Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-23

man. he is not really a strong one. II Bal
four and Chamberlain, representing two
sections Of the cabinet. earnestly press him
to accept the proposal, and I understand
that so far they have been merely waiting
for the pressure OF public opinion to Inn
press him with the necessity for amicable
action, he will surrender without much
trouble Important developments are GER
tain to follow the next meeting OF the cabi-
net"
At this delicate iuncture the prominent
men OF both parties are reluctant to express
themselves for publication, in view OF Mr..
Balfour's appeal the other day for silence
and Sir william Harcourt's endorsement OF
It, I, therefore, regret that I must also
quote this additional statement anonymously,
except to say It was made to a World rep
resentative by one OF the three or four fore
most nonofflcial authorities in Parliament
upon Englands foreign relations.
HAS NO OFFICIAL DOMINANCE.
THE British government is still without
any official cognizance Of the suggestion de-
clared to be favored by the Washington au-
thorities for the appointment of joint COM
mission fer inquiry into the venezuela
boundary dispute. and no official step has
yet been taken to bring this proposal for
ward for discussion between the two gov
ernments. The hesitation Of the Washington
government in making even informal over
lures tor an agreement on the basis sug-
gested was quite explicable on the ground
Of its knowledge OF Salisbury's personal dis
position on the subject 1t would be very
awkward and humiliating for the United
States government II, having submitted
scheme for acceptance by Great Britain, The
prime minister, instead CT accepting 1t,
should proceed to comment unfavorably upon
It, which, under the existing conditions Of
the relations between the two governments
would practically amount to its rejection"
AS to Mr.. Balfour's present al
legged attitude, 1t may be due to
his own recognition CT American
feeling on the subject and the real dan
ger of war, of which his uncle is convinced
there is no danger. But I am told that
Henry NJ. Stanley, the explorer, now tory
member of Parliament, who was deeply i'm
pressed with the strength of the Ameri-
can sentiment on the subject during his re-
cent visit to the United States, has been
using all his influence with the tory leaders
to settle the difficulty promptly, delay being
very dangerous in his view, and that MI.
Balfours efforts to bring over Lord Sails
bury to that opinion are mainly due 10 Mr.
Stanley's representations.
| find, indeed seemingly almost univer-
sal in both parties in Parliament hope
and, as many Of them say, entire confidence
that the difficulty will be surmounted peace
fully, though the delay now occurring, 1t
is recognized may make an ultimate COM
promise by Great Rritain less graceful than
If Lord Salisbury acted promptly"
| OUTLOOK MAY FIX HIS MIND.
| Meanwhile the again darkening prospect
! for Great Britain all over the world may
| powerfully and speedily operate upon the
| premiers mind as to this question. Russia,
apparently passive for years, is dangerously
extending her power. This week saw her re-
| assert her control of the Balkan states. The
week before saw her establish her practical
| suzerainty over Turkey. The meager news
| from Corea announcing her occupation of
| Seoul indicates that she means to defy Japan
| as we'll as British influence in China. The
Italian reverses in Abyssinia presage the
fall of Great Britain's only powerful friend
Crispi
France has given new and splendid assur-
| ance of her stability and strength, as de-
| scrbed in my other dispatch tonight, and
may be counted upon to side with Russia,
| unless. indeed Great Britain has made an
| alliance with the cZar.
| Germany remains sullenly hostile.
| Tonight's dispatch from the Transvaal in
| dicating that the Beers on the twenty-sev-
enth anniversary of their victory over the
| British at Majuba hill will proclaim their
! complete independence of British suzerainty,
would, IL true, compel war with the Trans
vaal and lead to the strong probability Of
| German Intervention.
! The grounding Of German vessel, with
| Curious coincidence Cecil Rhodes on board
| in the Suez canal, has startled England by
revealing the certainty that II a vessel were
blown up there in war it would block the
| canal for weeks. "a block of three weeks, F"
| says thu Graphic today, might lose us India
| forever. Indeed, the men who declared that
the Cape Of Good Hope would some day be
recognized as the pivot Of the empire may
| not have been without wisdom"
RHODES is DANGEROUS.
| Your dispatches have told you that the
| German press Is giving many corroborative
| proofs Of my statement of two years, and
| again recently, that this same Cecil Rhodes
really contemplated an independent United
States of South Africa. Desperate at the loss
| Of power and Of recognition here, he may
| yet carry out that design. He cabled TO the
| World that mis- public career was only just
| beginning
l learn that the published statement that
| Mr.. Astor means to appoint an American to
be editor Of the Pail Mall Gazette is not true.
He has not, and never had any intention Of
| appointing an American. He Is on the look
| out in London society for the counterpart Of
| Mr. Gust, II he can secure him. He wants
| an Englishman of influence, because such an
editor might get important news occasionally
| and gives a paper a certain standing with
| political society. Mr.. Astor visited the Ga
| zette office day before yesterday, for the first
| time since the day of Mr., Gusts departure
| and expressed mis- satisfaction with the way
! the paper was being conducted. Mr.. Gust
has been trying to get money for new pa
| per, but has met with little or on encourage
ment BALLARD SMITH.
Zelaya Opposes "a Dictatorship.
! Copyright 1896 by Press Publishing Company
MANAGUA, Nicaragua, Feb. 22-(New
York World Cablegram-Speclal Teegram.)-
President Zelaya's friends have been tempting
| him TO assume a dictatorship. but he has is
| sued a manifesto, stating that he prefers to