The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-21
VOL. LXv.-N0. 81.
SALISBURY'S BACKBONE E.
II rs sTIFFENING IN RESPECT OF
HIS FOREIGN PoLICF.

Great Britain Will ne Independent. Not TO
Say Aggressive, ON All Issues Between That
Country and Uncle sAm-she will Try TO
make France walk Chalk In west Africa.
spsciai Gable Dsspatch to THE suS.
LONDON, Nov. o. radical change has been
made in tho foreign policy Of the British Gov
ernmcnt. 1t is impossible TO say whetner Mr..
Chambcrlain's influence in the Cabinet brought
It about or whether IL Is due to some other cause.
but the fact beyond question is that the pusil-
Luminous. oonciliatory policy of the past two
years will be changed. with the possible excep-
ton of the Eastern question, for one OF vigorous
independence, not to say aggression.
Tho first and most emphatic application OF
tho new policy will DO to all issues between
Great Britain and the United States. 1t has
been well known for q long time that q feeling
of impotent irritation and resentment against
tho American Government has boon cherished
in the British Foreign Office. 1t was not ex-
pected that this feeling would find such frank
expression as 1t received, in an unguarded mo-
nent, ono day this week, from a gentleman in
the highest counsels OF the Government. A
friend criticised the Governments obstinacy in
failing to settle q petty quarrel over the fur seal
inasmuCh as the contentious of tho United States
were unquestionably just.
THAT may be- replied the frank official,
but Lord Salisbury's Government will mako
no moro concessions to tho United States ON
any point Whatsoever
This is a true explanation Of the failure of
any result from the Laurier conferences at
Washington. 1t Is just as well for the WASH
ington Government thoroughly to understand
the situation rs 1t actually exists, for then it
will be able to deal with it without difficulty.
1t is not only in respect Of the American rela-
lions that Lord Salisbury's policy has been re-
versed. The whole African policy also will
Re made intensely aggressive. The Govern
mcnt is becoming convinced that France is
grossly ungrateful for tho Tunis concession,
and that she is failing to act according to tho
tacit terms Of that understanding, especially
in regard to the Niger territories. Tho alarm
list talk about the situation continues, but the
fear of war, which some indulge in, Is absurd.
Lord Salisbury has simply decided to make .
vigorous demonstration Of his determination
to resist all encroachments. The Ministers
unanimously decided at to-day's council what
must be regarded as the maximum amount of
concession that can be made to France. and IL
that be refused, British troops will proceed to
bundle the French forces neck and crop out of
the territories that are claimed as indisputably
English.
The opinion Of the War Department has been
sought and given to tho effect that there is no
need to reinforce the British forces on the spot
beyond sending another battalion of the West
India Regiment to Lagos, and that will be done
in duo course; but without that reinforcement
the British negro troops now on tho spot, to-
gether with contingents furnished by the native
sovereigns and chiefs allied with the British,
would be sufficient to deal with any forces the
French can get together. and the Navy Depart
ment Is confident Of its ability to prevent re-
Inducements being sent from France for the
present.
The supreme command Of the Lagos Hinter-
land Is vested In Major Lugard. whose past per
formances In Africa justify official confidence.
Probably there are not a dozen men In London
who have seen Major Lugard during tho fort
night which has elapsed since he reached here
from o remote region in Africa; yet he has been
working necessarily and has had long inter
Vows with Lord Salisbury and Mr.. Chamber
lain.
At midnight on last Monday there was ono
of the most remarkable gatherings over assem-
bled In Q British Government office. It took
place in the Colonial Office. There were pres
emit Major Lueard. about Q dozen Of his most
trusted assistants. and representatives Of the
War and Colonial departments, including, 1t 10
believed, Mr.. Chamberlain himself. The stu
alton was exhaustively discussed from the mill.
tary and political points Of view, and every Of
hcer present was thoroughly informed of the In
~tentions of tho imperial Government, and was
given to understand just how far he might 60 In
carrying them into effect 1t was $3.50 o'clock
In the morning before the meeting ended.
The facts as to French action and intentions
can only be .surmised from fragmentary infor-
nation and isolated incidents. Presumably,
the French Government 10 well informed as to
all that Is happening in London and West Az
RIGA, but there Is no sign that France Is pre-
rarad m yiald m ainOlA mint and the G01onial
party is working with remarkable zeal in the
press to awaken the country to a full sense Of
tho important issues involved. The work is not
altogether easy. for the average Frenchman.
even in Paris, does not care q button for West
Africa, and throughout Franco the names Of
Tonkin and Madagascar are still accursed. and
the disposition is strong to resent all enter