THE TRANSVAAL

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXI, Issue 107, 11 May 1896, Page 2

THE TRANSVAAL

DISCUSSION IN THE COMMONS. EEMOVAL OF~"ME BHODES DEMANDED. THE GOVERNMENT POLICY. [united pbess association.! Capetown, May 9. The House of Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution to the effect that it hopes Sir H. Bobinson will speedily return. London, May 9. In the House of Commons Sir W. Harcourt declared that ciphers recently discovered among the effects of the raiders of the Transvaal proved that the Uitland reforms were merely a stockjobbing dodge which Mr Cecil Bhodes has actuated. The power of settlement m the Transvaal, and the removal of the racial difficulty was impossible whilst such was controlled by the South African Chartered Company. He demanded the removal of Bhodes, and the re-forming of the Chartered Company's Board of Directors. Mr Chamberlain, m reply, condemned the ciphers, and though it was not of supreme importance compared with the main principles, it was the Government policy to maintain a paramount State and reunite wages. No doubt there were faults on both sides, and he declared that the Boers were constantly breaking the Convention. It was not, he said, the intention of Government to recall Sir Hercules Bobinson from Cape Colony, but the summoning of him to London was only for the purpose of consultation. Referring to the statement that Sir J. De Wet, British Consul at Pretoria, had been recalled, he explained that that gentleman had had a long term of office, and by his close attention to official matters was entitled to a well-earned rest. Though there was only an opinion as to his complicity m the Transvaal raid, it would be unfair to forget his great services to South African matters. He offered no opinion as to the acceptance of Mr Bhodes' resignation when the Judiciary had finished a searching enquiry into the Chartered Company by a Committee of the Lords and Commons. The speech, generally, was well received, though the Opposition was clamorous for Sir H. Bobinson's removal. Additional ciphers, also extracts from Mr White's notebook, show that Colonel Bhodes, m November, demanded that the entire Government must be m the hands of Cecil Bhodes, and that the Band was arranging for 1000 men to assist Dr Jameson's entry on December 29th. Berlin, May 9. An inspired article m a paper states that President Kruger possesses a proclamation of the Beform Committee, which was, m effect, that Charles Lennard was to be President, Lionel Phillips Secretary of State, and J. H. Bichmond Attorney- General. It adds that the revolution failed owing to disagreement among the Bef ormers and Mr Bhodes, who was confident of his action being sanctioned, and if successful he would claim the Presidency of the South African States. Beceived May 11, noon. Capetown, May 10. Sir Hercules Bobinson sails for England on the 20th inst.