25 JULY 1896, Page 3

The Cape Assembly received the report of the Jameson Select

Committee on July 17th. The Committee report that after a review of the evidence they have come to the conclu- sion that no Member of the Cape Ministry but Mr. Rhodes was privy to the Raid. The Committee are convinced that the stores and workshops of the De Beers Mine were used to store arms, &c., and it is not conceivable that this was done without Mr. Rhodes's knowledge. The Chartered Company's officials at Cape Town either knew, or were in a position to know, of the plot, and two of the directors, Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Beit, and the Administrator, Dr. Jameson, and the Secretary were

active as promoters and moving spirits throughout." " The date of the inroad was fixed weeks beforehand, and the letter of invitation was obtained four weeks before the ostensible -date of signature." During December pressure for the "flotation" came either from Pitsani or from Cape Town. ."As regards the Right Hon. Cecil Rhodes, the Committee can come to no other conclusion than that he was thoroughly acquainted with the preparations that led to the inroad, and 'that in his capacity as controller of three great joint-stock -companies—the British South Africa, the De Beers, and the Gold Fields of South Africa—he directed and controlled the combination which rendered such a proceeding as the Jameson Raid possible." Dr. Jameson was told to wait, but "at the same time there is an absence of any such peremptory com- mand from Mr. Rhodes direct to Dr. Jameson, not on any account to take action, as might reasonably have been ex- pected from one resolutely determined to do all in his power to prevent a subordinate officer from committing a gross breach of the law." On December 29th it is true that a strict order was drafted for telegraphing, but as the wires had been cut it was never sent.