Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-31
QUEENS SPEECH DISCUSSED
Fiery Remarks BY the Opposition in Both
Houses
Government Criticised for It's IEnOr
ance of Ante-Bellum Situation
in South Africa.

| In the British house of commons yester-
| day Capt. Pretyman, conservative, in NOV
, ing the address in reply to the speech from
| the throne. expressed the deepest sympa-
| thy, which, he said. was shared by both
| sides Of the house, with the sufferers from
| the war and the sufferings in Natal. He
! also expressed the hope that after the war
| all race antagonism in South Africa would
be obliterated. Continuing Capt. Pretymau,
| who is a retired captain Of artillery, said
| an inquiry was necessary as to how the re-
| quirements of the war had been so under
| estimated.
| The captain then appealed for the union
| of all parties in support of the government
| in its efforts to satisfactorily conclude a
| just war.
Herbert P. Pike Pease, iiberal-unionist.
seconded the address in reply to the speech
| from the throne.
| Liberal Leaders Reply.
| The liberal leader in the house of COM
mons. Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman,
\ then rose to reply amid cheers from the
| opposition benches.
| Commenting on the queens speech. Sir
| Henry said he had seldom known so little
| to be said in such a large number Of words.
| As, however, the war advanced, 1t became
| more difficult and more critical, and he
was not surprised that the government had
not proposed forrlda Bile program. The war
was uppermost in all minds when the men,
| bers separated in October. and it was be-
lieved then that there were troops enough
| in South Africa to rapidly clear the queens
domains. But their expectations had been
sobered. Week after week had seen checks,
disappontments and deplorable loss Of life.
He and his friends had resolved to sup
port a vigorous prosecution of the war, that
the integrity of the queens domains be
speedily indicated, and he imagined there
would be no difficulty in obtaining the ad-
ditiona supplies necessary.
Here my agreement with the government
ceases said the liberal leader.
The Administration Condemned.
Sir Henry then proceeded with a bitter
condemnation of the administration and the
temper in which it had approached the
whole South African problem, saying that
the narrowness of the governments pro-
vision for military requirements necessitat-
ed hostlities, and asserting that Its policy
made war probable. He believed this feel
ing was largely shared by the house, and
he was glad of the opportunity presented
| to express his opinion. The speaker re-
| pudiated the idea that they should await
| the end of the war before discussing the
matter. This was the very time, he de-
clared, for effective criticism. and those
wishing to disclaim responsibility should do
so now.
''The ministers tell u.s." Sir Henry con-
| tinued, that this war was undertaken to
| secure equal rights for white men. hope
| they will transfer this laudable doctrine
to this country. Many instances might be
| applied when too little consideration has
been shown under Mr.. Chamberlain's adj
ministration to the loyal Dutch Of Cape
Colony. The Cape ministers, who are as
| much crown ministers as Mr.. Chamberlain,
treated them in manner ill-calculated to
to allay doubts and fears.
1.-The recess brought many speeches on
this subject. and establishment succeeded
astonishment at their statements. They
now declare that 1t was inevitable, which
is obviously an ex-post facto opinion, and
If not. the ministers are hOpeessiy con-
demned and ought TO be hurled from
power
The Debate in House of Lords.
On the resumption of business in the
house of lords the Duke Of Somerset moved
the address in reply 10 the queens speech
and the Earl of Shaftesbury seconded the
motion. The Duke of Somerset, in moving
the address, said he looked forward con-
fidentIy to a successful termination Of the
war He urged the necessity for reform in
the military administration, and said that,
hitherto, the army seemed to have existed
for the benefit Of the war Office and that in
future the war office must exist for the
benefit of the army.
The liberal leader in the house of lords,
the Earl of Kimberley, said he WAS glad to
learn that Great Britain's relations with
other states were friendly. His lordship
congratulated Lord Salisbury the con-
cuson of the agreement with Germany,
but strongly disapproved of the tone Of Mr.
Chamberlains speeches.
The Earl of kimberley, continuing, said
that although the moment was one of the
deepest gravity, he would entirely abstain
from criticising the conduct of the gen.
erals. He did not mean to imply that the
generals were not doing their utmost 20
fulfill their arduous duties, but the gov
eminent would be wise if It made every
might occur in the future Continuing,
Lord Kimberley said:
I'VE might meet period Of disaster,
and, although our relations with the other
powers are friendly, it would be well to
consider the possibilities of the future,
and it would be well if the government
prepared for all eventualities and all dan
gers and be ready with the means to sur
mount them. The government does not
seem to have been aware Of the scale of
preparations of the South African repub-
lies"
Salisbury Replies to Kimberley.
Lord Salisbury, in reply to the Earl of
Kimberley asserted that there was moth
ing in the stipuiations of the conventions
to limit and hinder the importation of
arms and ammunition into the Transvaal
through Lourenco Marquee. Continuing.
the premier said:
why were to know about the i'm
pcrtation of arms? ! believe guns were
introduced in to the Transvaal in boilers
and munitions of war in piano cases. We
had q small secret service fund. If you
want much information you must give
much money.
ut is, he said, quite the right way of
dealing with the present crisis. We must
Join together and exercise all our powers
in extricating ourselves from a situation
full of humiliation and not free from dan
ger. 1 will not say the danger may not
have easily been exaggerated. Many
country has commenced a war with diff
culties of the kind we experience. We
have only to look at what the northern
states Of America went through at the be-
ginning of the civil war to see how easy
II would be to draw a mistaken inference
from the reYerSeS have met at the