New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-21
LIBERALS LOSE A POINT
NO INQUIRY TO BE MADE REGARDING
JAMESON RAID.

ANNANA~'
LONDON Feb. 20-The House OF Commons re-
Jected motion to reopen the inquiry into the
origin and circumstances of the Jameson raid
by a vote of 2S6 to 1872
Ihe House was crowded when David Alfred
Thomas, Liberal Member for Merthyr Tydvil,
rose to make the motion Among those present
In the Diplomatic Gallery was the United States
Ambassador
Mr.. Thomas disclaimed any personal animos-
ity against Mr.. Chamberlain, the Secretary of
State for the Colonies but he continued the
inconclusive nature of the first inquiry had
created widespread dissatisfaction, which, Mr..
Thomas asserted. had deepened the indignation
at the disclosures of the Continental newspa-
pers impugning the impartality of the COM
mittee. Continuing, he said it was in the in
terests of the nation and the character and
reputation of the House of Commons and Mr..
Chamberlain, that there should be a full and
searching inquiry. Mr.. Thomas further assert
ed that the previous inquiry a farce and
that the fresh facts adduced in the correspond
ence published by the Independence Beige"
were strong grounds for fresh inquiry.
COMPLETELY ALLEGED.
Samuel Thomas Evans, Liberal Member for
the Middle Division of Gamorganshire,
onded the motion. In doing he argued that
there were strong grounds for suspecting that
the Colonial Office and Mr. Chamberlain had
prior knowledge of the events leading to the
raid.
Mr.. Evans, proceeding, said that If the in
vestigations Of the committee had been more
exhaustive it might have arrived at a different
conclusion. The conduct Of Mr. Chamberlain
previous to the inquiry, according to the speak
er, aroused suspicious of completely, and ought
to be explained. as ought also Mr.. Chamber
lain's extraordinary declarations after the in
quiry that Mr. Rhodes's personal honor was not
affected" He also said that letter since pub
nshed showed there was something to with
hold.
MR.. CHAMBERLAIN's ANSWER.
Mr.. Chamberlain in his reply said there was
absolutely nothing in what had happened since
1897 which could possibly be raised ground
for second inquiry. He then proceeded to re-
view the whole history of the committee and
repeated his previous declaration, especially re-
ferring to the Hawkesley kilograms. Mr.
Chamberlain ridiculed the grounds advanced for
a new inquiry, and explained tnat Mr.. Rhodes
was charged with two distinct offences. He was
accused first of conspiring to bring about the
raid on which he was found guilty and con-
demned in the strongest terms by the commit
tee. The Colonial Secretary blamed him as Sc
vereIy as anybody. The other charge was that
he acted from sordid motives with the object of
promoting speculation and raising the values Of
his property This was an abominabe charge.
which should not have been made, and of which
Mr.. Rhodes absolutely guiltless.
Another ground upon which an inquiry was
asked was account of the precious collec-
ton of documents published by the 'Indepen-
dance Beige" offered for sale to various London
newspapers which would not touch them with
tongs," and at last he added. they found a
customer in a friend of the Beers" who con
trived to transmit them to DR.. Leyds, who paid,
promised to pay, f100, and they then
communicated to the Independence Beige"
Mr.. Chamberlain further declared, as to the
kilograms exchanged between Mr. Rhodes and
his agent, that they were sent confldentialIy, and
he returned them, saying he had no objection to
their publication. Since June g. 1896, he had
not seen the kilograms. which produced
and examined by the committee. AS to the let
tiers, Mr.. Chamberlain said, they stolen
from Mr.. Hawkesleys desk They contained
nothing unknown to the committee.
DEFENCE OF COLONIAL OFFICE.
There is nothing in these documents from
first to last" said the Colonial Secretary, who
then dissected most of the documents, pointing
out that they afforded ground for charges
against the Colonial Office. He then said:
If this matter had not been complicated by po-
litical matters and personal animosites, no man
in this House would have said there a
shadow of ground for such inquiry. The
object of these personal attacks is to prevent
me from participating in the Transvaal settle
ment.
Mr. Chamberlain confessed that at time he
felt bitterly that such insnuations, which those
repeating them did not dare to assert they be-
lieved, should be brought against me after TWEEN
ty-four years membership in the House of Com
mons"
Continuing he said he not hopeful that
anything he or the House could say would ST.
lence his foreign critics, but no one in Great
Britain for whose good opinion he cared would
be affected by the charges. The manner of con-
Quoting the business of the committee and the
closing of the inquiry, he declared, were both
carried out as suggested by Sir William Vernon
Harcourt, who certainly did not desire to shield
any one in the Colonial Office
Mr. Chamberlain further said that the honor
able members opposite did not want an inquiry.
They want an execution" he added. Let them
do their worst I am perfectly ready. I rely
upon the good sense and generosity of the House
and country. The attack will recoil upon those
who made it,"
| At the conclusion Of his remarks Mr.. Cham
beran was heartily cheered by the Ministerial
| lists.