New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-14
RHODES HELD TO BLAME
EXPORT ON THE JAMESON RAID INTO
THE TRANsvAAL.
~ur PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE DENouNCEs
RHODES AND EHoNERArEs CHAM
pyaLAiN-orHERs CALLED
TO ACCOUNT


yondor July 13.-The Parliamentary South
Africa Committee. which has been inqa'Tins
Toto the Transvaal raid. has agreed upon its
,enort THE Pail Mall Gazette" publishes
.urmary OF the conclusions CT the COMMITTEES
II SAYS the report will express an emphatic
,,,n,on that. whatever justification there might
have been for action on the part of the people
q. johannesburg there was none whatever Tor
rscu Rhodes's conduct In substituting, organic
,,x and stimulating an armed insurrecton
.ss,nst the Government OF the TransVaai A
heavy responsibility. according TO the report
remains with Rhodes. despite the fact that at
the last moment DR.. Jameson invaded the
rransyaal without Rhodess direct sanction. In
exnressing the gravity Of Rhodes's transaction
the committee says that che seriously empar-
rassed both the imperial and colonial govern
n,ents his proceedings resulted In an astound-
ing breach Of international comfy; ne utilized
his position and the great interests he controlled
IN order to assist and support revolution ana
deceived the High Commissioner. as well as
concealed his views from the members OF the
Colonial Ministry ard the directors OF the Char
tered Company.
The committee Is OF the opinion that OF the
Chartered Company directors who were ex-
amined only Mr.. Belt and Mr. Mcguire were
cognizant of the plans OF Rhodes, and as Belt
was intrusted with the money to promote
revolutionary movement he must share respon-
sibty for the consequences. The report adds
that Newton also failed in his duty. but IN
less degree.
The committee in conclusion condemns the
,ajd but al the same time expresses the opinion
that nothing will be gained by proceeding with
the proposed extension of the inquiry into the
declares Lord Rosmead and Mr.. Chamberlain
and the Under Secretaries Of the Colonial Office
b,ameless. on the ground that there is no evil
6ence that any Of them was in any sense cog
infant Of the plans for the raid. But 1t declares
Sir Graham Bower. Imperial Secretary OF the
High Commissioner guilty of a grave dereliction
~ duty in that he failed to decline to receive
from Cecil Rhodes confidential communications
wholly incompatible with the duty he owed the
High Commissioner.
A voluminous minority report, presented by
Mr. Labouchere finds that the plan for the raid
was concocted by Belt and Rhodes. and sought
10 be carried out through Philips. Hammond,
Colonel Rhodes Cecil Rhodes's brother. and
1eonard 1t was devised according to Mr. La
honohere in order that certain rich men might
become richer.
Rhodes" continues the report. may possibly
he Influenced to a certain extent by vague ana
hay idea of a vast African federation under the
British flag in which he would play the ieadins
mart: but he was also Influenced and is innu-
encei by financial considerations
Mr. Labouchere does not consider that certain
h;eh nersonsges In the Board of Directors or the
chartered Company did their duty, while ne
thinks that Rhodes and Belt merit severe pun
;shment" for raid which IS "one or me most
disgraceful episodes of our countiys histuI!'
Tte minority report ends as follows: We re-
FRET that the alleged completely Of the Co!onia'
oNce has not been probed to the bottom IN Or
der the more effectuay 10 remove any u ,
easements Of certain witnesses that the secIs.
sins of Cecil Rhodes were more or less clearly
revealed 20 Mr. Joseph Chamberlain