Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-21
Statements Regarding Cecil Rhode1
Denounced as Maliciously False.
TRANSVAAL RAID INVESTIGATION
Rutherford Harris Asks the Edito,
OF Truth for His Proofs.
SCENE WAS DRAMATIC

LONDoN, May 21.-There was a dra-
matte scene today in the committee room OF
Westminster Hall. The parliamentary
committee inquiring into the TransvaaI
raid held another session, and in the
course of the examination of Rutherford
Harris, the former secretary of the Brit
ish Chartered South Africa Company at
Capetown. by Henry Labouchere, the wit
ness was asked whether he had ever heard
of a syndicate organized for the purpose
of dealing in the securities of the chartered
company.
Mr.. Harris replied: Il am glad you put
that question. 1 have given you a long
time to prove tho charges you made
against me-" Then, turning 10 the chair
man. Mr.. Harris read an extract from Mr..
Labeuchere's speech in the house of COM
mons on May S. 1896. and an extract from
Truth of May 5, 1886.
The extract from Truth was as follows:
The main object of the raid was to an
mex the rich mining districts of the Trans
vaal to Rhodesia- 1t is obvious that the
first news of the raid would cause a fall
in shares. L am prepared to prove that
syndicate was formed just prior TO the
raid including a leading director tMr. Har-
ris was director of the company, as well
as Its secretary at Capetown) in and
of the chief officials of the British Char
tered South Africa Company, for the pur-
pose of making large bear sales. The seed
having thus been sown for securing
profit by the immediate fall and an ulti-
mate profit by the buying. when the raid
was successful and a rich slice of the
Transvaal had been ADDED TO the charter
land. steps were taken to carry out the
conspiracy.
Tenor Of the Cryptograms.
THE tenor of the 'crytograms" shows
that there was a divergence of opinion be-
tween the Rhodeses Cecil Rhodes and his
brother. Col. Francis Rhodes and Alfred
Belt, representatives among the reform
ers, and that those not connected with the
gang were responsible for the failure of
the scheme. These kilograms are damning
alike to the chartered company and to Mr.
Rhodes. 1t is clear that the raid was plan
ned by Cecil Rhodes and Alfred Belt. the
secretary of the Chartered South Africa
Company. The telegram from Hammond
Jchn Hayes Hammond, the American en-
giEeerD to Rhodes, saying: Cannot arrange
respective interests without Belt shows
that the aim was purely for a stock ex-
change deal These miscreants therefore.
planning a raid which must have led to
the death Of many, and which was based
on robbery, were actually already disput-
ing in regard to their respective shares of
the plumber"
Truth then compared Cecil Rhodes to
Jatez Balfour "the first statesman 70 ap-
ply to imperial politics the methods of the
shady company promoter" and concluded
as follows: Had Cecil Rhodes remained
rs Premier of Cape Colony, L am convinced
that as soon as il suited his purposes he
would have turned on us dhe British gov
ernmenD and would have sought to cut the
chain which binds us to South Africa"
After concluding reading. Mr.. Harris
turI.ed to the chairman and begged him to
call upon Mr.. Labourc mere TO justify his
statements, which" Mr.. Harris added
ARE absolutely and maliciously false and
untrue"
Labouchere to Call Witnesses.
There was a moments silence, during
which the members of the committee look
ed curiously at Mr. Labouchere. Then the
latter said in a subdued voice: In order
TO give proof, shall have to call a number
of stock brokers before the committed"
The secretary OF state for the colonies,
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, thereupon sharp
ly remarked: Il think it important that
you should do So"
Replying to Sir Richard Webster, the at
torney general. Mr.. Harris reiterated that
Mr.. Jabouchere's statement was untrue
from beginning to end. The witness next
read an abstract from the Gaulois, written
last week and signed by Mr.. Labouchere,
making similar charges to those contained
in the article in Truth.
Mr.. Labouchere said he was prepared to
prove the charges. The committee room
was then cleared, in order to allow the
committee to discuss the matter.
When the session was resumed the chair
man announced that the committee con-
demned Mr.. Labouchere for commenting on
the raid while the inquiry was proceeding,
took notice of Mr. Harris denial and ad-
ded that 1t rested with Mr.. Labouchere to
take such steps as he thought fit to meet
the denial.
MIR. Harris Honor at Stake.
Lord Robert Cecil, counsel for Mr.. Har-
ris, then asked leave to speak. He said:
Mr. Harris feels that his honor and repu-
tation are at stake. He has now shown
that one member of the committee is actu-
eted by violently hostile feeling toward
him. So long as Mr.. Labouchere is a MEM
ber of the committee 1t is impossible for
Mr. Harris to safely commit his honor and
reputation to the committee"
This remark was greeted with calls of
order"
moment later Mr.. Harris refused to be
further examined by Mr.. Labouchere unless
the latter withdrew his charges.
On motion of Sir William Vernon Har-
court the committee room was again clear
ed.
On resuming business The chairman said
he thought Mr.. Harris position in the dis
pute must be wholly satisfactory to him.
on II ha tor x-aS hes