New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-16
THE NEWS IN LONDON.
BELIEF THAT STANLEY AND EMIN ARE IN
THE HANDS OF THE ARABS.

BELIEF THAT STANLEY AND EMIN ARE IN
THE HANDS OF THE ARABS.
THE SITUATION AT sUAKIM-AMERIcAN RELA-
TIoNs-DE LEssEPs's FAILURB-oLUsERETs
ELEcTIoN-MGR PERsIoo's REPORT ON
IRELAND - ENGLISH AND IRISH
6oIITICs-THE NATIONAL LIB
ERAL CLUB-MRs. PHELPS
LORD r. CHURCHILL
- FINE ARTS
MR. BRIGHT
rBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.
Copyright; 1888 BY The Neo York Trfbuns
London. Dec l5.-The Government express no
opinion respecting Osman Digna's letter announc-
ing the capture of Emin Pacha and Mr.. Stanley.
1t is. however, known that the letter has been
for some days in the possession of the authorities
at Suakim. but the contents were not allowed
to become public till General Grenfen and others
had reluctantly come to the conclusion that the
story was probably true. Even now the letter,
though published in Egypt, has not been tele-
eraphed in fun to London summary OF It's
contents appeared yesterday in The Standard
exclusively. That Journal, and to-day every other
journal l have seen. lean TO behef IN the
genuineness of the news. No one seems able 10
explain how the Mahdi or Osman Digna couid
have obtained O1nerWlse tHc lcbtSI Whioh "N~
lKhediye cave Mr. Stanley in Cairo for Emln
.Pacba. The most plausible suggestion is that
'tbe letter was captured in some encounter not
necessarily involving Mr.. Stanleys capture Gen.
eral Grenfell recognizes the letter as genuine.
1t is not impossible that copy was sent to Osman
from Cairo. where treachery Is common as sun
Grht. What motive had Osman in concooting
this news? ask those who credit II.
Lord Randolph Churchill unwttingly supplied an
answer last night in the House OF Commons. lie
pressed the Government. in view of this news,
to negotiate for the release of Emin Pacha and Mr.
Stanley before beginning attack upon the be-
sicgers of Sualzim. Osman may very well have
guessed that with such hostages as Mr.. Stanley
and Emin Pacha in the Mahdi's hands, the English
would think twice before taking any step cacu
lated to increase the peril in which they stand.
Osman's reputation as one of the most notorious
and ingenious of living liars may also count Tor
something. To such slender straws do the sink
ing hopes Of the world cling.
Meanwhile the whole policy, or want Of policy,
at Suakim, Is once more challenged, and the ab-
surdity of the situation comes out more clearly
than ever. England keeps up the fiction OF
Egyptian authority and acts in the name of her
puppet The Khedive refuses TO look the facts in
tho face. Suakim cannot be abandoned But
how long is it to be held under teasing fire of
slave-trading ArabsP If they are driven further
back and new fort built that fort
will be besieged Then what? Such are some
of the questions the public are beginning to
ask, to which no is ready
The State Department at Washington, ac-
cording to some singular telegrams which appear
in to-days London papers, deny that MIR. PheIps
has intimated that his Mission will come TO an
end unless Lord Salisbury appoints successor
hrt nc &c Dnpan
Phelps has not yet given such an intimation 10
Lord Salisbury the statement is true. The
American Minister will await the result Of tho
debate next week in the House of Commons.
His action, as l have said before, VII depend
on the result Of that debate; but it would be
interesting TO know what the officials OF the
State Department at Washington, mean America
and England to understand by this alleged
denial If they mean the American Minister IS
to be kept here while England leaves her Lega-
tion at Washington in charge Of the Third Sec
retary, they will simply expose themselves and
their country to contempt Already their pa
tience provol1es unhattering questions.
Mr.. Butterworth's proposal TO open negotia-
tions for the annexation of Canada to the United
States has been cabled here. 1t is received with
silence by the press in general. and with gentle
sarcasm by such papers as notice it,
The bankruptcy Of the Panama Canal surprises
nobody here. What does surprise people is NJ de
Iesseps's resignation which is regarded as iinal
confession of failure. The Intervention OF the
French Government is considered desperate eN-
Incident to avert catastrophe for the moment
only.
The very worst symptom Of degradation French
politics have yet seen is the election of General
Cluseret in the Var. Some unexplained influence
was at work, since Cluseret had but 1900 votes
while 81. 600 abstained. lie one Of the vileSt
of Communards
Mr. Persico's report 10 the Pope the state Of
Ireland pleases neither party. Unionsts dislike
il because it favors aspirations for Home Rule
Nationalists dislike it because It condemns boy
cotting the Plan of Campaign, and other illegal
methods which the Nationalist deem essential 10
success Whether the report viii have much prac
teal effect is disputed
The most striking feature Of the Parnen Com
mission this week is the tendency Of one class of
witnesses to go to pieces under Sir Charles Rus
sells cross-examnation. Beyond doubt a mass of
unshake1 evidence is being slowly piled up which
NAV prove damaging to the defendants when links
TO connect them with IL are supplied; If supplied
they can be But with few exceptions, the i'll
formers evidence fails TO stand the test applied
20 H. Among the witnesses Of different class
Captain Boycott was conspicuous but SIT
Charles by way of resenting some observation Of
The court on the length of the cross-examination
declined TO ask him single question. Buckley,
who swore 10 being employed to murder persons
obnoxious to the League, Quilted the witness-bcX
without rag Of character. Yet his story was
hardly disturbed O'Connor, another informer,
had neither character nor story left when Sir
Charles had done with him.
Mr. OBriens attack on the Commission in
~United Ireland" has been renewed 1t is of
1be kind which led Sir James Hannen TO say he
would resign his place if he could, but he was