In the House of Commons on Taesday Mr. D. A. - Thomas
moved for a fall inquiry into "the origin and circumstances of the conspiracy against the Transvaal Government and of the incursion into the South African Republic." Both his speech and that of the seconder, Mr. Evans—who spoke with great ability and oratorical power—were directed against Mr. Chamberlain and his conduct in connection with the Raid, but their force was impaired by the fact that they raised rather a general atmosphere of suspicion than brought any definite, specific charges. Mr. Chamberlain not un- naturally showed some heat in his reply, for the personal animosity displayed against him was strongly marked ; but he was able to show that the charge of not pressing the original inquiry home, and of letting off the real culprits, if made, must not be made against him only, but against the whole Committee, including Sir William Harcourt and Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. Mr. Chamberlain also pointed out— his statement being assented to by Sir William Harcourt--
(1) that be personally wished the inquiry to be conducted by a judicial body after the manner of the Parnell Commission; (2) that when a Committee was decided on he wished not to sit on it ; and (3) that he practically accepted all the sugges- tions made by Sir William Harcourt as to the conduct of the inquiry.
