THE LATEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10021, 7 January 1896, Page 5

THE LATEST.

TREATMENT OP THE PRISONERS.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN AND PRESI-

DENT KRUGER.

REPORTED RESIGNATION OF MR. RHODES.

London, January 6, Mr. Chamberlain wired to President Kruger stating that it was rumoured in England that Dr. Jameson's prisoners had been shot, but he did not believe the report, and he relied on the generosity of the victors to spare the lives of the captives. ' • ,

President Kruger immediately replied that the prisoners would receive a fair and legal trial, He thought this leniency on his part afforded a strong contrast to the freebooting measures adopted by Dr. Jameson's men. He regretted that lies had been published in England, regarding the treatment of the prisoners,

President Kruger added that the confidence of the Boers in Mr. Cecil Rhodes had been rudely shaken, and his denial of complicity in Dr. Jameson's expedition ought to be received with the greatest caution.

Mr. Chamberlain, in reply to this message, wired to President Kruger that the newspapers in England had refused to give credence to the rumours that the prisoners had . been shot, and lie expressed himself confident that the men would be treated with mercy..

. lb was reported to-day that Mr.", Cecil Rhodes had resigned the Premiership,

but Sir Hercules Robinson has declined to accept his resignation. President Kruger sent the German Emperor a message expressing his heartfelt thanks for his sympathy, and adding that with God's help lie will maintain the independence of the Transvaal.

Berlin, January 6. The banks in the city are collecting funds for the assistance of the Boers.

NOTES ON THE CRISIS.

TUB BRITISH SOUTH AFRICAN COMPANY.

It whs in 1889 that the British Smith African Company obtained its charter, the "body politic and corporate" iii whose names ib Was drawn being the Duke of Aberoom, the Duke of Fife, Lord Gifford, Cecil John Rhodes, Colborb Belt, Albert Henry George Grey, and George Cawston, a happy combination of social positioneven a flavour of royalty—business capacity, broad'minded enterprise, and ample means. The leading spirit of the whole affair from its inception has, however, been Mr. Rhodes, whose life in South Africa has been as adventurous as it has been Successful. An old Eton boy and Oxford graduate, who went our primarily to South Africa for the sake of his health, he has taken advantage Of exceptional opportunities which legitimately presentod thorn* selves to accumulate wealth, but also, ib is to bo hoped, to initiate and carry out enterprises which will Batiefy a nobler ambition than that of " making a pile," and which will connecb his name with the- expansion of the British Empire. Before deciding to recommend tho grant of a charter Her Majesty's advisers musb hare satisfied themselves that of the new powers granted to him ho would make the besb use, not only for the company, but for the interests Of the empire. The principal field of the company's operations according to the charter, is in the region of South Africa lying immediately to the north of British Bocliuanaland, and to the north and west of the South African Republio (the Transvaal) and to the wesb.of tho Portuguese dominions. No western limit, ib is seen, is stated ; that was perhaps unnecessary, as of course it is settled that the 20th degree of east longitude marks off the widest German claims. Ample room is thus left to tho company for tho expansion of its territory, and the charter expresßly stipulates that ib is at perfect liberty to do so by every legitimate means, east and west and north. The company is not only authorised to take full advantage of all its own concessions, and they are largo enough, including the whole of Mataboleland, but it is bound to show every consideration for the concessions of others. The company is authorised to acquire whatever other concessions it can, including "all or any rights, interests, authorities, and powers of any kind or nature whatovor, including powers tiecoseary for the purpose of government and the preservation of public order in and for tho protection of territories, lands, or properly comprisod or referred to in the concessions and agreements made as aforesaid, or affecting other territories, lands, or property in Africa or the inhabitants thereof." In short, the company is empowered to govern the territories embraced in its charter in the name and in behalf of the interests of the British Empire, Thus, tbereforo, ib is stipulated thab the company must always remain British in its directorate, composition, and domicile, and that no director shall be appointed withoub the approval of "our Seorotary of Stato." Indeed, no important step can be taken without such approval. Naturally, therefore, the company is ompowered, to tho host of its ability, to preserve peace and order " in such ways and manners as it shall consider necessary, and may with thab object raako ordinances (to be approved by tho Secretary of State), and may establish and maintain a force of police." -

