The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-03
CHAMBERLAIN SCORED.
The Colonial Secretary Baited by
Opponents of the Government.

Opponents of the Government.
London. Aug. "A discussion arose
in the House of Commons tonight
over the colonial office appropriation
and 1t gave the opponents of the gov
ernment ample opportunity to bait Mr..
Chamberlain, while making a motion
pro forma to reduce by R1O0 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 endured
Mr.. Chamberlain's policy in South Af-
rica he thought it opportune to secure
statement from the colonial secre-
tary as to the war situation. He went
on to point out that Cape Colony was
now invaded and overrun with Boers
and he asked what prospect there was
of repelling the invaders, what the
condition of Cape Colony would be aft
er the war, what was the propest of
famine as a result of the governments
policy of devastation" and where
was Cape Colony's constitution, which
appeared to him to be under lock and
key since the declaration of martial
law.
Mr.. Chamberlain replied that farm
burning had been entirely abandoned
and replaced by the policy of concen-
tration camps. He contended that
these were humane and satisfactory
institutions, as had been shown by the
fact that thousands of Beers came into
them voluntarily.
1.-THE government have the best rea-
sons to believe" continued the colonial
secretary, that vast majority of the
Beers acknowledge themselves beaten
and would gladly surrender and re-
sumo peaceful pursuits but for the
comparative handful of irreconcilables
who are carrying on a guerilla war
that is rapidly degenerating into brig
andage and absolute murder. Lord
Kitchener is adequately dealing with
the problem by establishing blockhouse
cordons within which the peacefully in
clined can safely settle and be pro-
tected."
Regarding the announcement by
Lord Kitchener that Commandant
Kritzinger had declared his intention
to shoot all natives in British employ,
whether armed or unarmed, Mr.. Cham
berlain said the government had tele-
graphed Lord Kitchener to inform the
Boer leaders that such acts were con-
trary to civilized usage and that all
guilty persons of this class, if captured,
would be courtmartialed and executed.
Mr.. Chamberlain's declaration was
received with loud cheering.
There seems to be an impression
that we have come to some sort of an
agreement with the Boers," said Mr..
Chamberlain in another portion of his
speech, that natives are not to be en-
ployed in this war; but there is no such
agreement.
Severity Needed.
"Incursions into protected districts
must be more severely dealt with if
there is to be 'sniping' of soldiers from
behind hedges, and even of women"
Rubbish" cried an Irish member.
Mr., Chamberlain retorted that he had
met some ladies who had been assault
ed in this way.
IF things have changed from bad to
worse in Cape Colony" he continued,
'it is because the Cape rebels have
found rebellion cheap, interesting and
even amusing performance. Then, there
has been mistaken leniency; and this
was the policy in the past.
"Botha, DeWet and Schalk- Burger
Z do not say that the war was caused
by the raid. They say they are fight
ing for their independence. 1t is nom
sense to speak of offering terms to men
who say it must be a fight to the finish.
This is now the policy of the govern
ment."
Chamberlain Careless.
Sir Edward Grey, Liberal Imperialist,
expressed bitter disappointment at the
tone of Mr.. Chamberlain's speech, al
though he agreed with the general mil
itary policy of the government. He
said the colonial secretary had dealt
carelessly with the subject of employ
ing native trooDs and had not dis
tinguished between Africans and high
ly trained Indian troops.
John Redmond said Mr.. Chamber
lain's speech was "a. candid, if some
what brutal, exposition of the govern
ment's policy" and he prayed to God
that the resistance of the Beers might
be strengthened.
The debate was continued for an
other hour after Mr.. Chamberlain
speech and the amendment to reduce
the salary of the colonial secretary
was rejected.
The House then took up other sub
jects and was still in session at 4
o'clock this Saturday morning.