The sun., 1900-02-02
The Debate in Parliament on the War.

The debate on the addresses responsive to
the Queens speech has not brought ont any
declarations or explanations on the part or
the Ministers calculated to strengthen the
confidence Of Parliament in their quaIliica-
tions for the successful conduct OF the
contest in South Africa. On the contrary,
It is hard to see how even some Conscrva-
tives can refuse TO vote for the Oppostion's
amendment to the address, which expresses 5
regret for the want of knowledge, foresight
and Judgment displayed by the Govern
ment alike in the conduct Of South African
affairs since 1895, and in the preparations
for war. There is scarcely II Conservative
newspaper in London which has not echoed
the regret, and, il the members of the
House of Commons had the courage Of their
convictions, they would not shrink from
giving the Cabinet deserved reprmand.
It Is, OF course, impossible on the theory
OF Ministerial competence, to reconcile the
high-handed course pursued 10y Mr., CHAM
BERLAIN, which drove the Beers into war,
with the glaring lack Of preparation on the
part OF Great Britain. The Ministers cannot
avoid implement upon one or the other
horn of the dilemma stated by Lord ROSE
Berry. 1--WE have" said the former Liberal
Premier, "thc right to know IL, before the
crisis, the Intelligence Department supplied
the Government with sufficient information.
II this was not the ease the Department
should be dismissed; if, on the other hand,
the Government possessed the information
as to the British lack Of readiness for war,
their responsibility is heavy" Equally
unanswerablc was the point made by Sir
HENRY OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES in the House
of Commons, when he referred to the asser-
ton made since the outbreak of the contest
by Mr. CHAMBERLAIN, Mr.. BALFoUR and
other members Of the Cabinet that the war
between the Beers and the British in South
Africa was inevitable. This" said Sir
HENRY, :" is either an cr post fdcto opinion
and, therefore, worthless or else it was
held at tho time when the contest was
prematurcly provoked, in which latter
event the Ministers are sclf-condemned,
and ought to be hurled from power"
Lord SALIsBURY's only excuse for Eng
lands lack OF preparedness was that Brit
ish Government is never able to secure
adequate information concerning the re-
sources of possible enemy because tho
Secret Service fund Is small. Lord SAILS
BURys Ministerial experience began in
1857. He was again Minister from 1874
to 1880. He was Premier during the
larger part OF 1855; he became Premier
again in 1856, and held the post until 1892
he was made Premier for u third time in
1895, and continues to hold the Office. 1t
Is, therefore, upward OF thirty years
since he first became aware OF tho fact
that Englands Secret Service fund is
DO small as to put her under q seri-
GUS disadvantage in contest even with
4 power numerically insignificant. Yet
he never before complained of this dis
qualification, nor sought to have it
remedied. Neither did he forbid Mr.. CHAM
BERLAIN to precipltate a war in South
Africa before the means of securing ade-
uuate information could be enlarged. Ii Is
too late now for tho veteran statesman to
seek to transfer the responsibility for the
recent British reverses upon Parliament
on the plea that 1t has given him no larger
o Secret Service fund than he demanded
Another remark of the Premicr's seems to
Indicate dissatisfaction with Sir MICHAEL
HICKs-BEACH, although Lord SALISBURY
disclaimed any intention of examining the
amount Of blame attachable TO this or that
Minister. Admitting the deficiencies Of the
existing system Of gaining intelligence, he
remarked that the Treasury. Of which Sir
MICHAEL HICKs-BEACH is the head, had No.
Quired power Of stinting other depart.
ments OF the Government which was not
to the public benefit. 1t remains to he seen
whether the Chancellor of She ExchcQuer Is
any more chargcablc than arc his coll
leagues with the einsulllcient appropriations
made for tho Intelligence Bureau since the
accession OF the present Government, or for
the meagrc sum allotted for the general
conduct of the war at thcOctobcr session.
The inclIatiun Of the Cabinet TO make
LORD WOLsELEY ScapvgOat was disclosed
III Mr.. BALFOlRS assertion that, although
the defensive force in Ma nj and the Cape
Colony had proved inadequate, as u matter
OF fact, yet II was largely in excess Of what
military advisers said was nccdfuI Will,
the force was being prepared. The Com
pander-in-Chief, who Is at the head Of tho
permanent military branch OF the Wal
Onlce, Is alleged, by implication, to bt
accountable for tho slenderness OF the fore,
oTst sent tofSouth Africa. while the respon