New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-28
THE NEWS IN LONDON.
ENGLAND'S FOREIGN POLICY
THE NICARAGUAN AFFAIR AND LORD
ROSEBERY'S FRIENDSHIP
FOR AMERICA.

tOR AMERlCA.
RUssTAs PROTEST AGAINST THE cHINo-JArA
NEsE TREATY-TwO HEROES OF THE CHIT
RAL cAMPAIGN-LBERAL LOSSES IN BY
EI.ECTIoNs-MR BALFoUR STANDS
BY MR. CHAMBERIAIN-THE MAR
RIAGE OF MISS PEEL
[BY CABLE TO THE rRIBUNEl
tCopyrfght; 1895 8y The Tribune Assect4.ion.
London, April 27--A summary OF the comments
Of the New-York papers or English proceedings
in Nicaragua has been cabled here, but attracts
little attention. The English seem to regard
them in the nature Of party attack on Presi-
dent Cleveland, wherein .they doubtless
wrong. They are. however. right in considering
the President the true representative OF the
United States for the purposes OF this contro-
versy, and with his attitude they are content
suppose nobody really doubts that England Is
entitled under international law TO press her
claims on Nicaragua, ond TO obtain. II neces-
sary, by force. the redress which is denied to
reason and justice Equally clear is IT that Eng
land has not and never had the least intention Of
annexing foot of land in Nicaragua or OF perma-
nenty occupying Corinto or any other portion OF
Nicaraguan territory. She has given the plain
est assurances to the President, and these he 10
bound TO accept, unless he has good reason for
doubling their sincerity. No such reason has
even been alleged, nor is there discernible
trace of English wish TO pursue policy
toward Nicaragua in disregard of the Monroe
Doctrine.
The Prime Minister OF this country is Lord
Rosebery a friend to America II there be one
anywhere and it is he who In this matter 10
directing the policy Of the Government OF which
he Is the head. No living Engshman has
clearer conception OF American views in respect
TO territory on the American Continent; none Is
less likely TO run counter to them. That Ameri-
can jealousy should be reused by the presence OK
British warshps and the use OF British force In
a Central American harbor Is natural and right
We should be right in watching every step taken
and in being ready 10 resent force II wrongfuHy
used or used too far; but when We have received
explicit pledges which England could not and
would not violate; when we have drawn the line
beyond which she is not 10 pass. and she assents'
there remains but question. that is. whether
We wish to be the catspaw Of Nicaragua and TO
put ourselves in the wrong for the sake OF
State itself hagrantly In the wrong. when not
single American interest or susceptibility Is
threatened.
There is much evidence tending 10 show that
the protest OF Russia. Germany and France
against the treaty Of Simonoseki is backed by q
solid agreement between those Powers. II 10
nevertheless difficult 10 what vital concern
France has, and still more. what concern Ger.
many has in that business. Russia herself -
deeply interested in preventing the lodgment OK
Japan in the Liau-Tong peninsula; whether the
point Of protest goes beyond that is not known;
still less is II known whether the protest will bs
raya
any case the situation is serious enough. The
French and German press relieve their feelings
by abusing England for refusing to Join in the
protest and accuse her Of having made secret
treaty with Japan. There is reason why she
should not II she cared 70. and not particle OF
evidence that she actually has; but evidence
seldom seems to the French press an indispen-
So abe basis for either argument or accusation. As
for the Germans. they are so perplexed 10 know
what their infallib.e Kaiser would be at that
they fly every kind Of coniectural kite. He is
probably but resumng one other main point OF
Bismarck's policy and striving 20 consolidate his
relations with Russia The game is dangerous.
both for Germany and France. and more lmprob-
able things have happened than the kindling in
Asia OF a European conflagraton. 1t is probable
that none OF these European Powers know the
precise terms OF the treaty which they denounce;
still less do they know what the future rela-
tions OF China and Japan are TO be. and there
probably lies the crux OF the whole Asian ques-
ton. The story Of the alliance some equiva-
lent arrangement between China and Japan has
never yet been authCrta,ivey contradcted.
The gallant defence and gallant relief Of Chitral
have interested Englishmen more than all else
this week. There are two new heroes-Robertson.
Who held the fort. and Colonel Kelly. who. after q
wonderful march In the face OF tremendous natu-
raj obstacles and OF outnumbering foes. came In
time to rescue his comrades. The heroes. in truth.
number hundreds. for the soldiers in the fort and
in the relieving column were heroes. Colonel
Kelly. am told. is an officer who has waited thr-
" years FOR his chance. Or. Robertson is civil
ian and an able political agent but With the stuff
OF a soldier in him also. For forty five days he
stood siege and for all time to come he has place
In Indian history the OF which Is likely 70
be much modified by these recent events.
The political interest OF the week lies outside Of
Parliament. The constituencies have been maxi
ing themselves heard in more ways than one. OK
ford led off with the return of Lord Vaentia by
Conservative majority five times greater than the
last The Liberals did no: like II. Mid-Norfolk
followed. eecting a Conservative in place Of q
Radical. the Radical vote decreasing, and the
Conservative going up by hundreds. This the
Liberals liked still less: they had expected 10 save
M.d-Norfolk, the loss of which counts two votes
a division and dangerously reduces their al
ready too slender nominal majority Of fourteen.
What makes II worse is that this is an agricult-
ural constituency. and the agricultural consttu-
ences have been for some time past the last hope
of Liberal politicians They looked upon the bor-
oughs as gone; they have concentrated their ef-
forts on the less intelligent portions OF the electo-
rate: they have lavished promises and blandish-
ments on Hodge and now Hodge turns against
them. They sick at heart. and own 1t. This
last is the astonishing thing. Other elections are
coming and the example Of Md-Norfolk Is
likely TO be of disastrous effect for them. The
Liberal majority in the House OF Commons Is al
ready perilously the vanishing point. and the
Liberal homes for the general election grow dim