New-York tribune., 1901-08-03
BATTING NR. CHAMBERLAIN.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY ANSWERS
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WAR
IN SOUTH AFRICA

LONDON, Aug. "A discussion arose IN the
House of Commons tonight over the Colonial
Office appropriation. and it gave the opponents
of the government ample opportunity to bait
Mr.. Chamberlain while making a motion pro
forma to reduce by E1O0 the vote out of which
the Colonial Secretary's salary will be paid
Sir Henry Campbell Bannerman, the Liberal
leader. said that. in view of the patience with
which the nation had for twenty-one months
dured Mr.. Chamberlain's policy in South Africa.
he thought it opportune to secure a statement
from the Colonial Secretary to the sit
uation. He went to point out that Cape
Colony was now invaded and overrun by
Beers. and he asked what prospect there was
Of repelling the invaders. what the condition of
Cape Colony would be after the war. what was
the prospect of famine as a result Of the gov
ernment's policy of devastation" and where
was Cape Colony's constitution. which appeared
him TO be under lock and key since the dec
laration of martial law.
Mr. Chamberlain replied that farm burning
had been entirely abandoned and replaced by
the policy of concentration camps. He con-
tended that these were humane and satisfactory
institutions as had been shown by the fact that
thousands Of Beers came into them voluntarily.
The government have the best reasons TO be-
Iieve," continued the Colonial Secretary, that
a vast ma jority of the Beers acknowledge them
selves beaten and would gladly surrender ana
peaceful
tive handful of irreconcilables, who are carrying
a guerilla that is rapidly degeneratlng
into brigandage and absolute murder LORD
Kitchener is adequately dealing with the pToD-
lem by establishing bOckhOuse cOrdons, within
which the peacefully inclined can safely settle
and he protected
Regarding the announcement by Lord Kitch-
ener that Commandant KritZinger had declared
his intention to shoot all natives in British en-
plGy. whether armed unarmed, Mr.. Chamber
lain said the government had telegraphed Lord
Kitchener TO inform the BOer leaders that such
acts were contrary to civilized usage. and that
all guilty persons of this class. il captured.
would be courtmartialed and executed.
Mr. Chamberlain's declaration was received
with loud cheering.
sort of an agreement with the
Beers" said Mr.. Chamberlain in another portion
Of his speech, that natives are not 10 De en-
ployed in this war; but there is no such aGTee-
ment. Incursions into protected destrlcts must
be more severely dealt with, II there Is to ne
'sniping' of soldiers from behind hedges. and
even Of women"
Rubbish" cried Irish member
Mr.. Chamberlain retOrted that he had met
some women who had been assaulted III thlS
way.
IF things have changed from bad to worse In
Cape Colony he continued, II IS because the
Cape rebels have found rebellion a cheap. inter
esting and amusing performance Ihen.
there has been mistaken leniency and this was
the policy in the past. BOtha. De W. ana
Schalk- Burger DO not say that the war was
caused by the raid They say they are hghuhs
for their independence. It is nonsense TO speak
OF OHer1nS terms 10 men VINO say II IiluS1 ~ a
fight to the finish. This &c now the poll o. the
government"
pressed bitter disappointment at the tone OF
Mr.. Chamberlain's speech, although he agreed
with the general military policy Of the govern
ment He said the Colonial Secretary had dealt
carelessly win the subject of employing native
troops and had not distinguished between
Africans and highly trained Indian troops
John Redmond said Mr.. Chamberlains speech
"a candid, if somewhat brutal, exposition
Of the governments policy; and he prayed 10
God that the resistance of the Beers might be
strengthened.
The debate was continued for another hour
after Mr.. Chamberlain's speech, and the amend
ment to reduce the salary of the Colonial Secre-
tary rejected, by vote Of 1o4 10 40.