New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-15
ENGLAND AND THE SOUDAN.
IS ANOTHER CONQUEST MEDITATED BIZ
LORD sALIsBURYs ...,,.l
PROGRESS TOWARD A SETTLEMENT or TN
VENEZUELA DIsPUTE-THE BRITISH DEMON
METALLIsM AGAIN-vIcToR HUoo's
LErTERs-LoNDoN IN LENT.
Copyright: 1896, by The Tribune Assoefatten.
tBY CABLE TO THE TIIBUSE.1


London. March 14-while rumors Of the 80.
tlement Of the Venezuela question are prema'
ture some progress has been made during the
week. A well-informe1 diplomatist tells mo
that 1t is not true that Lord Salisbury is reluo-
tant TO effect compromise on that question.
On the contrary he is most anxious and eager
to bring about a speedy adjustment Of all mat
ters at issue between the United States ana
Great Britain, and II that result be not speedily
accomplished 1t will not be through lack OF con.
ciiatory policy en- the part Of the Foreign
Office, but because Secretary Olney, with the
Presidential bee buzzing In his bonnet, prefers
to keep the controversy open for political effect
Lord Salisbury is certainly making great efforts
10 settle the question terms honorable to
both countries, and probably will succeed in his
course in few weeks.
The correctness of this view. that difficulties
have been created in Washington rather than
in London. Is shown by the fact that remark
able pains have been taken by members OF the
Government to remove the impression that the
Monroe Doctrine was not respected by England.
The speeches Of all the public men Of England
are explicit this point. and everything has
been done to conciliate American opinion In
that respect. The settlement Of the boundary
dispute a matter of detail which could have
England and Venezuela. II the American Com
mission had not been in the way. Mr.. Olney.
according to this English view. has not been
willing to sacrifice the Commission. while LORD
Salisbury has insisted that 1t must disappear
from the The difficulty has been to find
SC me substitute fo- an parte commission
which cannot be recognized by the British Gov
ernment When that Is done, the latter will
readily agree upon some substitute for the
Schomburgk line as basis of settlement OF the
frontier dispute.
Meanwhile Mr.. Henry Norman, in the Daily
Chronicle" is pointing out a good many holes
in the British case as revealed by the Blue Book.
and The st. James's Gazette wakes hot In de-
nouncing the unwarrantable demands Of the
American Government, and in protesting in adj
vance against ignominious retreat Of the
British Government from its strong position.
Little attention is paid by the public to these
demonstrations. to Mr.. Marston's letters to
the Daily News respecting the food supply Of
Great Britain. and the necessity Of laying up
years stock of grain in Government storehouses
10 avert starvation In war time.
The prospect Of war between Spain and the
United States passes equally without OBSERVE
tion. and the country Is not alarmed by the
prediction that IT'S carrying trade would b
menaced by the issue Of letters Of marque u
prvateers on each side.
II is In Africa. not In America, that shots are
fired which involve serious consequences The
italian defeat at Adowa has kindled the fires OF
fanaticism in the deserts and made expedient
British demonstration Of military force on the
Nile. The defence Of Wady Halfa by an advance
to Dongola and the expulsion of the Dervishes
seem a sympathetic movement in behalf Of
,fforf for hA
protection OF lower Egypt. Yet Lord Wolseley.
who attended the last Cabinet meeting, must
have advised It, and he knows the Nile Valley
and understands how explosive is the Mahdist
enthusiasm after a victory. 1t hardly seems
possible although to-day's Times plainly fore
shadows II, that the occupation OF Dongola
points the way to the recoIquest Of the Soudan.
In that event. Gordon's death would be avenged
through Italys reverses. England surely rem
ders great service to Italy's demoralized forces
by this timely movement which may tend either
to quiet or to excite the Dervishes around Kas-
sala and Suakim.
The following account Of the advance upon
Dongola is given on the authority Of one con-
versant with the facts:
THE Italians have been asking the English
to make a diversion In their interests for .
month past but the Salisbury Government
could not comply with the request until the
recent catastrophe occurred. Then action be-
came necessary. II Kassala w ere captured after
the disaster at Adowa. the Dervishes would
lead swarms of natives down the Nile and i'm
peril Lower Egypt. The advance OF the Egyp-
tian troops upon Dongola Is designed to pre-
vent the fall OF Kassaa by drawing of the
Dervishes to the northward. There is no pres
ent intention OF occupying Khartoum and recon-
querng the Scudan That would be a great
undertaking. requiring British expedition
rather than Egyptian troops which alone have
been ordered TO Dongola."
The pot in the Transvaal Is still simmerin4.
and Mr.. Chamberlain has full occupation In
keeping 1t from boiling over. President KRUGER
Is apparently anxious to come to England, but
suspicious that the Jameson trial has not been
undertaken with sincerity. How long the Bow
Street inquiry will last nobody ventures to fore.
cast, but another adjournment on Tuesday 10
probable. and the case may drag along fo1
weeks. until the officials return from South Az
rica with the testimony for which they were
sent. Why there should be protracted delay IN
securing the committal Of the accused for triaI
Is inexplicable. The impression Is general tnas
the Government more anxious 70 make
show Of prosecuting than to convict the raid.
ers. That may be an unjust SUSPICION ou' y
not an unreasonable conclusion.
Parliament Is the dullest show In London, the
bores being prominent In the debates and the
divisions devoid Of interest. Mr.. Balfours rule
is working admirably. and the financial discus
s,on is well ordered. He himself is leading the
House with dexterity and frmness. and Is MAX
ing no mistakes. but with a great majority be-
hind him and no dangerous controversial sub
tects yet broached. that Is not remarkable
record Mr.. Chamberlain was heard only once
this week. but then to good advantage His
speech on the Ashantee campaign went far
toward justifyng what has seemed like