The record-union., 1896-11-29
Notable Change Of Late In the Tone Of
the Leading Newspapers.
Now Advocate the Cultivation of an
Alliance.

Disarray of the Liberal Party of
Great Britain, Will Soon be Ended,
and Liberalism Once More Have a
Definite Programme Under Recog-
nized Chiefs.
LONDON, Nov. 2S.-There has been
a singular change of late in the tone Of
the French newspapers toward Great
Britain, notably in the cases of the
Steele" "Matin" and Temps These
papers, instead of attacking "Perfidious
Albion" as has been their wont, have
swung around and now advocate the
cultivation of a French alliance with
Great Britain.
According to information from high
official quarter, the change is due to a
cementing of relations between Great
Britain and Russia. 1t is an undoubted
fact that during the recent visit Of the
Gar at Balmoral, the Queens resi-
dence in the Highlands, the Anglo Rus
sian question concerning boundaries in
Central Asia was absolutely settled
Both the French and the German
semi-official newspapers have pub
lished inspired communications on the
subject, and they all concur in praising
the Car for abandoning the Russian
desire for conquest and completing the
division of the Asiatic continent under
the single aim of the interests of civ
ilizaton
Whether either France or Germany
is entirely pleased with the solution
of this long-pending matter is ques-
tionable.
There is at last a good chance that
the prolonged disarray of the Liberal
party, produced by Gladstone's deser-
ton Of the lead at a critical crisis in
the life of the party. will be ended and
that Liberalism will once more have a
definite programme under recognized
chiefs. The General Committee of the
National Liberal Federation meets at
Liverpool on December 18th to discuss
memorandum on reforms in the legis-
lation of the federation
This is simple way of announcing
that the entire membership of the party
is too considerable and a radical change
must be made in its management No
question will be raised at the meeting
anent the leadership. All the local Lib
eral associations throughout the coun-
try tacitly or by resolution have ac-
cepted Sir William Vernon Harcourt as
leader.
This fact will and has already enor-
mously strengthened his control of the
party, besides contributing to the uni
flying of the party forces. 1t can no
longer be called headless party, and 1t
is now about to get a coherent pro-
gramme with better system of elec-
toral management.
The General Committee of the Fed
Grafton instead of being appointed
through official influence, is to be an
elected body The executive of the
federation. instead of being appointed
by the General Committee, is to be
elected by delegations from the Liberal
associations throughout the country
The new principle embodied in this
scheme of party management is es-
sentially representative and democratic
Anent the programme, all that can at
present be divulged is that home rule,
church disestablishment and upper
house reforms remain the leading
planks. The party leaders are to be in
trusted with control of the party move
ment
The Healyites have started fund in
opposition to the Nationalists' sub
scription, initiated by Dillon under the
resolution OF the national convention
In September. No great prospects ex-
listed for the Nationalist fund from the
outset, and the Healy appeal for COM
mand of separate fund will effectu-
ally diminish what chance there was Of
getting the necessary aid for the Irish
people,
Healy cannot hope to get any sub
stantial response to his appeal. but he
can injus>e the Nationalist fund. and he
has. When the party meets at the
opening of Parliament Dillon will insist
upon Healy and his supporters either
completely abandoning their opposi-
ton or withdrawing. Failing reasona-
BILE submission to the majority the
Healyites will be formally expelled.
Communications have been reopened
between the English Foreign Office and
the French and German Governments
pointing toward another conference on
the sugar bounty system. Without be-
ing able to state what Government
took the initiative ii can be affirmed
that official opinion ON each side favors
the abolition Of the bounty premium.
The English Colonial Office is constant
ly receiving the worst reports of the de-
creasing prosperity of the sugar estates
In the West Indies.
II IS stated by recent mail advices
that the majority of the great planters
put five years as the limit of the West
Indian sugar industry II the bounty
system among European Powers con-
tinues. At present the profits are al
most nil, only the working expenses be-
ing cleared. although the cost of pro-
ductfon has been reduced from Els to
f10 per ton.
Chamberlain. who has been consult
ed on the projected conference, is un-
derstood to think little Of any agree
ment being arrived at, but will not op-
pose the negotiations to obtain the abo-
litition of the oounties.
Officials CT the Shipping Federation
ridlcule the rumors that the strike of
the dock iaborers in Germany will ex-
tend to London. They are confident
that the strike in Hamburg and Bre
men will speedily end in a fiasco. Tom
Hamm and the other English labor ag
itafors. who several months ago pre-
dicted q general strike OF dock laborers
all over the world. appeared to be still
confident that their predictions will
prove true. but those who view the