The record-union., 1899-10-19

LONDON, Oct. 1S-In the House of
Commons to-day the First Lord of the
Treasury and Government leader, Ar
thur ]. Balfour, brought in the follow
ing message from the Queen:
1.-The state of affairs in Africa nav
ing constituted, in the opinion of har
majesty, a case of emergency within
the meaning of the Act of Parliament,
her majesty deems it proper to pro-
vide additional means for military ser
vice. She has therefore thought 1t
right to communicate to the House
that her majesty is, by proclamation
about to order the embodiment of the
militia and to call out the militia re-
serve force, or such part thereof as her
majesty may think necessary for per-
manent service"
The calling out of the militia and the
military reserves has occasioned wide
spread wonderment. Old stories of
preparations against continental COM
binations are revived.
Both the attitude of Europe and that
of the natives of South Africa have
something to do with this attitude and
the lavish display of force is intended
doubtless, not only to check the i'll
will apparent on both sides OF the
Rhine, but also to guard against the
BLACK PERIL
According to the statistics published
this year the militia, including the per-
manent staff and the militia reserve
numbers 1872 493.
1t is not believed that the militia are
to be sent to South Africa. Presumably
Or;+
ish garrison towns, and thus permit
the Government to send to the Cape
all the regulars rendered necessary by
the developments in South Africa.
The House agreed to consider the
royal message tomorrow. A motion
by Mr. BaIfour appropriating the en-
tire special session for Government bus
mess was carried by 179 votes against
4S
The debate on the address in reply to
the speech from the throne was then re-
sumed. Philip James Stanhope, Lib
eral member for Burnley moved an
amendment strongly disappearing the
conduct of the negotiations with the
Transvaal. He attacked the policy of
the Secretary of State for the Colonies,
Joseph Chamberlain, and demanded
that the latter should clear himself Of
the charge of completely in the Jameson
raid. After denouncing the action Of
Cecil Rhodes and the South African
League, Mr.. Stanhope said:
The British High Commissioner in
South Africa, Sir Alfred Miner is
lacking in qualities necessary to a
diplomat in his position. While entire
ly acquitting the Government as a
whole of any connection with these
doubtful transactions. and believing
that they are animated by peaceful
motives, 1 am convinced that the Sec
retary of State for the Colonies. and
the British High Commissioner in
South Africa have for the last two
years been fully determined that war
and war only should end this crisis.
and that they have worked for this
consummation during the last year."
The amendment was seconded by
Samuel Thomas Evans, Liberal men,
Der for the middle division of Clamor-
ganshire.
Mr.. Chamberlain emphatically dis
sented.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt. Lib
eral member for West Monmouthshfre.
and former leader of the Liberal par
", following several minor speeches
for and against the Government. said
1t was the duty of the House to sup
port the Government in maintaining
the integrity OF the dominions of the
Queen, but that they had a right to
speak of the policy Of the Government
In an altogether different tone
He went on to justify the opposi-
tion's criticism of the conduct of the
negotiations prior to the receipt of the
ultimatum, declaring his belief that
there were salient circumstances in the
transaction which do not tend TO a
peaceable solution.
Although l do not charge the Gov
ernment" said Sir William. with de-
liberately avoiding peaceful solution
In my opinion there is no justification
Tor saying that there has been crimi
nal obstinacy in the Transvaal. 1t has
been found on wise advice from the
Orange Free State and the Govern
ment of the Cape Colony that the
Transvaal, until the door was shut
yielded and was continuing to YIELD IN
our pressure.
he then proceeded to contrast Mr.
Chamberlain previous utterances with
his present attitude
Discussing the cause of the final
breach, Sir William said:
on September 9th the Transvaal
sent dispatch pressing for the an