The evening times., 1897-02-16
CECIL RHODES ON THE STAND
The South African Magnafe Tells
Of the Transyaal Invasion.
HIS SHARE In THE MATTER
He Sympathized With the Uitland-
ers and Placed a Force ON the
Frontier Under DIR. JaIneson's
Orders, But Did Not Authorize
the Latter's Raid.
zed with the Uitland-

London, Feb 16.-The parliamentary
Committee, recently appointed by the House
OF Commons, TO inquire into the causes and
circumstances Of the troubles in the Trans
vaal, began its sittings today. The COM
mittee-room was crowded with privileged
persons, among whom was the Prince OF
Wales, who showed great interest in the
proceedings.
Mr. Cecil Rhodes, formerly prime min
lister of the Cape Colony and the active
director OF the affairs OF the British
South Africa Company, was sworn and took
the stand as the first witness examined.
Mr.. Rhodes read long statement detailing
the occurrences in British South Africa and
the Trausvaal prior to the raid led by DR.
Jameson into the Boer territory, and dweIt
at some length upon the general feeling or
discomfort which had arisen as a etnst.-
quence of the corrupt management of the
Transvaal government and its refusal to
concetic the rights Of the Citlanders
lie was in sympathy with the CitIandeFs
in their grievances, and TO assist move
ment designed to obtain for them their
constitutional rights, lie had placed on the
Transvaal frontier, under the orders OF
DIR. Jameson, Il force Of troops with in
structions to act should certain events
arise. Mr Rhodes admitted that he had
not communicated to the directors OF the
Chartered Company notice OF all his
actions, which,, however. were made in
perfect good faith and under the influ-
ence of his belief that it was the intention
OF the Transvaal government To intro
duee into the Boer republic the influence
of a foreign power.
At this point Sir William Harcourt in
! teFrupted Mr.. Rhodes and asked Was
your object To overthrow the Transyaal
government
Mr. Rhodes replied that the overthrow
of the government was not his object, but
merely to bring about change. He adj
mitted he probability of his having done
wrong in placing Dr. jameson with his
men on the frontier. but fSF Jameson's in
vasion OF the TTansvaal he vasnot Tespon-
sibIe, as jameson rad gone into the Boer
territory without his Rhodes, author
ity. Witness was asked whether he had
informed the British high commissioner
in South Africa. Sill Hercules Robinson
now Lord Rosmead-of his designs, and re-
Piled that he had not.
Sir william HaTcouTt asked why he Rad
not informed the British high commits
sloner, and Mr. Rhodes answered. You
had better get the answer to that question
from Lord Rosgnead-"
M. Rhodes wogid not say that the
measures he had taken had brought
about the revolution in the TraRsyadL
He admitted, however, that he had SUP
piled some OF the funds used in preparing
and carrying out Jameson's raid, but he
could not say who supplied the rest He
denied that he had pressed the Jonah
nesburgers into acts OF iHsurTection.
What pressure there may have been was
not from the outside, but from within.
It was impossible. he said, that the pres
entstate ofthings in Johannesburg andother
parts OF the Transvaal should continue.
The people would not cease their agita-
ton until they obtained their civil rights