THE ELECTORAL PROBLEM IN THE TRANSVAAL.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 26, 31 July 1899, Page 5

THE ELECTORAL PROBLEM IN THE TRANSVAAL.

IMPORTANT DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. FOUR GROUNDS OF RIGHT TO INTERFERE. MR. CHAMBERLAIN SAYS HE MUST "SEE THE THING THROUGH." [PEES 3 ASSOCIATION.] London, 29th July. A debate has taken plnco in tho Houso of Commons on tho Transvaal question. Tho Right Hon. Sir Henry CampbellBannorman, Leader of tho Opposition, in the course of a speech, admitted that the methods of tho Transvaal Government were a constant source of danger to the peaco of South Africa, but ho denied that there was a- ca&o for armed intervention. Ho thought the Jamoson raid justified suspicion with regard to such a stop. The British Government must uso moral suasion and enlist tho aid of tho enlightened Dutchmen at the Capo. Tho Right Hon. Mr. Chamborlain, Secretary of State for tho Colonies, in reply, said that the Government had four titles to interfere. Tho first was the Vight of every Power to protect oppressed subjects. In the second pluco Great Britain had the right of suzerainty. Thirdly, conventions had been broken, both in tho spirit and in tho letter, by tho Transvaal Government. The fourth right arose from the fact that promises of tho Transvaal Government on which conventions had been granted had been falsified. Mr. Chamberlain went on to say that ho bad no desire to haggle over details, but he was bound to see the thing through. He had offerod to submit tho new Tranavaal franchise law to legal exports in South Africa, in order to ascertain whether it secured for tho Outlanders adequate representation. Referring to the offers of troops mado by various colonies, Mr. Chamberlain said ho thankfully recognised that the colonies wore willing to give active support to the Imperial Government in time of difficulty. Reverting to tho main question, tho Colonial Secrelury declined to make any pledges in regard to the ultimate action of the British Government. Ho said ho considered that the Colonial Office had displayed excessive patience and moderation in tho matter. No one desired to anex tho Transvaal, or to lessen the independence of the Republic. Ho was still hopeful that tho difficulty would be peacefully solved, because President Ilrugcr seemed to be awaro that tho British Government and people were in earnest. Tho Colonial Secretary's speech was received with cheers. Mr. Ellis Griffith, Liberal member for Anglesey, supported the position taken up uy Mr. Chamberlain. No division was called for on the question.