The herald., 1897-07-14
Submitted by Transvaal
Inquirers
RHODES SEVERELY BLAMED
HIS ABETTORS HELD EQUALLY
RESPONSIBLE
Labouchere Not Satisfied With the
Innocence of Members of the
British Foreign Office
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
LONDON, July 13.-The .parlimenta
rian South African commission that ha
been inquiring into the Transvaal rait
has agreed upon its report. The Pal
Mall Gazette will publish tomorrow 6
summary of the conclusions of the com
mittee. The report will express an EN-
phatic opinion that, whatever justifica.
tion there might have been for action or
the part of the people of johannesburg
there was none whatever for Ceci
Rhodes conduct in subsdizing, organ
izing ard stimulating an armed inSur
reetion against the government of the
Transvaal.
a heavy respon sibility. according to the
report, remains with Rhodes, despite tbs
son invaded the Transvaal without
Rhodes direct sanction.
The gravity of Rhodes transaction Is
weightily expressed by the committee
who find that he seriously embarrassed
both the imperial and colonial govern
ments; that the proceedings resulted in
an astounding breach of internationa
comfy; that he utilized his position and
the great interests he controlled to as
sist ard support revolution and deceived
the high commissioner as well as con-
cealed his views from the members of
the colonial ministry and directors oil
the chartered company"
The committee is of the opinion that
the chartered company directors, who
were examined, only Mr.. Belt and Mr..
Mcguire were cognizant of the plans Of
Rhodes, and as Belt was intrusted with
the money to promote the revolutionary
movement he must share the whole re-
sponsibility for the consequences.
The report adds that Newton also,
failed in his duty but in less degree
The committee in conclusion unite to
condemn the raid, but at the same time
they express the opinion that nothing
will be gained by proceeding with the
proposed extension of inquiry into the
administration of the chartered COM
pany. They declare Lord Rosemeade
and Mr.. Chamberlain and the under
secretaries of the colonial office blame
less on the ground that there is no evil
dence that any of them were in any
sense cognizant of the plans for the raid,
but they pronounce Sir Graham Bower
imperial secretary of the high commits
sioner, guilty OF a grave dereliction of
duty in that he, failed to decline to re-
ceive from Cecil Rhodes confidential
communications, which was wholly in
compatible with the duty he owed the
commissioner
A voluminous minority report pre-
sented by Mr.. Labouchere finds that the
plan for the raid was conceived by Belt
and Rhodes and sought to be carried out
through Phillips Hammond, Colonel
Rhodes Cecil Rhodes brother) and
Leonard. 1t was devised, according to
Mr. Labouchere, in order that certain
wealthy men might become more
wealthy.
Rhodes" continues his report, may
possibly have been influenced to a GER
tain extent by vague and hazy idea of
a vast African federation under the Brit
ish flag, in which he would play the lead
ing part, but he was also Influenced and
is influenced by financial considera-
TONS
Mr.. Labouchere does not consider that
Gel tdlib nigh peiSoudSes III tHe pUdTu VI
directors of the chartered company did
their duty while he hints that Rhodes
and Belt merit severe punishment" for
raid which is "one of the most dis
graceful episodes of our country's his
tory"
The minority report concludes as fol-
lows: I'VE regret that the alleged COM
plicity of the foreign office has not been
probed to the bottom in order the more