The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-10-20
GRAVITY OF SITUATION REALIZED
Snad Continues His Efforts to EmharasS the Chamberlain
Ministry and Cripple Its Conduct Of
the War.

NEW YORK. Oct. IA dispatch Il
the World from London says:
The calling out of the militia indi'
Gates plainly that the British govern
men, considers 1t necessary to take
timely precautions against some foreign
comnlication which threatens to super
vene on the Transvaal trouble.
In the first instance, the militia Is
only to be employed to take the place
in home garrisons of the line regiments
that are going to South Africa
The government has not thought 1t
advisable, in view of the hostile feel
ing evoked in Ireland by the attack
on the Boer republic, to reduce the
Irish military establishment below fits
normal strength Of 1000 men, and It
is Intended to set free the regular regi-
ments stationed in Ireland for war ser
vice by substituting English militia bat
talions in the Irish garrisons, the Irish
militia being sent for duty to England.
This calling out of the militia has
added appreciably TO the general esti-
mate of the gravity OF the situation.
w. T. Stead has issued a pamphlet
on the Boer war entitled. Are we in
the right: An appeal to all honest
men"
1t is a powerful indictment OF Cham
berlain's diplomacy. bringing in the
strongest relief the persistent provOea-
tive course followed by the colonial sec
retary throughout the negotiations,
with the patent object Of forcing war
on the Transvaal.
The most sensational part Of the
pamphlet Is Mr.. 'Stead's solemn decla-
ration that Cecil Rhodes informed him
that Mr.. Chamberlain was privy to the
Jameson raid. and that the parliamen-
tary inquiry into the origin Of that con-
spiracy was hushed up because a point
had been reached in the investigation
which, if exceeded, would implicate the
colonial secretary directly in the plot.
In his pamphlet Mr.. Stead says:
"Before the prime minister OF the
Cape went very far in the conspiracy he
found it necessary to enlist the support
Of the colonial Office in his designs. He
sent over to London DR.. Rutherford
Harris with instructions to inform Mr..
Chamberlain Of what was brewing. Mr..
Harris executed his mission and cabled
to Rhodes the result Of the interview.
"At first CHAMBERLAIN refused but af-
ter Harris had spoken openly to Mr..
of the colonial office and had
communicated to Chamberlain the con-
tents Of a cablegram from Rhodes
warning him that If he thwarthed the
England would lose South
Africa, Chamberlain gave way on the
pretext Of necessity for pro-
tecting the builders Of the Bchuana-
land railway from savage tribes.
Further, Kruger had heard that
between the consplra-
tors, ernissaries and the colonial
office were close and constant, and that
iuring the whole month Of November
were constantly passing
and re-passing between the chief con-
;pirators at Cape Town and his trusted
smissaries and friends in London, who
we're, on his behalf, keeping the colo
lial Office in Touch with the movement.
He knew also that on November 4, Mr..
Fairchild advised the removal OF the
imperial troops before the ugly row be-
gan, in which the leading role was to
De played by the forces Of the char
cred company Dhis letter is one Of
ne few documents that are in en-
lenoe.
He has heard also that, so far from
Ar. Chamberlain knowing nothing Of
he compact, he took 80 keen and close
IN interest in its development that he
insisted that Jameson's men should go
n under the union jack, and that the
lext governor Of the Trarsvaal should
'e appointed BY he colonial ea8Ss.