, 1891-03-28
PREPARING FOR WAR.
England Will Help Belgium in
Case of Trouble.
The Danger of an Outbreak
Growing Greater.
Progress Of the Campaign in
the Emerald Isle.

copyrighted, 1891, by N. Y. Associated Press.
LONDON, March 27.-Lord Salisbury,
lust before starting for San Reno, held a
long conference with Lord Knutsford and
Mr.. Currie of the foreign Office. A work
of supreme difficulty, requiring the most
delicate handling, was confded to Currie
relating to the engagements of England
to protect Belgium. King Leopold, dur
ing his visit, pressed for an answer as to
what practical co. operation England would
give under the existing treaty of defense
of BELGIUM neutrality III the event of
war. Lord Salisbury, according to re-
port, promised English aid by feet and a
contingent OF troops. If needed, to defend
Antwerp, leaving the Belgian army free
for defense operations in the forts of
Meuse.
Something occurring behind the e
of European diplomacy sharpens the APP
prehension that the final move III the
long game precludIng war will not be de-
layed long. 1t is reported that an agree
ment has been reached between the
French and Russian governments in re-
gard to a simultaneous mobilization of
troops and other movement in the event
OF war. The heads of the European
powers seem to be informed of a Russian
scheme of attack which is likely to declare
itself in the autumn The question Of
Belgian neutrality is intimately associ-
ated with England's attitude in such a
conflict aud it will be Salisbury's iustiiica-
ton if the agreement with King Leopold
comes up in parliament.
Lord Knutsiord has damaged his repu-
fWffnn ananU tho nnnaaruotfyaa fbr.u.b
his t~actless treatment of the N~ewfound-
land matter. He requires coaching by
Salisbury, who is blamed within his "
circle for allowing the colonial minister
too free a hand.
Sir Charles Dixie, 10 a newspaper
article, discloses a source Of uneasiness
prevailing among the minIsterialists
III" he says, ''the strange foreign
arbitrator picked up IN the Russian for
eiRn office and elsewhere should for poll
teal reasons declare against us, then the
modus viVendi under the Knutsford bill.
becoming an act, will have to be- forced
on the colonies by deeds of civil war. If
Newfoundland was an American state
France would sell her rights in five min
utes to the United States. She only re.
fuses to sell them to England because she
is irritated about Egypt
Inc irish campaign grows hotter.
Healy having accused Parnell and Valen-
tine Dillon OF melting the assault on him,
will be sued by Dillon when the contest
is over. The language used on both sides
IA becoming utterly unrestraiped. The
Parnellites' Dublin evening organ calls
the McCarthyites sinking carrion float
ing on the stream Of corruption 1t
apologies Tor Dalton's attack on Healy as
provoked by "libellous work conducted
under eminent Christian patronage" The
priests practical response TO the continued
abuse of the order has been to suppress
the circulation of the Parnellite press.
Over two thousand dissenting ministers
have sigued a protest against Sir Charles
Dukes return to public life. He insists
that he will stand as a candidate for parli-
ament until he receives the official veto OF
the Liberal chiefs. He mas invited the
the opinion of Morley and Harcourt with
u response. S~chnadhorst. the Liberal
caucus chief. opposes Sir Charles candI-
dacy on the ground that it would adenate
1000 d~issenterS