The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-17
BRITAIN NOT TO GIVE BATTLE.
FEAR OF ENLARGEMENT HOLDS
HER IN CHECK IN AFRICA.


High Price OHered, But POrtu-
gal Afraid OF Germany AMI
France-sOIfdity of the Irish Vote.
London. May 16.-There has been much
discussion OF late in high political and
military quarters as TO the course TO be
pursued by the British government to
consolidate her interests in South Africa
and to maintain her position as the para
mount power in that part of the world.
Against the opinion of Field Marshal Lord
Wolseley, commander-in-chief of her mai
estys forces, Gen. Roberts and all the
other military authorities in England and
India, the government has decided against
availlng itself of the preparations that
have been made for war in South At
rica, though some time ago it was con-
sidered certain by those in the innermost
circles that South Africa would be the
the scene Of an armed conflict between
the British and the consolidated forces
of the Afrikanders.
The political, and not the military con-
sideratlons, were too much for the cabi-
net to brush aside lightly or otherwise.
The government has not succeeded in
forcing Portugal to grant the concession
of Delagoa Bay as a basis for British
of pre-emptlOn which Great Britain holds
in respect to Delagoa Bay. The question
of cost has been part Of the trouble.
The 100000 sterling, the first offer from
England, has been raised to twice that
sum, with the further Quittance of the
debt of Portugal due to England, though
the latter would be merely a nominal
Quittance in view of the fact that POrtu-
gal has long since been released of the
debt by default.
however, is that European Intervention,
either that of Germany or France, or per
haps both, has obligated Portugal 10 re-
ject the British oVertures. The position at
present therefore is that if Great Britain
should be forced to conduct operations
against the Transvaal she must as the
only practicable basis for the despatch OF
a large expedition into the interior and
for supplying Ii with everything neces-
sary, use Delagoa Bay without the consent
of Portugal, preceding that certainly
would result in undesirable entangle-
ments with either the French or the Ger
mans. These reasons have undoubtedly
much to do with the decision OF the gov
ernment to lie low and see what the next
move of the Beers Will be. As before stat
ed in cable correspondence it appears as
though President Kruger had completely
checkmated Colonial Secretary Chamber
lain and the other members of Lord Sails
burys government. An English paper re-
Gently summed up the situation by de-
claring that President Kruger was only
human, and expressing the hope that he
would shortly make a mistake. This, judg
tingency Of the near future.
The solidity Of the Irish members of the
House of Commons in supporting the
governments education bill. which, of
course, placed them in opposition to their
sometime friends and allies. the liberals
has astonished every member of the lib
eral party, who had any remaining belief
that the Irish vote was not controlled by
the CathoIic church. Ihe lrlsh vote Tor
home rule is not vote for English home
rule, or anything remotely near 1t. 1t has
always meant to get as much for Ireland
as can be got, without consideration of
England or anything English. il is not a
bargain. but balance. When Mr.. Glad
stone wrecked his party over the Irish
home rule question, it was known to be a
toss-up that he had ventured. 1t was lost,
as were most of tn evenUures Of that un-
! wisest of political rhetoricians, yet, to-day,
the responsible organs of the liberal par
ty, taking the speaker as an exemplar
inveigh against the action Of the Irish
members as if il was departure from the
Irish policy, The bill has nothing to do
with Ireland" says the speaker. 1T is
purely an English bill, and is justly re-
garded as an insult and grievance by the
non-conformist churches of England. In
their struggle for home rule, the Irish have
lad no more valuable allies than the steady
phalanx of English non-cOnformists, who
although told that home rule meant home
rule, and mat men who obeyed their
priests in political matters, were unfit for
the free exercise Of civil rights, still sup
ported home rule. "
What the speaker does not bluntly in
dicate is that the Irish party, under the
leadership of John Dillon, is controlled
by Cardinal Vaughan, who is most
bitter opponent of Ireland's autonomy. If
Mr. Michael Davitt had been CONSULTED
or his advice followed, no such abandon
ment of the honest interests between
the Irish and English liberals could have
been possible.
The commission of experts on the Angli-
can orders has, after two months ses-
sion at the vatican, reported against their
recognition. This does not mean that
eventually the sacred congregation will
decide to the same effect. The commits
sion has no duty beyond presenting a
pro and con statement The report mere
ly implies a balance against the recog-
milton of the orders. The pope will give
his decision in the matter in July
Government business in parliament has
become so blocked as to render an au-
tumn session, after short recess, an
imperative necessity. If the House of
Commons adjourns about Aug. 10, as the
ministers recently contemplated, it is like
ly to leave incomplete all but one Of
the great measures of the session-the
agricultural rating bill. All the pressure
that the Irish natiOnalsts have brought
to bear on Gerald Balfour, chief secre-
tary for ireland, has failed to extort
a promise that the Irish land bill will be
taken up on its second reading before the
Whitsuntide holidays.
Timothy Healy, whose mastery of every
detail of the Irish land question will give
him the virtual leadership of the Irish
factions during the discussion of this mea-
session over Irish land education without
touching other legislative matters. Mr..
Healy has given weeks TO the study Of the
intricacies of Mr.. Balfour's bill and gets
credit for knowing more about it than Mr..
Balfour himself.
Since the return from Paris of Baron de
Courcel, the French ambassador, his in
terviews with Lord Salisbury have been
frequent beyond the ordinary measure of
intercourse between the foreign secretary
and an ambassador. 1t is something of
an open secret in diplomatic circles that
NJ Hanotaux, on taking Office with NJ.
Meline, Immediately instructed Baron de
Courcel to return to his post and charged
him to obtain from Lord Salisbury an ex-
pllcit statement regarding the limits of
the Nile operations, and what would be
the extent of the drafts upon the Egyp-
tian treasury. The naturalization of the
Suez canal and the period of British oc-
cupation are also included in Baron de
Courcel's instructions. NJ Hanotaux, is
understood to have urged early replies
from Lord Salisbury with view, it is
supposed, to be able to make some state
nent to the French chambers, when they
reassemble, on May 28. Baron de Courcel
is persona grata with Lord Salisbury
dimes and sups with the Prince of Wales,
and has NJ Hanotaux's entire confidence