With regard to finance, the British South African Company, like tho British East Africa Company, is enjoined to furnish annually to the Government accounts of its expenditure for administrative purposes, and all sums received by it by way of public revenue, as distinguished from its commercial profits, together with a report as to it) public proceedings and the condition of the territories within its sphere of operations. Moreover, the company is bound at any time to furnish the Government with whatever information it may require Again, the company must pay due respect to any requirements or suggestions of her Majesty's High Commissioner and other Imperial officers in South Africa, It may have its own flag, but that flag must indicate the distinctively British character of the company. No monopoly of trade will be allowed, though of course concosiions may be granted for public works and precautions may be taken, and rightly so, for the preservation of elephants and other game. All duo observance must be had to Imperial obligations to other States; the company must appoint all necessary omV.ors, and establish courts for the administration of justice. As to the share capital of the company, that is set down at a million sterling, in one pound shares. This capital tho company is authorised to increase as it may deem nocessary, to borrow money by debenture or otherwise, and to establish banks and other associations. Tho company has powor to make and maintain railways, telegraphs, and all other works required for the dovelopmanb of its territories ; to carry on mining, agricultural, and other industrial enterprises of all kinds ; to promote immigration and settlement; to grant lands on lease or in perpetuity; in short, to do everything legitimate for making the most of the extensive territories thus intrusted to its keeping by Royal charter. Tho present charter is to subsist for 25 years, at the end of which, and at the end of every succeeding ten years, the Crown may revise or repeal so much of the charter as relates to administrative and public affairs; that is, tbo Crown reserves the right to take over these territories and administer them directly as colonial possessions of the United Kingdom. Of course, also, if the company dooß not behave itself, its charter may be revoked. WHAT THE COMPANY. HAS DONE. At the last annual meeting of tho company held in London in January last year, Mr. Cecil Rhodes explained that the company had now full possession of the vnsb territory from Mafeking to Tanganyika, that is 1200 miles long, and 500 broad. He went on to say:—"l might say with respect to that country that I see no future difficulties in so far as risings of the natives are concerned. We have satisfied the people throughout the whole of it, and wo may say that we have now come to that point when we can deal, without the risk of war, with the peaceful development of the country. That is what we possess. Now, you might very fairly ask, what has it cost us? Your position is somewhat as follows: You have a share capital of £2,000,000, and you have a debenture debt to-day of about £650,000; and I might point oub to you that as against that debenture debt you have paid for the 100 miles of railway in the Crown colony of Bechuanaland, you have about 1400 miles of telegraph, you hare builb Magistrates Courts in the whole of your territory, you have civilized towns in five or six different parts, and the Beira Railway. Although you do not hold their debentures, you have the voting power, and the Beira Railway.is- completed.. We mighb now fairly say, if you! put aside the Mafeking Railway and the land you hold in the Crown colony of. Bochuanaland; as apart from, the chartered territories, that 'your debenture debt can be. regarded as about £350,000,': because I 'do nob think it is an unfair price to put in your assets in Bechu-;

analand' at'iSdOiOOO.'foi? ilnce the railway was opened there id hag paid its working expenses, and four par cent,- Therefore, in looking at the matter in a purely commercial point of view, you might say, *we possess a country with all the rights to it, in length I*2oo miles and in breadth an average of 500, and we have a debt of about £300,000 or £350,000, because we have an asset, apart from that country and the Crown colony of British Becuuanaland, of about £300,000.'"

ITS RELATIONS WITH THE BOERS.

