The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-27
WHITEWASH FOR RHODES.
THE COMMONS VILE NOT REOPEN
THR SOUTH AFRICA CASE

Mr.. Chamberlain Rulogines Rhodes ana says
ne Has Bone Nothing to Renect Upon Hin
as q Man OF monor-Then the House Ro-
Jeots mir ~stanhopo's Resolution by sOs to ~
Special Cable Dsspatoh to THE sUS.
LONDON, July 28.-In the House of Commons
to-day MIR, Philip J. Stanhopo, Radical, moved
tho adoption Of o resolution, notice Of which
was given on Monday last, deprccsting tho In
conclusive action and report Of the committee
appointed by the House to examine into the
Transvaal raid and the affairs Of the British
South Africa Company.
Tho resolution laid particular stress upon the
failure Of the committee to recommend specific
steps regarding Mr.. Cecil Rhodes and upon its
action In not reporting to tho House tho refusal
Of Mr.. Hawksley. Mr.. Rhodes's solicitor, to pro
duce certain kilograms bearing upon tho raid.
The resolution also demanded that Mr.. Hawks
Icy DO summoned to tho bar OF the House and
compelled to produce the kilograms.
Mr.. Labouchere, who was a member OF the
committee and who submitted O minority re-
port, led the attack upon the committee, and Sir
Michael Hicks-Beach, Chancellor of the TX
chequer. defended 1t.
Sir William n-Harcourt. the Liberal
leader. said that the committee had not aban-
doned the inquiry. The report submitted to the
EuubO was COuCluSlNe On w important points
In reference to the raid. but 1t was too late In
the session for the committee to enter upon an
Investigation OF the affairs of tho British South
Africa Company. He reafiirmed his entire con-
hdence in the committee.
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, the Colonial Secre-
tary, defended the in not insisting
upon the production Of the kilograms. olabor-
ating the reasons therefor given in the report.
He said he regretted that Mr.. Stanhope had sub
mittod the resolution, as 1t was calculated to
weaken the committees authority and cast .
slur upon its conclusions. which were necessary
to the peace Of South Africa and the vindica-
ton Of tho honor of Great Britain.
He declared that he was not concerned to de-
fend his personal honor. His answer to his as
~sailants was his action at the time OF the raid.
Mr.. Rhodes had committed q fault that was
about as big as a statesman could commit, but
he had done nothing to affect his personal char
acter as a man OF honor.
Mr.. Chamberlain further said that he did not
believe the atrocious charges against Mr.. Rhodes
and DR.. Harris made by Mr.. Labouchere. who
had abused the privileges of the House. The
Government. he added, was not going to prose-
cute Mr.. Rhodes or remove his name from the
list Of Privy Councillors. He had been made q
Privy Councillor for his services, and he had
done nothing since that dimmed those services.
Tho Government must be guided to a consider
able extent by the opinion that prevailed in
South Africa or South Africa might be lost.
The Colonial Secretary then read a
cation from Sir J. Gordon spriRg. Prime Min.
lister of Cape Colony, to the effect that Mr..
Rhodes retained his former popularity, and that
probably not more than half of the Dutch resi-.
dents OF the Cape were opposed to him.
Mr.. Chamberlain then said 1t was not in.
tended to abolish the British South Africa Com.