New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-05
SPION KOP DEBATE.
The GOVERNMENT ATTACKED IN THE
COMMONS AND IN THE HOUSE
OF LORDS
OF LORDS.

"ar ohce' George Wyndhan, said no further
report had been received from Lord Roberts
with reference 10 the Koorn Spruit disaster.
The Government leader in the House OF Com
mons. A. j. Balfour. replying to questions
garding the reports OF the III treatment Of Brit
ish prisoners at Pretoria said Her Majesty's
Government was considering the advisabty
or further representations the subject
through Washington and through the United
states Consul at Pretoria, Adelbert S. Hay. who
has charge Of British interests in the Trans
wall
Later the House went into Committee Of Sup
ply on the War Office vote. Walter Runcie
man. Liberal. representing Oldham, started the
debate on the publication Of the Spion Kop dis
patches He declared the Government had dis
regarded every consideration except publicity,
and asserted that the responsibility for the pub
LEGATION rested entirely with politicians. al
though in this case the Secretary for War had
deliberately attempted TO throw the RESPONSE
blllty on the Commander-in-Chef'
The public Mr.. Runcieman asserted, had ex
pected the recall II the censured commanders.
as in the of General Gatacre instead OF
which General Warren had been sent to ad-
minister a large territory. while General Butler
retained his command.
WYNDHAM DEFENDS WAR SECRETARY.
Mr.. Wyndham. in reply. quoted the Duke OF
Wellington precedent for the publication of
the dispatches In doing. he said he resent
ed the grave insinuation that the Secretary OF
State for War guilty Of anything dishonor-
able in requesting General Butler to rewrite his
dispatch. He added that the Marquis of Lans-
downe (the War Secretary above the sus-
pcion Of being guilty of such conduct Mr..
Wyndham said he was prepared to discuss the
question OF the judgment and the discretion but
not Of the honor rectitude of the Marquis OF
Lansdowne. Many misconceptions in regard TO
the dispatches had already evapOrated. includ-
Ing the belief that Lord Roberts and General
Butler had criticised General Methuens opera
tons, and that the criticisms that they had
been suppressed, supposed. by favortisn. had
been eliminated. The only point at issue
why the criticisms Of General Butler had been
published II the Government intended to leave
him in command Mr.. Wyndham contended it
impossible TO isolate the Spion Kop dis
patches. and treat them az no other dlspatc es
had been treated in the history Of the last hun
dred years. The War Office, he asserted, had
acted entirely in accordance with the Queens
regulations. It was said that the publication
would shake the confidence Of the troops in
Natal in their commander, but Mr.. Wyndham
said, that not the view OF the Government,
nor the view of General Butler. who IN the
best position 70 decide
A
member for East Mayo. interrupted saying
General Butler had never asserted that he
wanted the dispatches published.
Mr. Wyndham continued: But the gallant
General has been applauded for saying he would
stick to what he had written and would not
have made a great show OF candor If he thought
one would know what he had written"
This remark was greeted with cries Of "Ohl
OH"
BUTLER MERELY UNLUCKY.
MI Wyndham then said he thought General
Butler had merely been unlucky. and that Gen
eral Warren's services should not be overlooked.
adding that while in publishing the dispatches
the Government had acted on its own respon-
sibility II had been confirmed in doing by
the opinion OF Lord Roberts The for the
Government was that the right course to
publish what II had published and more. He
was persuaded that both General Butler and
Lord Roberts had sent the dispatches home for
publication. Did the House suppose harm was
done to comma nder by a dispatch showing his
scheme good one and ought 10 have sue
ceeded. by deciding five points in his favor
while one point was criticised? Was it fair 70
leave forty thousand or fifty thousand men in
doubt regarding what obscure causes had made
all their heroism unavailing? Because General
Warren failed in a large independent command
did not prove that he was untitled for other
work With regard General Butler ito at
tempt TO apologize for him would be a great in
suit 20 so great a man, who had deserved we'll
OF his country. and his troops would be glad 20
know his strategy praised by Lord Rob
erts"
John Gordon Swift NJ cNeiu, Irish National
ist member for South Donegal, declared the only
reason for Withholding criticism Of Lord Meth
uen was because he had been ordered to save
Cecil Rhodes at all costs.
Henry Labouchere Advanced Liberal. mem
Der for Northampton. declared the Government
was charged with deliberately undertaking to
cook dispatches for presentation TO the British
public" adding:
"Au honor 10 Butler. who refused TO be a party
TO deceiving the public
MI Balfour said Mr. Labouchere had made 1t
a question of the honor or dishonor Of a great
public servant. He added that his speech
the elimination Of series OF attacks Of persons
who had discovered the meanest and basest
motives in the Governments action. The Gov
eminent, he continued, was accused of ravorIng
one General at the expense or another 1t was
said they meant TO prepare the public for the
dismissal OF General Butler. Such attacks were
not worthy Of the opponents OF the Government,
which by publishing the dispatches simply fol-
lowed precedent. Was the Government TO UNI
derstand as a result of to-day's criticisms that
further dispatches were TO be published? He
repudiated most earnestly the accusations
hurled at the Secretary OF State for War and
said he thought II shocking that such accusa-
tons should be made in the House OF Commons,
asserting that no worse or more scandaously
unjust accusations could be made in any as
sembly Of gentlemen.
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman the Liberal
leader in the House. said all Mr. Balfour could
do TO appeal 10 mere party fidelity. The
Government, he asserted. had no precedent for
its action and had departed from the imme-
mortal practice OF the army. He also asserted
that it's defence was utterly insufficient. and
that the Opposition would now record its vote
in condemnation Of the conduct Of the Govern