New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-02
BRITISH WAR TALK.
THE KAISER CALLED AS GREAT AN
ENEMY AS WAS NAPOLEON.
WHY ARE WAR TAXES STILL MAINTAINED N
ENGLAND7-HARcouRT's ATTACK UPON THE
NEW BUDGET-ENGLIsH SYMPATHY FoR
GREECE SUBSIDIES WITH DEFEAT
[BY CABLE TO THE rRrBuNE1

(BY CABLE TO THE rRrBUNE1
London. May 1.-Sir William Harcourt with
quick wit took advantage OF the announcement
by the Chancellor OF the Exchequer OF an in.
creased outlay for the Cape defences to protest
against the warlike policy in South Africa. II
wes an irgenious political mannuvre designed
to cover the Liberal retreat on the Greek cues.
tion. Mr.. Chamberlain answered In an ag-
gressive speech full Of fight and passion repeat.
ing Mr. Balfour's tactics on the Greek question
and challenging Sir William to move a vote OF
censure London has been talking Of nothing
else for two days. Mr.. Chamberlain has deep
ened the public conviction that the conversion
OF the South African investigation into a cam
paign against President Kriiger and the subse-
quent naval demonstration in Delagoa Bay fore.
shadow ultimate with the Transvaal and
possibly with Germany. This opinion IS con-
frmed both by the enthusiasm over the speech
shown In Cape Colony and the outbreak Of ran
corous criticism in the German press. Certainly
If warlike solution OF the South African ques.
ton is not needed Mr. Chamberlain has strange.
ly overacted his part.
His testimony yesterday made short work Of
the incredible charge that he had any knowledge
of DR.. Jameson's raid before the troopers started.
Mr. Rutherford Harris deepened rather than
cleared up the mystery Of the secret cable dis
patches, which may or may not implicate the d.
rectors of the Chartered Company
This is Insignificant In comparison with the in
creasing evidence Of the German Emperors Ill
will toward England. Now that Greece Is
crushed with the consent OF Russia and Ger
many, he is suspected Of harboring sinister de-
signs against England and OF forming a Euro
pean coalition against her. He is frankly called
to-day almost formidable an enemy OF Eng
land Napoleon. Apparently a war policy
was the logical sequel TO the Budget speech. which
recorded condition OF unexampled prosperity
and overfowing revenue without Offering tax
payers any promise Of relief from war taxation.
Not penny is taken off the high income tax al
though. with internal revenue and death duties.
1t yields an increasing surplus year by year; nor
is any attempt made 10 bring about an equitable
adjustment between earned incomes and incomes
drawn from investment The only popular feat
Of the Budget is a series of postal reforms. by
which free delivery Of mail is extended to the
rural districts and the rates of parcel post are
reduced.
The diplomatic policy OF Lord Salisbury. which
has been sharply criticised by the Opposition
press for mIny months. is vindicated by the COLI
lapse of the Greek Army and the downfall OF NJ.
Delyannis. The salvation of Crete is now de-
England is mainly responsible. and the Greek
stampede has been practical proof that the
policies of King George have been recklessly d.
rected. Europe has much to answer for in al
| lowing Turkey TO strengthen its position and re-
| gain It's prestige after it's monstrous record OF
! two years Of massacre and barbarsm, but the
Greeks. after their ignomnious campaign, are
despised for threatening war without knowing
how to fight. England is not nation that SYM
pathizes with the under dog. Old-fashioned
Tories have found it difficult to conceal their
pleasure over the triumph OF the Turks, which
released the Unonist Government from harassr
ing criticism The Liberals on the other hand.
| have repented at leisure their recent zeal In
| championing Greece, whose army has been badly
led and utterly without discipline.
| The American Ambassador called upon Lord
| Salisbury yesterday and will probably be re-
| ceived by the Queen early next week. Owing 10
! the Queens absence he has been restrained by
| diplomatic etiquette from making any public ap-
pearance and accepting invitations. After his
| audience with the Queen there will be the usual
| Thursday afternoon receptions at the Amoas-
sador's house. Several diplomatic questions
have been informally discussed with the perma-
nent Under Secretary at the Foreign Office, and
these will be pressed during the earliest inter-
views with Lord Salisbury. The Senate by its
tortuous course respecting the Arbitration
Treaty has increased the difficulty Of successful
negotiation in regard 10 a new modus viyendi
in Behring Sea Neither Lord Salisbury nor any
body else in England is now predisposed to make
concessions OF any kind to the United States.
The Minister'S moreover, are delighted WITH
the stand taken by the Laurier Ministry In OPEN
ing the Canadian market to British manufac-
lures on a preferential basis. Mr.. Chamberlain,
who is the strongest and most courageous Min
lister recognizes in the new Canadian tariff the
first fruits OF thc seed sown by him last year on
what then seemed stony ground. He startled the
Golden Club by proposing an imperial customs
union as the true basis Of imperial federation.
but the colonies were silent and unlesponsive.
Mr.. Laurier. after defeating Sir Charles Tupf r.
the chief Colonial advocate Of an Imperial Zoll-
verein, has boldly appropriated his ideas ana
the Dominion has taken the first step toward
the commercial federation Of the Empire by
Offering the mother country preferential rates.
This policy is welcomed by the Ministers. and
important use viii be made of IT by Mr. Cham
berlain In the Jubilee conferences with the Colo.
NAL Premers. With this advance toward free
trade with England Ca aada holds what old ca-d-
players call strong trumpng hand In any con.
troversy over the Behring Sea fisheries. The new
tariff policy Of Canada will increase the difficulty
OF arranging a satisfactory system for the pres
ervation OF the fur seal herd.
The bearing of the most favored nation clause
on the Canadian preferential tariff with Eng
land is discussed by the English press with some
degree OF uneasness. The Canadian Ministers
replies TO the Opposition taunt that they are re-
pudiating imperial obligations are received
doubtfuy. The plea that the most favored ma
ton clause binds England and Crown colonies
like jamaica but not self fgoverning colonies like
Canada Australia and South Africa, Is regarded
as specious. since The ST. Jamess Gazette
remarks. II would justify Newfoundland In en-"
acting leeislatinn incOmpat thle with French tlsh-