New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-21
BRITISH AFFAIRS.
ENGLISH TOPICS.


| LONDON, Oct. 26.-A good deal Of surprise is
felt or affected at the decision in our favor in the San
Juan matter Nobody pretends to like It, Until within
n few weeks few Engshmen knew anything about San
Juan or cared Students Of the Treaty OF Washington
were aware that decision on this veXed ques-
ton was provided for by that instrument, but
all minor interests under that Treaty were swallowed
up by the Alabama. People in general hardly know
where San Juan lies and have been asked whether IL
had not something to do with Honduras few weeks
SINCE however a notion got abroad among some news
paper writer's that the decision in respect TO this mystic
rious island was likely TO be against the English view
Thereupon articles began TO appear having ttle Tue
air Of having been written to order and Of being meant
TO influence Berlin opinion pointing out what a mo-
mentous affair this Of San Juan really was,
and how much It concerned Great Britain
| that IL should be determined in her favor
They struck me at the time rather maadrolt, or, az
any rate iltmed AThen the subject dropped, the Ala
bama award coming uppermost and Sir Alexander Cock
burn at still later day coming to the surface rather
suddenly In something OF furry, and greatly agtatng
| the waters then beginning TO subside Within few
DAYS last past have reports from the other
sdethat IT, from your sde-of court intrigue carried
Oh at Berlin designed upset the decision or the ursts
and prevail the Emperor TO reverse H. ana give
decision of his owD I'm the reverse This was only
day before the actual award became KNOWN Dut u
was quite sufficient TO awaken public interest and kndle
pable OF suspectng Lord Odo Russell and the Crown
| Princess OF anything 80 un-English intrigue.
So that when the decision really became known two
days ago. the public mind was in very proper state to
receive il with curiosity and TO deplore its disregard OF
English wishes and interests oddly enough, the very
frat authentic intelligence OF the Prusan decree came
10 the English public from New-York by cable; the very
energetic correspondent Of The Echo beating the Berlin
correspondents Of sight, and giving Thursday
afternoon the substance of Mr.. BancrOfs dispatch to
Mr.. Fish of the day before, together with the COM
ments Of that mornng's New York papers on it. by
next morning it had arrived from Berlin In the
regular way. It's reception was very different from
the reception Of the Geneva award If you turn back
to the papers Of the middle OF September you will find
a strenuous effort made in of them to put a
good face on the result Of that arbitration Sundry Tory
journals OF great consequence excepted, the press
proiessed almost like it, and would gladly have per-
suaded they would rather pay us three millions
sterling than not by way OF showing what good friends
Of ours they This wasbefore Sir Alexander Cock
burn appeared on the scene. No such effort is made
now The most you say that the English acquesce
in the Emperors decisiOn acquesce IN 1t Loyalty ana
completely, If a little sulenly. / do not wonder
they don't like it. 1t adds one more to the
already large number OF diplomatic incidents which
seem TO the world large very like rebuis which En-
gland has lately had to endure Let me do them the
Justice TO add that they honestly fail to understand how
the decision against them has been reached; what the
arguments can be which have convinced German urlss
that the American view OF the Treaty OF 46 Is the just
one; how they have failed to that the neon-
veniences OF this view Great Britain far greater
than corresponding advantages to America and so
on. A good friend of ours who came In yesterday
to me- much susprised and hurt that he al
together declined talk about the matter at all; dld
not want TO hear it mentioned and evidently supposed
that every American must be spending his time mutter
ing exulting yells over the defeat OF England. The
oils IA fuaa nastfV IN take
own Uery English very characteristic OF Engshmen
in general, well as Of some Americans.
The only other thing need say about it relates TO the
colonial question in its broad aspects. This decision Is
one more argument tending convince Englshmen Of
the great risk which they made TO by their colo
NAL policy Policy is perhapsltoo strong word. No
body knows in these days, what the English colonial
policy IS But the mere tie existing between England
and Canada-of which British Columbia now forms a
part-multipes indefinitely the chances OF COLLISION
between her and the United States. Since one OF the
chief ends of English politics and diplomacy,
as now practiced, is TO live at peace
with all the world, the Canadian connection
is every fresh occasion, felt to be more and more
ir1somc. The why the San Juan award is dis
liked plainly that it lays part OF the frontier
OF British Columbia under American duress and weak
ems the already hopeessy weak frontier which public
opinion would compel Great Britain TO defend in some
sort in case Of war She is under too such obga
tons already andlshe is extremely illcontent with
new turn Of affairs which lays another upon her, at
point still more distant and where it is still more impos
sble 10 reconcile the dictates of prudence with the
requirements Of her national code Of honor and the
expectations Of her Canadian subjects.
must content myself with very brief reference TO
the dinner OF the Geographical Society to Mr. Stanley
which should like TO say good deal about. For DIR.
Stanley it was a genuine triumph. The dinner out
Of a private dinner at which some old Abyssinan
officers were present. and meant to reassembe the
comrades in that expedition. 1t grew, the Geogra
pliers asking in Sir Henry Rawlinson at their
head and finally the Council Of the Geographical Society
voting go, and to making the dinner official. Mr..
Moran was there for the United States acting Min
ister and sat ON Sir Henry Rawlinsons left there
were any doubt about the official character Of the din
ner Sir Henrys craftsmanship would settle the question
The Lord Mayor there, and Sir Bartle Frere.
Of the most eminent of the GeOgTaphers, shortly to
set out for Zanzibar as Special Commissioner
what be done to put down that LdeOus slave
trade Capt sherard Osborne, Capt. Burton, Mr.. Win
wood Reade and other very eminent of that stamp
were among the scientific guests OF Americans there
Mr.. McCullOch side and Mark Twain the
other; Mr.. Conway Also Mr. Henry Stevens and others
OF note. Altogether, the company Of dstinc-
tOn and for Mr. SaDley purposes the best that could
be gathered in London. They did him every honor Sir
Henry Rawlinson's speech complete and most
handsome recantaton Of all skeptcsms heretofore ut
tered by him. and he did special penance for his famous
epigram about Livingstone discovering Stanley
Idtlef tnan STANLEY Livingstone. 10 crown all,
he announced the award OF the Victoria Medal by
the Geographical Society TO Mr. Stanley their greatest
honor and the the grant of which to him has been
contested by his enemies most desired by himself
and by the public Stanley's speech in acknowledgment
unique the most unconventional speech ever heard
in Wliss Rooms full OF originality OF wit OF piquant
crticism Of picturesque narration aud was received
with hearty applause and great peas OF laughter in
those places where was proper 20 laugh and not as at
Brighton-n places where It was not proper
Mr.. Sumner reached London again yesterday. having
Quilted Paris last Sunday, journeyng via Brussels and
Antwerp to the Hague Tor brief visit to his old friend
Mr. Motley, and 20 by TO Harwich OF the |
routes in Europe and thence by rail this city.
He IL really better. His face has OF its old look
his manner some Of the old energy and he Is I'm good
than han