The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-08
Both the Transvaal and the Former
ellis, but No Constitutions.
ENORMOUS COST OF THE WAR
SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATE OF
SS0.OOO,OOO SUBMITTED.
Total Army Estimates for the Year
Nearly Half Billion Dollars
Knox Still Pursuing De Wet.


LONDON. Dec s.-Mr. Chamberlain still
fills the political stage. His unexpected but
adroit announcement in the House OF Com
mons Yesterday that civil government
would be given to the two Boer republics,
coupled with his promise to limit farm
burning and other severe military measures
so far as possible, has taken the bottom
sition to the address. This new phase
combined with the failure Of the kruger
Dutch Congress passed off without trouble,
will persuade the public that the South
African situation is less menacing than
has recently been supposed, and will help
to accomplish the main object of the gov
ernment the securing of the consent or
Parliament to the necessary financial
measures.
In the course of his speech Mr.. Cham
berlain said the government hoped-it was
hope and not prophecy-that very shortly,
indeed before the House met again, some
thing in the nature of a civil administra-
ton might be established both in the
Orange River and the Transvaal colony.
Sir Alfred Milner, he added, would be ap-
pointed governor of both
Here Duncan Pierre. Liberal member for
North Aberdeen, a former captain of the
hn
TUNED from South Africa. where he went
to look after the remounts department
when the war broke out, interrupted Mr..
Chamberlain, saying: You will loose South
Africa
PLAN ELABORATED.
Continuing, Mr. Chamberlain said a lieu
tenant governor would be appointed for
the Orange River colony. and that both
governments would have executive scoun-
ellis, but not necessarily the same constitu-
ton Mr.. Chamberlain also said he had
suggested to Sir Alfred Miner the issue
of proclamatons i'm English and Dutch.
setting forth the governments intentions,
which were animated by no vindictiveness
against the men in arms. The government
thought ii impossible that reasonable men
could ask ii to fix a day when full self
government could be granted. The gov
ernment had laid down three objects. The
first of these was to end the guerrilla war.
1t would not surprise him If the Beers had
destroyed more farms than the English.
Never in history had a war been waged
with SO much humanity The women had
only been deported for their protection.
The native population was answerable for
the acts of proved outrage of women and
children, and it had been shown that in
no case had British soldiers been justly
accused. The farm burning greatly
exaggerated. Lord Roberts had only sane
toned the burning of farms as punishment
in cases of completely in the rebellion or
damage done TO the railroads. The gov
ernment sustained Lord Roberts absolutely.
The government was bound to leave dis
cretion to the military. The second object
was that when pacification was accom-
plished a crown government would be ex-
ecuted. The third object was ultimate self
gcverr ment.
Mr. Chamberlain went on TO say that he
hoped the civil government he had out
lined would be inaugurated in February.
The municipalities would be created as
Bloemfontein and Johannesburg with all
municipal privileges. Afrikanders would
be employed as officials as far as possible,
and every man. Boer or Briton, would have
equal laws and equal liberties. sHe made
some interesting observations as to the
economic situation, and frankly admitted
that there was even prospect of famine,
a question, he said, which the new admin
istration would have to take in hand, the
cost involved being met "out of the taxes
os the country"
At this point Sir William Vernon-Har-
court cheered significantly. and Mr.. Cham
berlain added: THE Transvaal is a country
of great wealth and there is the great
source of taxation
This statement caused an unusual scene.
the colonial secretary being loudly cheered
from the Liberal benches.
The House, he declared, might rely upon
his assertion that house burning. as a form
of punishment, would be used sparingly.
~ regret that there has been occasion TO
employ it at ALL" said he. but to whatever
extent il has been employed i'm the past.
there will be much less of it in the future. -
The parliamentary secretary of the For
eign Office, replying TO question. said
that the government had not notified any
foreign power of the annexation OF the
Transvaal or the Orange Free State An
examination of precedents. he said, showed
that notification was not necessary and
foreign recognition of the annexation was
not dependent on formal notification
In pursuance OF an agreement reached
by the Liberals. owing TO the unsatis-
factory nature of the governments ex-
plantations. A. Emmett Liberal. represent
ing Oldham. moved an amendment to the
address 20 the effect that 1t would conduce
to the pacifcation and future good reia-
tions OF the races of South Africa If meas
ures securing the liberty and property OF
those who surrender and providing FOR the