The San Francisco call., 1897-02-07
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
IN GREAT BRITAIN
Dillon Healy Wrangles Ex-
cite the Contempt of
All Parties.
London to Be Fortified Against
Possible Invasion on the
Southern Coast.
Paunc fole and Currie to Retire
FSm!ne Fund Scandal Revived.
Plague Precautions.


this cable correspondence last week Mr..
Dillon, the Irish leader, finds himself too
late in the field with his opposition to the
appointm ent OF a new commission to ex.
anime into the financial relations existing
between Great Britain and Ireland. Ifan
amendment regarding the subject had
been moved to the address in reply to the
Queens speech it must have elected from
the Government some idea of their inten-
tions as to tie scope of the com mission
and It's probable com position. The oppo-
silion woulI thus have obtained some in
formation enabling them to take g definite
Inc of attack against the Governments
proposals. As it is the scheme of the
Cabinet has been allowed to mature in the
dark and its discussion has only been
accorded when the Government could not
help it-that is, on the Cabinets proposals
being placed before the House of
Commons.
The commission will be empowered to
deal with a much wider range of inquiry
than was the commission OF 1898. Its in
quiry will certainly last more than two
years, as was originally announced in this
CORES spondence. and before the final re-
port can be made to the House the Gov
ernment will be prepared to connect the
commissions finding with the corner
stone of their Irish reform policy-the To-
cal government OF Ireland bill and the re-
distribution of seats bill, the latter of
which will deprive Ireland of some thirty
seats in the in peria Parliament.
The Government al first intended to
have only seven mem bers constitute the
commission, but urgent representations
from the Irish landlords, from the great
breweries and other interests will induce
them 10 enlarge the mem bership. The
brewers, who have great influence among
the Unionists and contribute largely to
the party purse, fear that the sugges ted
increase III the duty on beer 10 balance a
possible reduction in the duty on whisky
: may fnu support in the commission.
IRISH contention is that beer is unduIy ia
Fored.
Equalization woIld be a severe blow to
the brewing interests and TO the English
q beer-drinkers, but would be a quesuona BILE
boon 10 he Irish whisky drinkers.
The effect OF Senator WoIcott's mission
in the interest o! bimetallism will only be
known on his return 10 Washington from
Europe The active. bimetalllsts in Par
lament whom Mr.. WolcotI has seen hold
that the initiative for new international
conference should be taken by the United
States Government and that the confer
ence should meet in Was ington. The
members of the British Bimetallic Union
have been in communication with the
chiefs of The German l. sgue, who would
approve of initial American action. The
British Government would undoubtedly
send representatives. to Washington. Tne
idea oil fresh conference at Brussels finds
no favor In English monetary circles, as
the last conference held there was
'DotcheG.' - 1t is feared at if another
was held there it would have a precedent
in fuUlity that would not pertain to a
r Washington conference.
Tne DilIOn-Healy squabbes continue to
excite the contempt of the Conservatives
and Liberals alike. The balance OF opln-
ion among the Liberals blames Dillon.
Blake ana Davitt as having indiscreetly
handled The Heaiyite trouble, especially
as regards the resolution touching the
payment OF poor members of the party
Mere onlookers, who's sympathies are
with Ireland and home rule, concur as to
the utter unwi~dom of these brawls at $
time when the whole Irish fighting force
should be concentrated on forcing the
financial question toward a satisfactory
solution.
London is to be fortified against possi-
bic invasion by forces landing Oh the
southerL coast. The plan OF fortworks
dates as lar back as The time Of the Duke
of Wellington, but has been revived by
LORD Wolseley and other military author
tiles, and adapted to the changes of mod
ern warfare. Tne military works bill pro-
vices for the construction of chain of
= fort works from the Southern Downs to
the heights on the south of London on
which the Crystal Palace is conspicuous
object.
The scheme includes barracks aad other
military works. The cost VIII ch will be
something formida bic for the treasury to
face, will be met by advances from the
consolidated fund, to be repaid by install
-ments extending over twenty years.
The retirement OF Sir Julian Pauncefote
from the Washington EN- bassy and from
, the diplomatic service will not take place
until the Venezuelan arbitration reaches
a more definite shape and the last possible
difficulties in the way of acceptance of the
general arbitration treaty between Great
Britain and the United States are over.
The removal OF Sir Phillip Currie from
the embassy at Cons.antinoplc at no
future date is certain. 1t is no secret that
Lord Salisbury Is dissatisfied with Sir
. Phillip, and that the Cabinet would con-
cur IN his transfer to some other post. A
highly placed official OF the Foreign Office
Iold United As ociated Presses reporter
that the Currie matter had been under
consideration for some time.
If special envoy should be sent TO as
sist or replace him in the enormously i'm
pOTidNI lIplO1dIIC struggle at OOnStantl-
nople. it is thought that Sir Phillip would
resign and retire. Lord Salisbury mas ad
warm personal regard for him, dating
back to the time when SIR Phillip was per-
manent Secretary of the Foreign Office
lie wishes him to continue IN, tue diplo-
matte service, but it is difficult to replace
him after he las held a leading embas-
sadorsbip. If q long period OF diplomatic
quiet becomes the prospect at Washing
ton, he might. be sent there.
The sanitary conference on the bubonic
plague which opens at Venice next Fri
day VIII not find the British Government
IN touch with the majority OF the dele
gates as to the international precautions
to prevent the extension of the plague.
he British Government has done moth
ing as yet to check its possible appearance
, IN Great Britain beyond ordering that all
i ports having traffic with India be visited
ny special sanitary inspectors No quar-
antlne measures have been AIKEN and rags
2an be easily exported from Bombay end
hurachee without hindrance and lnspec-
non. Relying upon the climatic, condi-
lohs oi England, which are supposed TO
De uniavorable 10 plague epidemic and
on sanitation, which is now general
throughout the country, the British au-
lhorltles do not in the least fear the
plague.
II the stand taken by the. English dele