The Princeton union., 1899-10-19
Calling Out Of the Militia a Sub
ject of Widespread Won
:~@s derment. 4.
Generally Believed It Is a Dem
onstration for Europe's u
Benefit.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt
Roundly Scores Mr.. Joseph
.. 't1-2" Chamberlain. 'y A.. ~:

ln ~ ,w'>% u
LONDON, Oct, 19.-In the house of
commons the first lord of the treasury
and government leader, Arthur J. Bal
four, brought in the following message
from the queen:s
"The state of affairs in Africa having
constituted, in the opinion of her ma
jesty, case of emergency within the
meaning of the act of parliament, her
majesty deems it proper to prove addi-
tional means for military service. She
has, therefore, thought it right to COM
municate to the house that her majesty
is, by proclamation, about to order the
embodiment of the militia and to call
out the military reserve force, or such
part thereof as her majesty may think
necessary, for permanent service.
Chamberlain Scored by Harcourt.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, former
official leader of the Liberal party, fol-
lowing several minor speeches for and
against the government, said it was
the duty of the house to support the gov
ernment in maintaining the integrity
of the dominions> of the queen, but that
they had right to speak of the policy
of the government in an altogether diff
ferent tone.
He went on to Justify the opposition's
0f ho nf ho
tians prior to the receipt of the ulti-
matum, declaring his belief that there
were salient circumstances in the trans
action which
Did Not Tend to a Peaceable Solution.
"Although do not charge the gov
ernment," said Sir William, with de-
iberately avoiding peaceable solu-
ton, in my opinion there is no justiica-
tion for saying that there has been
criminal obstinacy on the part of the
Transvaal. Step by step, it will be
found, on wise advice from the Orange
Free State and the government of Cape
Colony, the Transvaal, until the door
was shut, yielded and was continuing
to yield to our pressure"
He then proceeded to contrast Mr..
Cham mberlain's previous utterances with
his present attitude and asserted that
there was absolutely no need to reject
the Transvaal's offer Of Aug. 5. The
language used by Mr.. Chamberlain,
just after that offer was made and
when negotiations had reached most
promising point, could not be consid-
cred tending to peaceable settlement.
suzerainty Dropped in 1884.
Referring to the final breach, Sir
William said:
s'On Sept 6, the Transvaal sent a
dispatch pressing for appointment of a
joint commission to consider their offer
on condition that suzerainty be dropped.
Everybody is now convinced that suzer.
ainty was dropped in 1884. Loud min.
isterial protests.] At any rate success.
sive secretaries of state were of that
opinion"
Mr.. Chamberlain emphatically dis
sented.
Sir William, resuming, went on tt
remark that suzerainty was only for
mally announced to President Kruger
by Mr.. Cham berlain in 1899. He com
mented upon the '''extraordinary delay
in sending the final proposals of Grea1
Britain"
1.-The British nation" he exclaimed
"has a right to know what the pro
posals of the government are. Th,
government has no right to involve tn,
nation in war in the DARK
Probably Precautionary.
The calling out of the militia and tn,
military reserves has occasioned wide
spread wonderment. Old stories O
preparations against continental com
binations are revived. It is freely ru
mored that the government is deter
mined to demonstrate to Europe tha
the British army is not a negativ
quantity.
Probably both the attitude of Europ
and that Of the natives in South Afric
have something to do with this move
ment, and the lavish display of force i
intended, doubtless, not only to chec
the i'll will apparent on both sides O
the Rhine and beyond the Vistula, bu
also to guard against the "black peril.
According to the statistics publishe
this year, the militia, including the pc,
manent staff and the militia reserve
numbers 152, ,493. -, I .
: @oItis not believed that the militia al
to be sent: to South Africa. Presum
: ably they will replenish the denude
7 British garrison towns and thus perm
. the government to send to the Cape a
the regulars rendered necessary by d,
velopments in South Africa. r.