Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-02-20
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR
SUBJECT OF Much Discussion in the House Of
Commons. Yesterday.

Commons. Yesterday.
London, Feb, 19.-The war in South
Africa again furnished the subject for
many questions in the House of Com
mons, today. The secretary Of state
Tor war, Mr.. William st. John Brod-
rick, gave an official denial of the story
that orders had been issued that all
Boers captured in Khaki uniforms were
to be shot. He said that neither Lord
lioperts, Gen. Kitchener, nor any other
general had issued such an order.
me secretary of state for the colon
les, Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain informed
the House that proclamation setting
forth the intention of the government
III regard to the administration of the
new South African colonies had al
ready been drafted but had not been
ISSUED in Difference to the opinion of
zen. Kitchener and Sir Alfred Miner
tha' the time was not yet Opportunc.
John Dillon, Nationalist asked a
question regarding the alleged deci@ IN
10 erect an extensive fortress in the
heart of Pckin. for the protection Of the
legations.
Inc under secretary for foreign ST
ialrs, Lord tranbornc, replied that the
question of protective measures was
still under discussion. The government
mad not yet reached any decision but
was fully conscious of the cXpcdicncy of
Keeping any arrangement within roa-
Sonable bounds.
When the debate on the address in
reply TO the Kings speech was resum-
cd Mr.. Herbert Henry Asquith. Libcr-
al. the former home secretary charac-
terized the speech Of the secretary Of
state for the colonies. Mr.. Joseph
Chamberlain, delivered, yesterday
evening, as revival Of the billings
gate of the general election He re-
rudiated the suggestion that the oppo-
Sition favored uudoing the annexation
Of the two republics but he said Il set
Element would not be accelerated by
the SucCulent language but by the
combination of a strong army. capa-
/ be of commanding respect ana terms
not dorogatory to either the Victors or
TIL. varpuish"d. The secretary Of state
for war, Mr.. VIM. St John Brod-
rick who followed. declared that the
terms offered the Kocrs We're better
| than even before rendered to a van
! quishcd enemy. Leniency to mon ON
parole had been disastrous failure.
He appealed to the opposition to stop
| the delivering Of mischieVous speeches
! and the circulation OF pamphlets which
did an immense amount Of harm in
! South Africa.
Mr. Thomas O'Donnell. Nationalist
member for West Kerry. began to adj
dress the House in the Irish language,
and the speaker called him to order
after he had spoken three or four sen
fences. reminding him that to speak
| Irish was an unknown practice in the
House of Commons.
Mr.. O'Donnell continued to speak in
Gaelic, greatly to the delight Of the
Nationalists around him.
The speaker severely requested him
| to desist.
| Mr. John Redmond. the Nationalist
leader. said: There is no written or
unwritten rule against member using
the language which is most familiar to
him | once heard a member of the
New Zealand House Of Representatives
speak in the Maori language.
The Speaker: There is no rule on the
subject but there is no precedent dur
ing the existence of the House of Com
mons for a member speaking anything
but English.
Mr.. Edmund Leamy, Nationalist
member for North Kildare. pointed out
that the Irish chieftains before the act
of union were invited by the House Of
Commons to speak Irish.
| The Sneaker: Not in the 100 years OF
union has al freshman tried TO spcal;
Irish in this House until now"
Mr. John Redmond inquired whether Mr.
| William Abraham. one Of the Welsh mem
hers had not addressed the House in 1855
in Welsh.
| To this the Speaker replied that Mr.
Abraham had merely introduced a quota
ton from the Welsh language and he in
sisted that Mr. O'Donnell could not i,
allowed to proceed
MIR. O'Donnoll refused I" speak in Eng
fish ANA tc-;sS. rtod his right as the rep
res@ntativc at an irish constituency anv
\ member Of a nation Still possessing a
language Of its own to address the ilous'
in his native tongue. Nj this point tho
Speaker stopped him pcrcmptorly.
Several other Irish members dcnounccd
the limitation 20 Engli IN imposed by th'
Speaker.