The San Francisco call., 1897-02-27
Mr.. RHODES AND
THE TRANSVAAL
Testimony Before the South
African Commission of
the Commons.
The Cape Colony Premier Tries
to Justify the Raid of
Jameson.
Declares That President Kruger Was
Preparing to G We England the
Co d Shoulder.


African Commission OF the House of
Commons appointed to inquire into the
jameson raid into the Transvaall resumed
their sittings to-day, and the examination
of Cecil Rhodes was continued. num-
ber of members of the House of Commons
and peers were present, but for the first
time since the inquiry began the Prince of
Wales was absent.
Mr.. Rhodes admitted that he had in
structed Rutherford Harris, his agent in
London, to communicate confidentially
the plans of the secret movement to cer-
tam persons in En- land, but he refused to
give their names.
Mr.. Rhodes was asked whether he re-
garded his having q force ready to march
into the Transvaal as consiste Mt with his
position as Premier of the Cape Colony,
and replied that it was for the committee
to judge his conduct, which did not ap-
pear TO him to have been inconsistent.
Witness was then asked concerning the
allusion in the statement read by him at
the opening of the inquiry TO the intention
of the Boer Government TO introduce
foreign influence into the Transvaal. Hon.
Edward Blake added that he assumed
that Mr.. Rhodes had adequate grounds
for the statement.
MIR. Rhodes said that he had, but if he
should state his reason for his belief il
might do harm ana cause Irritation to a
friendly power. Nevertheless, he abso-
lutely did believe it.
To question by Mr.. Blake in regard to
the imperial character of the proposed
federation OF the South African States,
Mr.. Rhodes replied: You must remem-
Der that when we federated Canada it was
local people federated and the imperial
Government finally sanctioned it."
Mr.. Blake-Do you think that the end
justified the means?
Mr.. Rhodes-If l had succeeded we
should have had a union of Africa and the
Chartered Company would have proflted
greatly. As failed l must take the re-
sponsibility, and | hope that the future
will accomplish the union. l also hope
that the committee in their deliberations
will take into consideration the objects
had in view.
Mr.. Rhodes was then examined by Mr..
Labouchere, who asked him whether Ger
many was the power he believed to have
been favored by President Kruger which
question the witness answered In the af-
hrmatlve. In response to question ask
ing for evidence in support of his belief
liyered by President Kruger before the Ger
man Club of Pretoria on the occasion OF the
birthday of the Emperor in 1895 in which
the Boer President claimed Great Britain
had reiinquished her claim of suzerainty
over the Transvaal, and declared that he
had been able to make treaty with Ger
many, so that If one nation tried to ''lick"
the Transvaal the other nations would try
10 stop her. Mr. Rhodes also said that he
had reason for the belief that President
Kruger intended by this speech to claim
the right to make such treaty and con-
trm 1t without the sanction of the Queen.
1he whole tendency OF the Transvaal
policy, he added, was in favor of foreign
ers, Germans especially, at the expense of
the English.
Mr.. La bouchere - Perhaps President
Kruger's speech was an after-dinner ora
tion.
Mr.. Rhodes-President Kruger drinks
nothing stronger than water.
The witness referred to the objection
raised by the German Minister of Foreign
Affairs In speech in the Reichstag to a
commercial union OF the South African
States as being likely to lead TO a political
protectorate and the exclusion of Germ an
uon existed at the Cape. Protection"
he said, means bad faith and bad articles
Tor the benefit of privileged few"
Mr.. Rhodes further said that i'll some of
the mines they intended to employ Amer
leans only, because of their better &C.
quainfance with deep levels.
10 question by Mr.. Labouchere as to
the meaning of the words '.civil rights
as used by Mr.. Rhodes that gentleman
answered with much warmth: 'sThe
Johannesburgers have no civil rights and
no body OF Englishmen will ever remain
IN any place for any period without in
slst ng upon their civil rights"
kvidenoe showing the animosity of the
Iransvaal toward Cape Colony and
Great Britain was introduced, in the
course OF which MIR. Rhodes took from
ms pocket and read aloud a long extract
from speech in regard 10 Crete recently
deilvered in the House OF Commons by
Mr.. Labouchere. AS he finished reading
Mr.. Rhoies said: "I quite agree with
Mr.. Labouchere and iransferrs the same
sentiments and state of affairs to the
Transvaal."
This remark created a laugh, in which
MI: Labouchere joined.
witness said that Mr.. Chamberlain, Sec
reiary OF State for the Colonies, had abso-
iutely no knowledge whatever OF the revo-
iutionary movement, and Mr.. Chamber
IAN SAID that he would be very glad to
answer any question on the subject.
m /. ftao d.nrz. - II l.