireland demanded was a con-
stitution similar to that of the United States
of America, and in which Ireland should be
as IL 1t were New York state,
within the British empire. But there was
no doubt that the feeling against England
was not due to the mere fact that Americans
had one form Of free constitution and the
English had another. 1t Is aroused, Mr..
Balfour asserted, by the fact that they think
the national claims of Ireland are not ade-
quately regarded. But the state system of
America, continued Mr.. Balfour, has nothing
to do with national claims, and
would never have been founded on the ques-
tion Of nationality.
Mr.. Tim Healey, anti-Parnellite, member
for North Louth, said that Ireland was as
proud to appeal to the Irish in America as
England was to appeal to the Anglo -SaXons
In her colonies Continuing, Mr.. Healey said
he believed 1t was the influence of the Irish
IN the American press which led President
famous message
Venezuelan question.
DEMANDS AN INVESTIGATION.
Mr.. Labouchere then moved an amend
ment on the subject of the Transvaal. He
said that Cecil Rhodes & Co. had directed
the South African company and had received
100000 fer their services, and there was,
strong presumption that they
had tand In the recent events. He main-
tained that the raid was carried out for
stock market purposes, and demanded that
there sho'Id be searching inquiry into
the acts and the financial and political char
acter of the Chartered South African com
pany.
Various members having spoken, Mr..
Chamberlain arose to reply, and was loudly
cheered. He acknowledged the spirit CT
fairness with which the debate had been
conducted. He would not advise all govern
ment departments to follow the plan of pub
llcity he had adopted; but he did not regret
the course he mad taken, because 1t proved
that whenever minister was called upon
to represent the country at crisis, he might
rest assured Of receiving the support of all
parties and classes. He pointed out the
confusion that had arisen through mixing
TWO distinct matters, namely: The uitlander
agitation and the DR.. jameson raid. The
former was an old trouble in which the cry |
Of wolf had been raised too often. With
regard to the raid, to the best of his be- |
lief, Mr.. Rhodes the Chartered South African |
.mpany, the reform committee and Governor |
Sir Hercules Robinson were equally ig-
norant of DR.. Jamesons intended action, and |
there was no reason to doubt the truth of |
President Kruger's statement that he was
unaware that the invasion was intended |
As the inquiry was pending, he desired 10 |
protest against prejudgment on either side !
He did not complain Of Germany's attempted |
lcticn at Deagoa bay, but If it was legiti- |
nate for Germany to provide against ms |
,hief 1t was legitimate for others to do the |
;ame. |
Mr.. Chamberlain then explained that the |
promised inquiry came under three heads: |
First, the Jameson raid; second. the COM
)liclty of the leaders in johannesburg; and,
bird, the responsibility cf the Chartered
south African company. The latter, he
aid was not to be conducted with any vim
lictive motive, but its object was to discover
whether or not the company was fit to be |
till intrustcd with the administration of
he territory. Therefore, he th,Hght the
inquiry must include the subject Labouchere
lad mentioned.
MANY FRENCHMEN INTERESTED.
1t was not fair, however, to ask the gov
rnment to pledge itself as to the ma
ure of the inquiry If, after the trials
n London and Pretoria. further inquiry
vas considered necessary, the government
would readily assent. That would depend
n circumstances. He had been asked to
evoke the charter Of the company. That
ould be done after the full inquiry. One
4
'as that Of the $4,000 shareholders in the
chartered company 10000 were Frenchmen.
hat would be a strange thing to deal with |
heir property without most absolute case |
gains. them.
Nor did he think II desirable, Mr.. Cham
erlain added, that the general adminlstra-
lon of these new territories should be trans
erred to the colonial office, which could not
o ths work necessary for their speedy devel-
pment. While the Chartered company
'ouli be allowed to continue its useful work
I developing the country, military and police
lrces would be removed from their control |
nd placed under the crown officers, taking
lders from the high commissioner but |
cling paid by the Chartered company No
Iaglo,rate would be allowed to be appointed
th9ut legal or colonial experience. The
rthority Of a military force under the serv-
e Of the queen. These measures Mr.
hamberlain felt confident, he said, would
prevent further raids
Ho had nothing to do with Mr.. Cscil |
hodes return 10 Africa. he asserted. Re
entity Mr., Rhodes was the most powerful
an In South Afr.cl. Now he returned there
most a private citizen. without the ccntrol |
single policeman, and having seen his !
ork Of civilization there jsopardized II net
sstroyed. HIS departure therefore did not
'use alarm.
1T would be an act OF ingratltude," Mr..
bamberlain said. ''to forget his past great
ry!ces. He may have committed mis-
kes--that is not for me TO say-but in my