The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-27
DR.. Jameson Tells the Story of
the Transvaal Raid.
RESPONSIBILITY AL HIS OWN.
Radical Change Was Needed 60 Eorc-
stall an Urrfsing--Charsered Conn
pany Wa. Ready 60 Act On AN fa-
ssanfs Notice-Jameson Had no
Alternative. and Did Not Hesitate
His Mistake Was FaiIure--..Had
Succeeded" He Says, II Would
Have Been Forgiven"
LONDON. March es-At the session %

LONDON. March es--At the session TO-
day Of the parliamentary committee in
aairing into the TranSva2l raid. Joseph
Chamberlain continued his examination of
". r. Schreinsr. who was attorney gen
eral % Cape Colony AZ tho time Cecil
Rhodes was premier. All the questions put
Indicated a desire 20 vinaicats Chamber
iain's policy in the TranSvaal
Following Schgesner. Or. Jameson told
the story of hts movements and sought 10
justify his actions by pointing cut tho
critical condition of the Uitlanders In tAs
TranSvaal prior 70 the raid Dv. Jane
son exculpated Rhodes from the RESPONSE
hility OF having ordered tho tinal rnove ar
the troops across the border. saylng he
had managed the step on his own account.
DIR. Jameson continued.
In the middle Of 1894 Mr. Rhodes and
Mr.. John Hays Hammond. the American
engineer. were with me in Mataheieland.
when the position OF the TransvaM and
the grievances of the Iitianders vera
freely discussed. Mr.. Hammond asserted
thar IL WAS impossible for the economic
conditions OF the Rand "a continue. and
that unless a radical change was made
there would be rising Of the people OF
Johannesburg.
II was much impressed with Mr.. Ham,
mend's representations. and afterwards
in company with Mr. Hammond / went
10 johannesburg and Pretoria. and voriled
the accuracy OF his views. The result OF
those Investigations was that the char
tered company's police and volunteers
were prepared so that II a revolution Oc-
CURED and help was needed we should he
In q position 70 send t.
subsequently, in 1895 | revisited Johan-
nashurg and found the people determined
10 bring matters 10 an issue. In tho
course og my protracted conference. the
leaders informed me regarding their
wishes and plans. The first proposal was
20 act alone. by nay troops were 10 be In
readiness on the border IN case they were
required. Later the leaders concluded that
there was no hope OF success without the
help OF an armed force, and they decided
that the only way 10 obtain reforms was
TO change the administration or the Trans
xaal and that the safest mode ~ effact-
ing this would be to have . sufficient force
Kruger to take pleblscfte Of the whole
aepI4ation. 70 decide who vas 70 bc nresi-
dent They therefore invited my neip.
and 10 was arranged 10 take my force TO
johannesburg 20 maintain order and bring
rreasHra - hear upon tie Transvaal whia
the redress OF the grievances was en-
IeFceu bY them.
ss'Therefore. / obtained the letter signei
By the leaders. with which the committee
taneously with the rising In johannesburg,
at the end os December. ! was 70 start =
Dr. Jameson. it appears. aftcrward told
Mr. Rhodes Of his arrangements. and tho
latter agreed to them.
The statement then deals with the prep
aratlons 20 force the frontier. arousing
the suspicious OF the Beers and the CON-
munlcations between nr. Jameson and
the leaders at johannesburg. the latter
never intimating any intention OF ahan-
doning their determination to appeal 10
arms.
The statement next refers 10 the report
OF the grave situation in the mines. and
adds:
Under nay arrangements with the Io-
hauneshurgers. felt / had no afferna-
tive bat TO proceed. and I started tho
same day"
The statement concludes:
mo communication whatever was re-
ceived from Rhodes or from any one at
Cape Town directing or authorizing my
force TO move 10 Johannesburg. ! acted
entirely on my own Judgment. Mai. Hea-
ney dsd not bring me a message from
Rhodes"
The comuAtee rut few questions 10
Dr. Jameson. Replying TO Sir Henry
Campbell Bannerman. Liberal. DIR. Ja-
msson said:
II know / did not do the right thing.
because | did net succeed. III I had sue
ceeded ! know I would have been for
given" U>aughter)
The committee then adjourned.