The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-14
CECIL RHODES CENSURED.
THE SOUTH AFRICA COMMITTEE Sc
VERELY CONDEMNS HIM.
n Lashes Others Aiso. but the Colonial Oaieo
Gees Scot Free - La~bouchcre n More
Severe stn, but Nobody says Anything
Absnt lnnictinE P~unishment on Cuiprits.

n Lashes Others Aiso. but tire Coiontnl OGiee
Gees Scot Free - Labeuchcre n Mere
Severe stii. but Nobody says Anything
About rnnictinE Punishment on Cuiprits.
Special Cable Dcspatch to TIE Sun.
LONDON, July lathe result OF the labors Of
tho committee appointed by the House of Com
mons TO conduct an inquiry into the Trnnsvaal
raid turns out to be q greater iasco than was
anticipated.
Two reports were presented by the committee
to the House Of Commons to-day. The majority
report condemns the raid, as in duty bound, and
severely reproves Cecil Rhodes. the head and
front Of the British South Africa Com.
pany; It. ]. Newton, Colonial Secretary Of
Bechuanaland, and Sir Graham John Bower,
Imperial Secretary to tho British High
Commissioner in South Africa It also
exonerates the British Colonial once from all
completely in or knowledge OF tho raid. but no
suggestion Is made for the practical punish
mont OF the chief conspirator, not even for his
contumacy in refusing to produce certain tele-
grams demanded by the committee. The re-
port mildly observes on the latter point that 1t
would require too much time to discipline him.
Tho report says: Whatever justification
there might have been for the action Of the
people Of johannesburg. there was none for Mr..
Rhodes's conduct In subsldizing, organizing, and
stimulating an armed instruction against the
Government OF the South African Republic. Mr..
Rhodes's heavy responsibility remains, notwith-
standing the fact that at the last moment DR..
Jameson invaded the Transvaal without his
direct sanction.
"The committee find that he seriously en-
barrassed both the imperial and colonial gov
ernments by his proceedings, which resulted in
an astounding breach Of International comfy.
He utilized his position and the great interests
,,ht,H .. -.,t~,ll.I t. 1~Jn 80 ,aat.k a-I a,--
port q revolution. and he deceived the British
High Commissioner and concealed his views
from from n Tee s0t beSssd 81 n . inS s fSlGhssi s Shpf''f Efr ass
Company. Directors Belt and Mcguire alone. in
the opinion Of the COMMITTEES, having had cog
The committee are also Of the opinion that
Lord Rosmead. British High Commissioner
secretaries were blameless, and that Sir Graham
Bower was guilty Of q grave derclictton Of duty.
Imperial Secretary Newton failed also, but In q
The committee condemns tho raid. but is Of
ne ,he opinion PGn6 that there Is ~ nothing TIL to be gained sa1s ,S BY
administration Of the British South Africa Com
MI. Labouohero has submitted a minority re-
simply in order that wealthy men might become
have BEEN iniiuenoeG 70 a certain sStsn { By Z
ton t!Ss; F E1asF 4 the sa Ss,t (. v SsEs t bisg E, .hs E lsasia TO
part, but I cannot acquit him also Of having
been Influenced by financial considerations
The exact object sought by the Chartered Com
pany ID not clear. but do not. consider that the
high persouages In the board did their duty as
responsible directors."
Mr.. Labouchere does not find that any persons
connected with the Government In South Africa
were cognizant Of the plot except those who
have been condemned In the majority report,
but he does find that Sir John Willoughby and
the other officers OF the British army who took
part in tho raid did 20 in the belief that IL was
undertaken with. the knowledge and approval of
the imperial authorities. Therefore their pun
ishment exceeded their fault, and 1t Is only
consistent with justice that their commissions
should DO restored to them.
Mr.. Labouchere adds that Mr.. Rhodes and Mr..
Belt merit severe punishment. He condemns
the ex-Premier Of Cape Colony, but in terms
hardly in excess OF those employed by the ma
jority.
"These two men." he says, "one q British
statesman and the other a financier of German
nationality. have dtsgrnced the good name OF
England, which It ought to DO the object Of all
Enelishmen to maintain pure and undecided.
The raid was one Of the most disgraceful cpl.
sodes In the country . history"
Mr.. Labouchere concludes his report with an
expression of regret that the alleged completely
| OF the Colonial ONCE was not probed to the bot
tom In order to effectively remove the idea that
there may have been come truth in tho state
ments made by witnesses that the secret aims
OF Mr.. Rhodes were moro or less clearly re-
Assistant Under Secretary Fairfield.