The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-17
RHODES is DEFIANT
TRANSVAEL RAIDER Is INVESTI-
GATED IN LONDON.
Reads a Long Statement Reclting the
Wrongs suffered by the Citlauders at
the Boer Governments Hands, Put
thug His Justification on the Grounds
OF the Absolute Necessity Existing for
Extra constitutional Means of Redress
Points Triumphantiy to Greece - Sy'.
vester Scovel's Ofense spread Thin.

London. Feb. 16.-The committee ap-
pointed by parliament to inquire into
he Transvaal raid me. today in West
minister i.aH While the general public
was excluded the hall was crrwced with
members Of Parliament, coun: Ell, ladies,
thirty report..s. ami others interested
IL The inquiry. including the Prince Of
Wales, the Earl Of SeIborne. the Duke Of
A5ercorn, Carcn WiIberforce. James
Brice, '. f, Munroe Ferguson, NJ. p,
Sill Ellis Ashmead Bartlett, N. P. and
other men of prominence.
Cecil Rhodes. when called read long
statement. which, he said. covered the
whole ground, and recited the grievan-
ces Of the foreigners against the Trans
vaal government.
After long efforts" the statement con
tinued, the people there, despairing
of redress by constitutional means, re-
solved TO seek by eXtra-constitutional
means such change of government as
should give the majority of the popula-
ton, possessing more than half the land,
n'ne-tenths of the wealth and paying
n:neteen-twentieths Of the taxes, a due
share in the administrati ton.
Il sympat hized with them and, as q
landowner, was largely interested AS
a citizen of Cape Colony I suffered under
the persistentiy unfriendly attitude Of
the Transvaal towards Cape Colony. !
assisted in the movement with purse and
influence and, acting in my rights, plac-
ed trops under DR. James0n's orders on
the borders Of the Transvaal, prepared to
act under certain circumstances. / did
not tell the chartered company of Lon
don anything in regard to the raid. DR..
Jameson went in without my author
ity. All my actions were greatly infiu-
enced by my belief that the policy Of
the present Transvaal government was
ID introduce the influence of another pow
err Germany and thereby complicate
the situation.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt examin-
ed Mr.. Rhodes at length. The latter re-
fused to answer questions relative TO the
smuggling OF arms into the Trans
vaal.
Asked why. if he was acting within
his rights in sending troops to the Dor
ders of the Transvaal. he mad not in
formed Sir Hercules Robinson, the gov
ernor of Cape Colony, Of the fact. Mr..
Rhodes asked:
DO you want an answer"
YES" said the Liberal leader.
"Well," remarked Mr.. Rhodes, 81
think You must get that answer from
Robinson daughter from Mr.. Labou-
chere.'
The examination of Mr.. Rhodes lasted
until the committee adjourned, and de-
ee'oped little that was new.
Mr.. Rhodes manner, during his cross
examination. was very abrupt and de-
hant. He looked around the room as he
answered Sir William Vernon Harcourt,
and frequently began to question the lat
ter. Pressed by Sir William as TO what
right he had TO send troops 10 the Trans
wall. Mr.. Rhodes said:
Il have very probably done wrong. but
there is another movement now which
has much support, namely, the incursion
Of the Greeks. That's wrong, too, no
dcubt?"
The committee will meet again on
Friday next.