IMPERIAL PALIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 32, 8 February 1904, Page 3

IMPERIAL PALIAMENT.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN . LONDON\ Feb. 5, Mr RcfJson, Literal member for South Shields, in moving an amendment ' to the Address-in-Ueply, dwelt on the absence of a plan of campaign in South Africa, lie »aid the blunders were due to the Ministry and not to the soldiers. The Right Hon. G. Wyndiyun (Chief' Secretary for Ireland), replying, practically repeated Sir Balfour's speech at the United Club. He contended that munitions and provisions would have sufficed for a force of seventy-live thousand had tho estimate been correct, luut the Government awl all its military ad,visers had therein errod. Tho Government case.rested on the report of the Commissioners., Mr Chamberlain, in a strenuous speech, ,guot«d Sir H. CampbeilBancernuan's declaration three months prior to the war that military preparations wene unnecessary, and he asked How could the lioers be expected to qome to terms thinking if they refused we would not make preparations; or that if wo did we would be condemned by the Opposition. Sir H. Campfbell-Bannerman, Leader of the Opposition, speaking to Mr Robson's amendment, stated that on June 20th, 1899, Mr Qivamjbierlain came to his room and asked H the Opposition would join hi sending -.10,,000 troops to the Oape, and declared that there would t* no figibtiiig, tho Government being only engaged in a giame of bluff. He (Sir H. Campbeil-Banueruian) refused on/the ground that the responsibility of sending troops rested with the ExecutiveMr ChairfSerial7i, i a reply, said he had no recollection of the word bluff," and it was u»likely he used it. He told Sir H. , Campbell Bamnerman that there was not the slightest prdbitfjility then of war twt it was dusiraible to impress th* Boers with the fact that Great Britain was in earnest. THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. (Received Fob. 7, 0.22 a.m.) LONDON, Eeb. 0. Mr Rcfcson's amendment to the Ad-dress-in-Roply was negatived by 378 votes to 192. (Received Feb. 8,1.14 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 7. Fifty-four Nationalists voted for Mr Kobson's amendment. The Times considers Sir 11. Camp-beli-Bannerman himself supplies conelusive justification for the delay which occurred in sending reinforcements to the Transvaal.