New-York tribune., 1897-08-02
SOME DIPLOMATIC DEALINGS.

The news of the last week, so far as American
foreign relations are concerned. contains hOth-
ing sensational rOr startling. hut more 10 ca'Sc
hearty satisfaction. The most important item
Is that Great Britain Is to take part in the lua"
rilateral interna,io sealing conference Which
Is 10 he held at Washington in October next
That she would do so had long been eNp'c'eu
with full confidence. 1t was some time aET
announced on what was termed seml-onlclai
authority Now IL is affirmed by the bcs; oi
all authority in q direct statement from III"
British Foreign Office to the American Anhis-
sador That is distinct and very cOilsidcia-
bic triumph for American diplomacy. for the
conference is be held at the request of THIS
country and. il may be added. for the Interest
Of this country rather than Of any other lhcr'
Is abundant reason to believe that good VIII
come of IT.. This good, at any rate, proceedS
from il in advance. that the American desire
for such n conference is vndcatcd. American
diplomacy is dignified and the tangled sStieS OF
the long-pending controversy are put into tha'
way of settlement which the enlightened opln-
ion of mankind now holds 10 he the best.
Next. if not indeed equal in importance, is
the mutual reference to arbitration OF the dlS-
putes between Hawaii and Japan. That inti-
the pending annexation of Hawaii and partly
because of the scmprotfc'oratc this country
has long exercised over the island realm. IT,,
too is II triumph of American diplomacy. for
arbitration in general is an American principle,
and in this specific ease American influences
have been brought to bear for its adoption. This
is just the kind of case which may properly
he arbltratcd. and in such determination OF
ri,S.n
The announcement that japan has agreed 10
arbitration causes no surprise, bccaus" II, TOO.
has been foleshadowcd The wild talk of Il
few days ago about JapancS" warShirs Il, Homo
lulu and about tn" JapancS" coolies i'll iiaWaii
being veteran soldiers in Disguise bent on Il
conquest OF the islands, now seems TO every one
as ridiculous rs il has seemed all along 10 the
we-informed. japan is not an international
buccanccr, any more than IS the nation which
introduced her to the civilized world, and only
a superheated or perverted imagination could
ever have seen in her disputes with Hawaii To-
gitimate cause for wax.
Other 10 less Obvious examples need not he
dwclt upon. 1t has been Il good week for
American diplomacy: and if. without iircyer-
cncc Il likeness may be drawn between that
which is infinite and that which. though great.
is finite, il may he profitable to point the moral
that not in the earthquake nor iii the fire, but
in the still. small voice does the real power re
side. The American Secretary of state set
forth the American side of the sealing case with
an emphasis and dircctncSs which some deemed
harsh. That was the signal for Il rcgrctiahle
outbreak The rrtaicd British press replied in
kind. and injudcious American critics added
stridcnt chorus. For time the ears Of the
groundlings were wellnigh split. But the calm.
self poised and uEcomons;ratiyc American
Ambassador AID the busincsslike British Min
lister of Foreign Affairs pursued the even tenor
of their way unmOycd; and now. amid the
vanishing wrack Of the storm. they announce
to the world their deliberate conclusion. IN
swcrved by all the tunlult Ii is n lesson that
many may we'll take to heart. diplomaiiS;s,
journalists ana private citizens alike. Those
who are really responsible for International
relations and who are worthy 10 bear such re
sponsibility are able to talk without shouting
and TO bargain without fighting. And in such
men the American foreign service has not been
and is not lacking