New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-06
THE FARCICAG INQUIRY DENOUNCED.
CHAMBER AIN AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN COM
MITTEE ASSAIIED.

CHAMBER AIN AND THE SOUTH AFRICAN COM
MITTEE AssAHED.
London June 6-The Parliamentary committee
which has been inquiring into the Transvaal raid
Is assailed by storm OF denunciations owing to
its decision not to press tho production or the
missing cable messages exchanged between DR..
Rutherford Harris and Cecil Rhodes and certain
parties in England. The newspapers OF all shades
OF opinion view this decision with the greatest dis
trust and insis. that the reputation OF Great
Britain is involved in thorough probing Of the
matter THE Daily News publishes a regular
Indictment against tho committee, and asks why
the latter has not insisted upon the production or
the cable messages or of the Colonial once copies
OF these messages; why the committee has not in
sisted upon the production OF the confidential com
r,unications between the Colonial Office ard Sir
Hercules Robinson Gord Rosmcad), tho then
Governor Of Cape Colony; why Lord Grey who
conducted most of the negotiations with the Sec
rotary of State for the Colonies. Joseph Chamber
lain was not called. and why Mr.. Rhodes was
not recalled and questioned about the cable mes
sages 1.-THE Daily News also cites number OF
cases where clews and questions affecting the
Colonial Offices connection with the affair were
not followed up were not asked, and says In
conclusion:
..Thc committee has been n Committee Of No
Inquiry. Unless 1t reconsiders its decision it will
cover itself with ridicule and contempt, and strike
n fatal blow at the efficiency of Parliament"
The weekly newspapers equally emphatic in
summing up the work Of the committee. The
Sneaker" says:
'.The committee threatens TO finish the proceed
nps In an ignominious and dscrcdltable collapse.
Tho fno,lir, can only be regarded as a fasco. and
must necessarily confirm in the opinion of the
world many charges made against Mr. Chamber
lain In connection with the raid. the evidence
proving or disproving the charge that Mr. Cham
herlain was cognizant OF the inSurrectionary move
mcnt at Johannesburg. and that he was prepared
10 rso the British forces to assist the movement,
has been rejected by the committee with the con-
nivance OF Mr.. Chamberlain himself, and unless
he can vindcate himself 1t Is his duty to resign"
"Thn Saturday Review remarks:
THE committee has brought thu methods Of
Parliament in committee into discredtt. and has
lossennd the respect with which the House of Com
mons has hitherto been regarded. The blame for
This pretentous fasco must fall upon Mr. Cham
brrlain He proposed the committee. and his chosen
court has been unable even 10 clear his own char
acter.'
1T is difficult to believe the committee ever
meant business.
The most slashng attack comes from the pen
of William r. Stead. who. although pro-Rhodes.
urges that full light be turned upon the whole
matter lie heads his article flushed Up" and
proceedings as most shameful conspiracy. which
suggests falsehood. to conceal the truth and mis-
lead the nation. declaring that the committee is
deceiving the public In order to screen Mr.. Cham
berain. who, according TO Mr. Stead, ought TO
have owned frankly that he winked at the patri-
Mr.. Stead says:
He no doubt. would have had resign; but
II would have been only n temporary eclipse. and
his position with the country would have been
stronger than Instead of this honest course.
the watchword seems to have been given as Lie.
I ie