Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-27
JAMESON TELLS OF The RAID
SAYS HIS COURSE WAS WRONG BE-
CAUSE HE DID NOT SUCCEED.
Claimed to Have Acted on His own
Responsibility in Leading Troops
Into the TrnnsvanI-Parlia-
mentnry Inquiry Continues.

London, March 26.-At the session to-day
of the parliamentary committee inquirins
into the Transvaal raid, the secretary of
state for the colonies, Mr.. Joseph Cham
berlain, continued his examination of Mr..
w. p. Schreiner, who was attorney general
of Cape Colony at the time Mr.. Cecil
Rhodes was premier. All the questions put
indicated a desire to vindicate Mr.. Cham
berlain's policy in the Transvaal.
Following Mr.. Schreiner.- DR.. Jameson.
leader of the British military forces, told
the story of his movements, which mas fire.
quently been rehearsed in print. He sought
to justify his actions by pointing out the
critical condition of the Uitlanders in the
Transvaal prior to the raid. DIR. Jameson
exculpated Rhodes from the responsibility
of having ordered the final move of the
troops across the border, saying he had
managed the step on his own accord.
Jameson's statement continued: ''In the
middle of 1894 Mr.. Rhodes and John Hayes
Hammond, the American engineer, were
with ME in Matabeleland, when the posi-
tion of the Transvaal and the grievances of
the uitlanders Were freely discussed. Mrl
Hammond asserted that it was impossible
Tor the economic conditions of the Rand
TO continue and that unless radic;
change was made there would be a rising
of the people OF Johannesburg.
Il was much impressed with Mr. Ham
mondS representations, and afterwards in
company with Mr.. Hammond, | went to
Johannesburg and Pretoria and verified the
accuracy of his views. The result of those
Investigations was that the Chartered Com
panys police and volunteers were prepared
so that If a revolt occurred and help was
needed we should be in position to send it.
subsequently, in 1885, l revisited johann
nesburS. and found the people determined
&c bring matters TO an issue. In the course
OF u protracted conference, the leaders in
formed me regarding the wishes and plans
n arT al hrlr
my troops We're to be in readiness on the
porder In case they We're required.
Later the leaders concluded that there
was no hope of success without the help
OF an armed force and they decided that
the only way to obtain reforms was to
change the ADMINISTRATION of the Transvaal
and that the safest mode of effecting this
would be to have a sufficient force at Jo-
ha,nnesburg to induce President Kruger TO
daG;aa take pies piestie Of the whole population to
therefore, invited my help and it was ar
ranged to take my force to Johannesburs;
10 maintain order and bring pressure TO
bear upon the Transvaal. while the redress
of the grievances was enforced by them
Therefore. l obtained the letter signed
by the leaders, with which the committee
is familiar, and ii was agreed that stimuli
taneously with the rising in johannesburg
at the end of December was to start"
DIR. Jameson. It appears, afterwards told
Mr.. Rhodes of his arrangements, and the
latter agreed to them.
The statement then deals with the prep
arations to force the frontier, arousing the
suspicious of the Beers and the communi-
cations between DIR. Jameson and the lead
ers at johannesburg. the latter never inti-
mating any intention of abandoning their
determination to appeal to arms.
The statement next refers to the report
of the grave situation in the mines. and
adds, Under my arrangements with the
Jchahnesburgers, I felt | had no aiterna-
tive but to proceed, and L started the same
day
The statement concludes: No communi-
cat y-b "a tev Rhodes
or from any one at Capetown directing or
authorizing my force to move to Johannes
burg. ] acted entirely on my, own judg-
ment. Major Heany did not bring me a
message from Rhodes.
The committee put few questions to
Dr. Jameson Replying to Sir Henry
Campbell Bannerman. Liberal. DR.. Jane
son said he knew he had not done the right
thing because he had not succeeded. add
ing that if ne had succeeded he knew he
would have been forgiven. The committee
then adjourned.