to see
them, but they were not forthcoming. Every one supposed that an order
would be issued for the production of these messages, but, strange to
say, no such order was given.

People began to be suspicious, and it was whispered that these messages
contained information that the Committee dared not make public.

At first, the worst that people suspected was that they would show that
Mr. Chamberlain, the Colonial Secretary, had known all about the
preparations for the Jameson Raid, and that he and Mr. Cecil Rhodes had
planned to seize the Transvaal, with its rich gold-fields, and annex it
to the English Colonies in South Africa.

Had this been the truth, it would have been bad enough. Mr. Chamberlain
was one of the Queen's Ministers, bound to obey the laws and uphold
them. That he should have been aware that an attempt was to be made to
steal the country of a friendly power, without making an effort to
prevent it, would have been disgraceful enough.

Unfortunately, it appears that the blame falls on a personage in much
higher position than Mr. Chamberlain.

It is said that no less a person than the Prince of Wales is named in
these cablegrams as one of the men who knew all about the preparations
for the Raid, and was perfectly willing that they should be carried out.
Several other men in high positions in England were also in the plot to
seize the Transvaal. (For the story of the plot, see THE GREAT ROUND
WORLD, pages 513 and 667.)

The cablegrams were at one time in the possession of Mr. Chamberlain,
having been given him by Mr. Cecil Rhodes, in the hope that the names of
the men interested in the plot would make him use his influence to
prevent any inquiry being made into the Raid.

London is shocked and indignant at these rumors, and insists that the
cablegrams shall be produced and the truth known about the Prince of
Wales' connection with the matter.

The Committee of Inquiry has, however, decided not to press the demand
for the messages, and so the whole affair will be hushed up as far as
possible.

Mr. Chamberlain was called before the Committee, and said, in regard to
the cablegrams, that he had personally not the slightest objection to
their being produced, but that they were unfortunately no longer in his
possession. As far as he knew they were now in the keeping of the lawyer
for the British South African Company.

Legal proceedings are being taken against this lawyer, to make him give
the papers