The San Francisco call., 1899-10-26

them to conceal their thoughts. That
might fairly be called the 'old diplo-
macy" which, he said, Il absolutely re-
pudiate. People" he continued ARE en-
titled to demand a clear expression of
views, and there was never the slightest
justification for the statement that Presi-
dent Kruger had been in doubt.
Mr. Chamberlain then said: Our OBJ
jects, methods and determination were to
carry out these plans. 1t was neces-
sary to impress upon President Kruger
the seriousness of the step he was called
upon to take and the consequences which
would follow any mistake on his part, 1t
was not desirable to include in an Off
cial dispatch collateral suggestions and
indications of opinion, but semi official
warning was frequently conveyed in a
speech. a similar warning was given by
Lord Salisbury to the Sultan at the Guild
hall banquet and I am still absolutely
unrepentant"
Regarding Mr.. Davitt Mr.. Chamberlain
said he recognized that he had hitherto
discussed the matter moderately and sin
cerely, and" he added, IT would pay
the greatest attention to his arguments
if I did not know he would use precisely
the same arguments in regard to any
British war, which are based on his en-
nifty to England.
What would have been the Irish ar
gument in the Spanish-American war, in
which Spain showed herself infinitely less
capable of defending herself than the
Transvaal-"
Here William Redmond, Parnellite
member for East Clare, shouted: THE
Transvaal did not blow. up your war
ships"
Mr.. Chamberlain continued: "The great,
alr Inn ipiy hot M
United States and Spain, was fought
without the loss of a single American.
We have never denied that the Transvaal
was foeman worthy of our steel. Not
only was the disparity in the forces in the
Spanish-American war as great as those
now engaged but the contention of the
United States and their right Of interfer-
ence arose from the fact that at the
same distance from their territories there
was oppression, not of American citizens
but of another race and people, and justi-
fled the Intervention of the United States
in the mind of the civilized world, or at
any rate, in the eyes of Englishmen and
Irishmen. But we are interfering in be-
half Of our own people 1t is perfectly
certain that Mr.. Davitt, but for his hatred
of England would sympathize with US as
he did with America"
Mr.. Chamberlain then replied to the
alton of Mr.. Hofmeier, the Afrikander
leader, pointing out that while he believed
Mr.. Hofmeier was sincere, yet he could
not forget that when President Kruger
made absolutely compulsory proposals
for settlement" Mr.. Hofmeier was per-
fectly ready to accept them. President
Kruger misled Mr.. Hofmeier in promis-
ing him proposals which differed materi-
ally from those he really presented.
There has been on the. part of the
Transvaal crookedness altogether inccm-
prehensible If they desired settlement, :"
continued Mr.. Chamberlain. II be-
lieve that from first to last Presi-
dent Kruger never intended to
give anything approaching equal
rights to the white races, or any
acknowledgment Of British supremacy.
War, therefore was inevitable. There has
been an enormous strain upon us. We
are called upon to bring the war to a
quick conclusion and send across the sea
a force such as no nation in history ever
before sent. This is entirely due to the
preparations which made the Transvaal
an armed camp and which not only Sc
cured 1T a defensive position. but enabled
it to take the offensive against The large
forces now engaged.
such a thing could not Be continued
force of 25,000 in South Africa. We are
told we shall lose South Africa. our
foreign friends are convinced of it. Yet
they are not happy. Such predictions
were made before and were even current
in the days of Elizabeth. But l am not
alarmed. One great Teutonfc people can
not hold IN subsection another great Teu-
tonic people, but this has never been our
course. 1t is impossible to pretend that
the Dutch at the Cape are crushed by our
rule, when they have all the rights
Englishmen possess, and even in in
dividual cases are permitted to talk and
write treason. Whatever may be the
result of the war and the premature talk
of the result from the present war does
any one imagine that we shall fail to do
/ for others what we claimed for ourselves
/ or refuse equal rights to the Dutch in the
I Transvaal. which they refused us?"
The House finally, by a vote of 224 to
! 2S, passed the second reading of the ap-
preparation bill.