What Mr. Rhodes then said with regard to the relatione of the Chartered Company with its foreign neighbours, and more especially the Boers is of great interest at the present time. "Wo have to consider," he said," because we are a charter, and are conneoted with politic!, the political position of the country, and I may say that that is most satisfactory. We had a good many enemies before, and difficulties with the Portuguese, with the Transvaal, and with the Matabele. As you know, the Matobele difficulty has disappeared; they have incorporated themselves with us. The difficulties with the Portuguese are also over. Wo had different views as to where our boundaries were situate, but now I may say that our relations with them are on the most friendly terms ; and it will bo our object to work in perfect cooperation with the Portuguese Government and officials. (Cheers). With regard to the Transvaal, our neighbour, the President finds that ho has quite enough to do in dealing with his own people. I have always felt that if I had boon in President Kruger's position I should havo looked upon the chartered territory as my reversion. He must have beon exceedingly disappointed when we wont in and occupiod it, but since then we have co-operated most heartily with him, and I look to no political difficulty from the Transvaal. THE ENGLISH IN THE TRANSVAAL. When Mr. Rhodes was last in London he was interviewed by a correspondent of the Kreuz Zeitutig to whom he expressod himself with characteristic frankness. The English in the Traansvaal, he said, do not openly oppose the Government of the Boers, bocauso they have invested large amounts in the country, and are anxious not to injure their credit) in Europe by forcible measures. Everything, Mr. Rhodes thought, would end normally and simply. More and more English would go to the Transvaal, and more and more Boers would trek to the north-west. Then the English would be elected to the Volksraad, as they could not he kept out much longer, and the other questions would solve themselves.

THE BRITISH SUZEERAINTY.

It is not generally known that the South African Republic is not a free and independant State. By the 4th Article of tho Convention of 1884 signod in London between Great Britain and the Republic, it is stipulated that "the South African Republic will conclude no treaty or engtigesnent with any State or nation other than the Orange Free State, nor with any native tribe to the oastward or wostward of the Republic until the same has beon approved by Her Majesty the Queen." For the purpose of internal administration the South African Republic is practically an independent State. In relation to foreign affairs it holds a position similar to that of a British colony. Germany may bluster as much as she pleases, but President Kruger can enter into no treaty or engagement with the Kaiser without the sanction of Queen Victoria; and as Mr. Chamberlain informed a depution of Cape merchants, the British Government moan to maintain this suzerainty.

DR. JAMESON.

Dr. Jameson, whose name is at present in everyone's mouth, is the son of a Scottish journalist, and Writer to the Signet. He was educated for the medical profession, in which he had already begun to make his mark as a Glasgow practitioner before he decided to go to Africa, In the early seventies he reached the Diamond Fields, and quickly acquired a very remunerative practice and high professional reputation. " Camp few," a typhoid-malarial disease of a dangerous and mysterious nature, was very prevalent, and Dr. Jameson proved moat successful in his treatment of it, When about to retire altogether from practice and to return to Scotland, Dr. Jameson was persuaded by Mr. Cecil Rhodes to enter the service of the chartered company, in which, up to the present unfortunate occurrence, he has shown great administrative ability combined with remarkable tact and judgment. Ho was at the head of affairs in Mashonaland during tho Matabole campaign. When the raids of the Matabele had become intolerable lis was asked by a representative meeting of white settlers, held at Victoria, to "settle once for all the Matabele question ;" and when the enemy at last fired on tho white police near Fort Victoria, he was ordered by the High Commissioner to take all necessary steps for the protection of the interests and lives of those under his command. The forces at his disposal wore estimated at 2000. The manner in which he conducted that campaign stamped him as a man of great resource and ability. In 1894 Dr. Jameson visited England, and was made a C.B. in recognition of his services. On the occasion of a lecture which he delivered in London on South Africa, tho Prince of Wales occupied the ohair. How a man i who had shown such exceptional capacity, and who occupied the responsible position of administrator for the chartered company throughout its extensive territories, and who, moreover, was the trusted colleague and confidential officer of Mr. Rhodes, came to make a dash into the South African Republic at the head of a small armed force, without authority and apparently without consultation with his superiors, issimply incomprehensible except on the supposition that he was playing a part in a deep-laid schema, which, as it has miscarried, it now suits its authors to profess entire ignorance of. From all that is known of Dr. Jameson it is difficult to behove that ho acted in this deplorable business on his own responsibility solely. The secret history of the incident may never be revealed, or at all events not for many years to come, but that it has a secret history it would be sheer affectation to doubt.