The herald., 1897-05-22
Still on the Parliamentary
Rack
HARRIS TALKS VERY PLAINLY
LABoUCHERE GETS THE LIE
DIRECT
Witness Declines to Testify Further
Unless Truths Editor With
draws His Charges
Associated Press Special Wire.

/
LONDON, May 21.-There was dra-
matte scene today in the committee room
of the Westminster hall. The parlia-
mentary commission on the Transvaal
raid held another session, and in the
course of the examination called Ruth
erford Harris, the former secretary Of
the British Chartered South Africa
company at Cape Town by Henry La
bouchere. The witness was asked
whether he had ever heard of the syn
dicate organized for the purpose Of
dealing in the securities of the Charter
ed company. Mr.. Harris replied: II
am glad you put that question. have
given you long time to prove the
charges you have made against me-"
Then, turning to the chairman, Mr..
Harris read an extract from Mr.. Labou-
chere's speech in the house of COM
mons on May 8, 1896, and an extract
from Truth of May 5. 1896, as follows
1.-THE main object of the raid was to
annex the rich mining districts of the
Transvaal to Rhodesia. 1t was 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 lead
ing director. (Mr. Harris was director
CT the company as we'll as its secretary
at Cape TOWN. and one of the council
lors of the British Chartered South At
rica company for the purpose of making
large bear sales. The seed having thus
been sown for securing a profit by the
immediate fall and ultimate profits by
buying when the raid was successful
and a rich slice of the Transvaal had
been added to the charter lands, steps
were taken to carry out the conspiracy.
'"The trend of the cryptograms shows
that there was a divergence of opinion
between the Rhodes Cecil Rhodes and
his brother Francis) and Alfred Belt.
representatives of the former, and that
they are not connected with the gang
that is responsible for the failure of the
scheme. The kilograms are damaging
alike to the Chartered company and
Mr. Rhodes. 1t is clear that the raid
was planned by Cecil Rhodes and AL
fred Beit the secretary of the Charter
ed South Africa company"
Hammond, the American engineer) sent
to Rhodes saying: Cannot arrange re-
spective interests without Beit," shows
! that the aim was purely for a stock ex-
change deal. These miscreants, there
fore, planning a raid which must have
led to their death and which was based
on robbery, were actually already dis
putting in regard to their respective
shares of the plunder.
Truth then compared Cecil Rhodes to
Jabez Balfour, "the first statesman to
apply to imperial politics the methods
of the shady company promoter" and
concludes as follows:
Had Cecil Rhodes remained as pre-
mier of Cape Colony, 1 am convinced
that as soon as it suited his purpose he
kwould have turned on us (the British
government and would have sought to
cut the chain which binds US to South
Africa"
After concluding reading, Mr.. Harris
turned to the chairman and begged him
to call upon Mr.. Labouchere to justify
his statements, which," Mr.. Harris
added, "are absolutely and maliciously
false and untrue
| There wac a moments silence during
which the members of the committee
looked curiously at Mr. Labouchere
Then the latter eaid in subdued voice:
"In order to give proof shall have to
call a number of stock brokers before
the committee"
The secretary of state for the colonies
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, sharply re-
marked; IT think it important that you
should do so.'
Ran1xyirp IN Sir ri hcto 4,
army general, Mr.. Harris reiterated that
Mr.. Labouchere'e statement was untrue
from beginning to end. The witness then
read an extract from the Gaulois, writ
ten last week and signed by MIR. Labou-
chere. making similar charges to those
contained in the article in Truth.
Mr.. Labouchere said he was prepar ed
to prove the charges. The committee
room was cleared in order to allow the
committee to discuss the matter.
| When the session was resumed the
chairman announced that the commit
tee condemned Mr.. Labouchere for COM
melting upon the raid while the inquiry
was proceeding, took notice of Mr. Har-
ris' denial and added that it remained
with Mr.. Labouchere to take such steps
as he thought fit to meet the denial.
Lord Robert Cecil counsel for Mr..
Harris, then asked leave to speak
He said: "Mr. Harris feels that his
honor and reputation are at stake. He
has now shown that one member of the
committee is actuated by violently hos
tile feeling toward him. So long as Mr.
Labouchere is member of the commit
tee it is impossible for Mr.. Harris to
safely commit his honor and reputation
to the committee"
This remark was greeted with calls of
"Order."
A moment later Mr.. Harris refused to
be further examined by Mr.. Labouchere
unless the latter withdrew his charges
On motion Of Mr.. William Harcours
the committee room was again cleared.
On resuming the case the chairman
said he thought Mr.. Harris position in
the suit was wholly satisfactory to him,
and the whole matter was then dropped.
A BAD FAILURE