Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-30
HOT AND HEAVY
Was the Tilt Between Harcourt
and Chamberlain.
Former Denounces PoIicyo Of Secretary
Of State for the Colonies.
Latter Upholds Every lota Of His Plans De-
bate Wakes Warm.

London, April 29.-In the House of
Commons, today. Sir William Harcourt
said the policy Of the secretary of state
for the colonies intending to produce q
racial war was defeated by the good
sense of feeling Of the people of Cape
Colony, and he pointed to the adoption
of the recent conciliatory motion in the
Parliament of Cape Colony as being 4
condemnation of this war policy, add
ing that he was happy to say the
peaceful policy was supported by the
government of Cape colony.
The secretary of state for the colo
MES, Joseph Chamberlain. here entered
the House, amid cheers, Sir VIM. Har-
court remarked: In the presence %!
Mr.. Chamberlain | repeat that ii was
IA defeat of an utterly unjustifiable at
tempt to excite ill-feeling.
When we were asked to refuse re-
ducton of the taxes of Great Britain
in order to contribute money to pro-
mote warlike, aggressive operations in
South Africa ooh. OH we oppose a
most determined resistance. The pro-
posal to apply money to unjustifiable
purposes against the will of the people
and the government of Cape Colony is
one of the most injurious things with
reference to the empire ever submitted
to the House of Commons
Mr.. Chamberlain said he had not ex-
pected to have to reply to ''pernicious
and dangerous language. He classed
Sir William Harcourt 5 utteranccs as be-
ing "unpa triotic in the highest degree,
embarrassing to the government and in
furious to the cause OF peace.
Continuing. Mr. Chamberlain asserted
that Sir William Harcourt's statements
TO the effect that the governments poll
cy had been rejected by the Cape GOV
eminent and people were absolutely in
accurate The policy of the government.
he explained. had not changed from the
first Only circumstances had changed
to some extent The governments poll
cy." Mr.. Chamberlain added, lis to main
tain it's obligations. not to engage in any
aggressive operations. nor to attack the
independence of friendly state. but TO
maintain our own rights and the rights
of the nation"
II had hoped continued Mr.. Cham
berlain that our policy would continue
to be non-partisan but that hope has
disappeared in the face of Sir William
Harcuurts speech. and | now challenge
him TO raise the issue. Cheers and coun-
ter-cheers.) is the opposition prepared
TO take issue with us when we say that
while we intend to observe our own OBJ
legations we intend that obligations to-
ward us shall also be maintained2 The
question between us and the Transvaal
is not interference in the internal affairs
of the Transvaal nor an attack on the
London convention upon our part. hut
breaches of the convention upon the part
of the Transvaal. and we are calling
upon them in friendly terms TO give US
satisfaction.
Chamberlain by remarking You are
asking for G200,01o What nonsense
exclaimed Mr.. Chamberlain. hotly. We
ask for e20000 when everybody knows
that the TranSvaal is asking for El,N00-
900 and for hundreds and hundreds Of
thousands. The Transvaal has be N arm
ing to an extent absolutely uplustihable
by any ordinary policy Of defense. We
have not complained. but the result has
been that the present armament OF the
Transvaal are altogether disproportlon-
ate to the defensive resources of Cape
Colony. and the TransVaal ornaments,
after eXpending considerably over El.tpo.-
600 upon them. are still going ON. Bat
teries of artillery and millions of guns,
and millions of cartridges and hundreds
of thousands of rifles have been imported
into the Transvaal
Mr.. Chamberlain concluded with say
ing: II do not believe there is a feeling to
rppudiate the policy of the government.
on the contrary. | believe the feeling of
every loyal British subject at the Cape
to be one of gratitude and satisfaction
with Her Majestys government. | un-
ton as the representatives of the para
mount power in South Africa and are
determined in the often used words to
maintain the integrity of all our rights
under the convention.
Later replying to Thomas Warner.
Liberal member for the Litchtield divi-
sion of Staffordshire. Mr.. Chamberlain
said that the dispatch of a regiment of
British infantry ard brigade of British
artillery to Cape Colony was intended as
a permanent increase of the Cape garri-
son.
Mr. Balfour. the first lord of the treas
ury. and the government leader of the
House also deprecated Sir VIM. Har-
courts language and protested that the
policy of the government was not pro-
yatiVc.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt. replying
to Mr. Balfour. expressed his satisfac
ton ut the statement just made by the
first lord of the treasury. but said no one
could doubt the existence at the Cape
of a very widespread expression that
war is imminent. Nor. he added, can any
one wonder that the Beers are arming.
after the Jameson attempt. In conclu-
sion he expressed the hope that Great
Britain did not and would not entertain
such a suicidal and disgraceful policy as