The morning times., 1897-01-31
FOR IRELAND
The Party Leaders Allowed Bal
four to 0utwit Them.
RHODES IS FULL OF FIGHT
He Is Not Worried Over the Pro-
posed Investigation Into the At
fairs of the British South Africa
Company-The GOVERNMENTS Pol
icy Strongly Opposed.

| London, Jan. 3o-since the Irish mem-
bers of the House of Commons Withdrew
| their amendment to the address in reply
| to the queens speech. which amendment
| referred to the financial relations hetw cen
! Great Britain and Ireland, it is seen that
| they made a serious tactical error which
| was equivalent To allowing Mr.. Balfour.
| the government leader in the house, to
| spike their guns.
prompt and energetic opposition 10 the
suspension of the financial question might
| have been effective in carrying the votes OF
| the Irish Unonists, but now it will be
| useless to oppose tie commission, which
will be supported by all the Unionists and a
| number OF Scottish and English Liberals.
| The question, instead of bearing solely on
| the financial relations between Great Britain
and Ireland, will develop into san inquiry
| into the financial relations between the diff
| fercnt parts OF the United Kingdom.
The Scotch and Welsh members of the
| House insist that their respective claims
shall be considered, and the English Rad
| icals demand an inquiry into the matter
| of the taxation of the various classes in
| the kingdom Nevertheless the session will
| not be barren for Ireland III the govern
| ment's proposal to transfer Irish private
| bill legislation from Westminster TO Dublin
takes the form of bill. The tenor of the
| Irish section OF the queens speech and the
| governments dependence upon time rem
| ders the appearance of such a measure
| doubtful, but 1t would undoubtedly pass if
| the government should submit it. All the
| Irish members are eager for such a bill,
foreseeing that it would transfer much
power and the expenditure of much money
| to Dublin.
| The amendment made Thursday in the
| House OF Commons by Mr.. MacLean to
| the motion OF Colonial Secretary Cham
| berlain for the reappointment OF the COM
| mission to inquire into the affairs Of the
| British South Africa Company, is in
| dicative of the feeling that prevails in in
| fluential quarters regarding any investi-
| CATION OF South African matters. Mr.. Mac
| Leans amendment was 20 the effect
| that as the troubles in South Africa had
| been pcHceably settled, aud as the leaders
| OF the raid into the TransyaaI had been
| punished, it was needless To appoint
committee to reopen the matter. This
| amendment was seconded by Sir John Lufl
book, and had the support OF other fnflu
| ential members.
Although Mr. Chamberlain's motion was
| finally adopted the debate showed that
Mr.. c. Rhodes and the British South Africa
| Company, in which he is the moving spirit,
were not without strong friends in Parlia-
| ment. Mr MacLean is the proprietor of
| the Western Mail, one OF the most infIuen
| tial newspapers in Wales, and his attempt
| to head Off an investigation OF the affairs
| of the chartered company had the support
{ OF other newspapers throughout the king
| dom.
There is no den wing the fact that If the
| commission attempts to probe too deeply
| into the companys affairs that persons
high in society and political life will be
| hurt and for that reason IL is the opinion
of many persons that the proposed inves
tigation will prove farce.
| 1t has been stated that the company.
| in its lavish use of money to attain its
ends, did not overlook the press, and
| that its support by some of the most in
| fluential newspapers of London and else
where is due solely to the fact that these
| papers were practically brihcd for that
| purIo Many aristoeTats are connected
| with the company, and It will be TO their
| interest to put every possible obstacle
IN the way of thorough investigation
Mr.. Rhodes, who had come from South
Africa 10 testify before the commission,
is In fine fighting mettle, and Goes not
appear 10 he the leas worried as to the
| outlook, His testimony is locked forward
to with much interest, as it is generally
believed that if he should be pressed too
hard he VIII make revelations that will
| prove great shock To what he has termed
| the 'unctuous rectitude'; of-some British
statesmen.
| One OF Mr. Chamberlain's objects in in
sisting upon the inquiry. is to clear him
Self of the charge that he mad knowledge
previous to the raid that the attempt was
to be made to violate the territory OF the
Transvaal; that the plan had his tacit sane
| ton, ana that he expressed his disapproval
| only when the expedition gave promise
| Of failure. Columns have been written
OF the story of the raid, but it is thought
that despite the appointment OF a parlia-
Inentary commission. the full history of
the attempt to seize the TransvaaI will
not be told for many years to come, if ever,
| unless Mr.. Rhodes should be baited beyond
! forbearance
DR.. Nansen, the well-knewn Arctic eX-
plorer, and Mrs Nansen are expected to
arrive i'll London on Tuesday next DIR.
Nansen will be received by delegates from
the Royal Geographical Society, the Royal
Society and other organizations
1t is evident that there Will be no com
mutation of the sentence OF eight months
Imprisonment imposed upon Lady Scott for
llbelling her son-in-iaw Earl Russell
Earl Cadogan and other Of her friends have
sought tc obtain her release, but they have
! fai!ed to shake the home secretary's de
cision not to set her at liberty. Her
friends vainly offered to guarantee that
she would never again metldle with Earl
RUSSELL but the home secretary remained
obdurate, and Lady Scott must pay the
fuii penalty for her disgraceful charges
United States Ambassador Thomas F.
Bayard will give a dinner to the Prince
OF Wales at his residence, No. SO Euston
Square on March g The lord mayor,
Right Hon. George F. Faudel-P hillips,
and the sherlffs of the city of London will
| be present.