New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-27
mr. JAMESON TESTIFlEs.
, RAIDER BEFORE THE SOUTH AT
RICAN COMMITTEE.

or TIVE ORIGIN OF THE 1i-r-sTARREp
,,r,ox AGAINST THE TR,NsvAAL-
.rrrn on HIS OWN RESPONSIBILITY.
March 2G.-The Parliamentary South
L committee to-day resumed in Westmin
r,an its inquiry into the Transvaa' raid
", NJ the friends and admirers OF Dr. jane
~. leader OF the famous raid were present,
syn s,rs known that he would be called upon TO
i've his evidence
,'.,sv-General OF Cape Colony under the
A".,.rship Of Cecil Rhodes. was continued by
r,.mherlain. Secretary OF State for the Col
MI Tho by his questions showed that he
.nxlous 20 procure vindication OF his policy
injection with the Transvaal question. Mr..
"'-,,rer's evidence was Of little interest. and
us conclusion Dr. Jameson was called.
" Jameson was pale but self-contained He
-. statement in which he said the design OF
80 leaders OF the reform movement In Johannes
,ars was TO act alone to the end of obtaining
.,.h.cite and electing a President His Dame
80, force he said only intended to maintain.
.,ssr and nothing more. He referred TO num-
W. =, conversations ne had had with Mr.. Rhodes
:, tie federation Of South Africa. which is
~. scheme Of the ex-Coonal Prime Minister
Ttoxh
ava the obstacles 1t presented to the plan of fed
cation He then proceeded to give the details
- conversations had between himself. Mr..
psodes and John Hays Hammond an American
mining engineer. who was subsequently arrested
=, johannesburg and sentenced TO death for the
mart he had taken in the johannesburg troubles.
They discussed the grievances OF the foreign
residents OF the Transvaal and the onerous re-
s,,crions placed by the Boer Government upon
tho mining operations the Rand. It was the
on,non Of Mr. Hammond that the conditions in
the Transvaal so far as foreigners were con-
cerned were insupportable. and that unless the
Roer Government made some attempt TO redress
their grievances the people of Johannesburg
would revolt
Continuing. Dr. jameson said that he was i'm
messed BY the views and representations OF Mr..
Hammond. and subsequently Went with him 10
Pretoria the capital Of the Transvaal. where he
learned that Mr.. Hammond's views were correct
The result OF his Investigations led 10 the prepa-
ration Of the forces Of the British South African
Company in order that II a revolt occurred al
johannesburg they would be IN readiness 10
render aid. Last year he had visited Johannes
burg and learned that the residents had finally
determined to force matters 10 an issue. lie was
Informed as 10 the plans that were 10 he 1olloWec
The first proposal was for the people OF JONAH
nesburs 10 act alone. but the company's troops
were 10 be in readiness on the border IN case
they were required Later the leaders concluded
there was no hope OF success without the heip vi
an armed force. and they decided that the only
way to obtain reforms 10 change the ad-
ministratiOn of the Transvaal and that the SAL
est mode Of effecting this would be 10 nave sur
f@ient force at johannesburg TO induce Presl-
dent KRUGER TO take a pebiscite Of the whole
population TO decide who 70 be President.
They therefore invited DR.. Jameson help. and 1t
was arranged TO take the companys force TO
TOh . Y pS
pressure 10 bear upon the Transvaa WhlIe the
redress OF the grievance was enforced. 1t was
also arranged that as soon as the revolt occurreu
IN johannesburg DR.. Jameson ana MS 1orce were
10 start &C -oss the border for that city.
DR.. jameson further said that ne told MT
Rhodes Of the plans that had been arranged anu
that Mr. Rhodes agreed to then.
The statement then proceeded 10 give the de-
tails OF the actual raid into Boer territory. In
this DR. Jameson said he acted entirely upon MS
own responsibility. lie received no instructions
from any one.
In reply TO question by MIR Labouchera DR.:
Jameson said that he had never been informed
that the officers II the British Government sup
ported his action: Further: replying 20 a CUES res
zion ne EXPRESSED the belief that the pubic mas
always held regarding the RAID. he sag IN IL,
effect that ne knew now that the expedition
into the Transvaal was q mistake. because II
had not been successful. II he had succeeded
he would have been forgiven
His answers 10 the questions were given IN
clear firm voice and without evasion.
The Daily News" and The Daily Chronicle"
will to- morrow comment al some i"ngtn on the
increasing hostility Of Colonial Secretary Cham
berlain to the TransVaal az shown by his ques-
lions before the South African Committee. Both
papers suggest that he is deliberately seeking
war with the Transvaal
In the mind Of the unprejudiced public there
is no doubt that Mr.. Chamberlain's amour
propre has been severely hurt in his diplomatic
struggles with President Kruger in which the
willy old BOer has shown that he is easily Mr..
master in statecraft. and IL now
appears that. smarting under his defeats, the
Colonial Secretary is seeking the solace OF
venge against the Beers.