The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-21
Referring to the Transvaal, He Says
the Conditions There Are a Menace
to the Peace of South Africa.
is WATCHING THE SITUATION
But HAS NOT YET FOUND AN OPENING
FOR AN ULTIMATUM.
Grievances of UitIanders, He Says,
bannesburgers Self-GOvernment.

LONDON, March 20-During the course os
the discussion of the vote on account in the
House of Commons to-day the secretary of
state for the colonies. Joseph Chamberlain,
replied to various colonial questions raised.
With regard to the REID contract with New
Foundlapd he said that to have disallowed
or delayed it would have been a tremendous
interference upon the part of the imperial
government with a self-governing colony,
and either course would have brought the
colony into bankruptcy, for which he would
have been held responsible. Continuing Mr..
Chamberlain remarked that, although he
shared largely in the opinion in regard to
the financial unsoundness of the contract,
possibly he might be mistaken and the gov
eminent of the colony might be right It's
government, however, had made a painful
admission that it was incapable of efficiently
carrying out large operations which were
handed over to a contractor whom he be-
lieved to be competent and honorable.
Speaking of the West Indies, Mr.. Cham
berlain said he thought it was impossible TO
give those islands representation in the gov
eminent 1t would be absurd he added, TO
universally enfranchise the negro. The
experience with the Port of Spain (Trinidad)
municipal council. the colonial minister
pOliIl6u out, ndu lot encouraged extension III
that direction, and the prevailing system
under the control of the Colonial Office was
the best which could be adopted under the
present circumstances
Turning to the TransvaaI, Mr. Chamber
lain said that not one of President Kru-
gers promises to remedy grievances has
been fulfilled. Touching upon the speech
delivered by President Kruger at Heidel-
har fr;4 ID
last, during which the President emphasized
the necessity of the state retaining the
dynamite monopoly because the South
African Republic, being an inland state,
might be cut off from supplies of explosives
in the event of trouble with any of the pow
ers, and during which he also announced
his intention TO modify the mining laws and
TO reduce the period emitting an applicant
TO full burghership from fourteen to nine
years residence, said the promises were all
llusory. Mr.. Chamberlain then claimed
that the proposed change in the franchise
mite was still monopoly, and that there
had been no advance toward remedying
other grievances.
Continuing. Mr.. Chamberlain asserted
that If President Kruger would give the
Johannesburgers a real municipality, with
control of their own educational system and
civil police, as he could do without the
slightest derogation TO the interests and
dignity of the Transvaal, he would remove
nine out of ten uitlanders grievances.
Great Britain, Mr.. Chamberlain then pointed
out, could only intervene in the event of
breach of the London convention, or, If the
comfy OF nations was not observed, as the
paramount power in South Africa, Great
Britain could make friendly suggestions,
but he (Ir. Chamberlain did not believe
Tor moment that they would be successful
now, and therefore Ii would be undignified
TO make them. Mr.. Chamberlain concluded
with saying: las long as the present condi-
tons continue they constitute real danger.
A urnt nni inc ftaa stir i'm
fully. but thus far there has been nothing
to Justify an ultimatum, and. failing COM
pliance, war, which seems to have been
suggested by a previous speaker"
In the course of discussion of the gov
ernments policy in China William st. John
Foreign Office defended the plan Of dealing
direct with the Tsung Ii Yamen and de-
clared the suggestion that Great Britain
should instead 'gO straight to other pow
ers'' absolutely untenable in the present
condition of affairs. After asserting that
Rear Admiral Lord Charles Beresford. in his
public declarations respecting the best
course to pursue. did not represent the
views of the government, Mr.. Brodrick said:
I'VE ought to be more careful lest we step
cessions or. having undertaken the reorgan-
ization of the Chinese army and navy, that
we do not by these successive steps under
take the responsibility for the whole govern
ment of China" Referring to North China,
he said Great Britain was still hopeful of an
understanding with Russia there. and that
a friendly and ccnoiliatory disposition ex-
listed on both sides.
Sir Charles Dixie, Radical member for the
Forest of Dean, asked question regarding
the report that the Anglo-American Cana
dian commission had failed to agree over
the Alaskan boundary issue.
Mr. Brodrick replied that the joint COM
mission had agreed to preserve absolute
secrecy as to it's proceedings Some sort of
inexact accounts had crept out but 1t would
be extremely undesirable for him, he de-
clared. to give either contradiction or af-
firmatiOn. and the report must be accepted
u-itb h1o