The San Francisco call., 1897-04-18
GREEDY BRITONS
/, CAUSE DISGUST
Protest Against the Wild
Speculation in the
Jubilee.
Foreign Complications That
Are Now Attracting Re-
neWed Attention.
There Appears to Be Good Pros
pect for a War With the
Transvall Republic.
Copyrighted 1897, by the New York SUM-

Copyrighted 1897, by the New York sun.I
LONDON, ENG, April 17.-Popular dis
gust in London over the sordld specula-
ton into which the Queens jubilee cele-
bration has degenerated is now well nigh
universal. The matter has hecoms
scandal which is nothing less than a ma
tional shame and disgrace. Labouchere
makes a com mparison of his own country
men with the people Of Paris on a some
what similar occasion which ought to
bring Londoners to their senses. He
says:
Some months ago the Emperor visited
Paris For several weeks before he came
Parisians worked mig hit and day to deco
rate the streets through which he was to
pass and to prepare a magnificent recep-
tlon for the guest whom they wished to
honor. Ingenious minds devised decora-
tions and men of taste combined to Sc
cure artistic effect and unity of design.
The result OF these labors was eminently
successful. Two months from now we are
to celebrate in London a remarkable event
in the history of Britain, an event which
Will be memorable so long as the history
of our race is told, and the whole ener-
gies and whole ingenuities of Londoners
are directed to selling seats"
This Is literally true and the rebuke
might justly be made more emphatic.
Nothing is now heard in connection with
the coming jubilee except schemes OF one
sort or other for making money. Every
body except the spectators themselves
fervently hopes there will be big COL
lapse in the jubilee before "the great day"
arrives and that the greedy plungers will
be badly bitten.
There is every indication that Salisbury.
mberlain and the Government will
persist in the mad policy of fomenting
trouble with the TransvaaI Republic. The
most significant point in the situation is
In the fact that the rate of Lloyd for in
surance against war between Britain and
the Transvaal the next six months has
risen TO 10 per cent, and many consider
the managers fooIhardy to accept risks on
these terms. Sir Alfred Miner hastened
his departure to the Cape a fortnight, sail
ing to-day, TO take over the governorship
OF South Africa to enforce Lord Rosse-
mead's departure. The only really hope
ful sign in the situation is the fact that
Sir Alfred will soon be in command at
Cape Town. He is a genuinely strong.
honest man and above SUSPICION, not
being in any way Identified with the con-
sniracF against the Beers or any other dis
Tepu able scheme Tor the extension of ths
British Empire.
After nearly twelve months of deniaIs,
equivocations. admissions and repudia-
tions between diplomats in London
and Paris, whereof only the faintest
reports reached the outside world.
it is now placed beyond doubt that there
is French expedition snugly estab-
hshed in the Upper Nile and tacitly chaI-
lenging Egypt's right to the territory
which Egypt's virtual suzerain, England.
had In set terms declared indisputably
Egyptian. Nine or ten mon tbs ago an ac-
count was cabled the Sun of the mysterious
movements OF this expedition and the
suspicion that its real meaning was to
induce the British Government to under
take operations against the Dervishes. 1t
was too early to publicly admit an ad-
vance to Dongola was actually directed
against French intr1gues, and the govern
ment, therefore, had to assign vari-
Gus reasons, not one of which was logical
or convincing, for the apparently mean
ingless policy exaspsrated opponents and
puzzled friends. If the forward move.
necessary
10 British interests year ago, 1t is i'm
perative now that the French Govern
ment has blindly admitted French force
under Lieutenant Liotard, an officer of the
regular French army, who will certainly oc.
cupy a portion OF Bahrelghazel, if not
shore of the Nile itself.
Saiisbury's policy will compel England
now to go as far as Khartoum, possibly
farther, to the boundary OF Uganda, which
latter country the people seem to forget is
now British and which in fullness of time
may play an i'm portant part in the Anglo
French struggle for supremacy OF the
Dark Continent. Sir Charles Dixie re-
yards the French movements in the Upper
Nile OF vast Importance. He would like
the situation cleared up and to that end
will question the Government in the
Com mons Immediately after the Easter
recess.
The latest phase of this Anglo French
competition for Africa has developed on
the west coast. where England is showing
a disposition to interfere with Liberia,
This curious black republic, founded by
emancipated slaves from the United State,
Republic, is heavily in debt and England
has benevolently undertaken to lend it
money. which the French rightly fear is
a preliminary step to close alliance or
even suzerainty.
White, Charge d Affaires, had a long in
terview with Sanderson, Acting Foreign
Secretary, to-day in reference to the pres
ervation of seals. The report of Professor
Darcy Thompson and associates. who
studied the question in behalf of Great
Britain and Canada, will be published in
a few days.