Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-02-03
IN A SORT Of PANIC
Is Our Good Cousin John Bull
Over That Little Difficulty
in the Far East.
HAS SALISBURY BACKED DOWN?

Question Tint Is Keeping the Driton
Awake Nights-I.iberals delighted II lie
Has, and Tories Willing to Gamble That
He Hasn't-Prcmicr issues . Statement
Simply reforming the Nation That He
Can't Say n Word About the Matter.
London. Feb. 3.-The afternoon news
papers comment in the most. severe
terms upon the alleged withdrawal Of
Great Britain's demand for the open
ing of the port of Ta-Lien-Wan. Some
Of them refuse to credit the report. The
Globe says: mo wonder if the oppo-
nents Of the ministry regard it as a ma
tional humiliation when its supporters
are unable to find a reasonable excuse
for it. The public was led to believe
that Sir Michael Hicks-Bsach and other
cabinet ministers meant what they said,
so the ministers have only themselves
to thank If they lose prestige at home
and abroad through the withdrawal Of
the Ta-Iien-Wan demand. England.
with her strength and enormous re-
sources has the game in her own hands
II the ministers will only play it with
the necessary spirit"
Government Cannot Explain Now.
An official statement on the subject,
Just issued, is as follows: No COM
munication can at present be published
concerning The Times Ta-Lien-Wan
report, or the negotiations as a whole.
The negotiations thus far are absolutely
China contain statements not merely
going far beyond the governments in
formation, but in some instances are
quite at variance with known facts"
The Times Ta-Lien-Wan announcement
has created much surprise and excite
ment among politicians and is eagerly
| discussed at the clubs. The Liberals
| vigorously denounced the reported back
down Of the British government, while the
Conservative members of the house of
| commons did not conceal their bitter
disappointment.
Tories Ready to Back the Cabinet.
Many declined to credit the report un-
til it should be officially confirmed. and
prominent Conservative offered a Lib
eral opponent to pay a substantial sum
/ " CudElty IL tHc IcpOftcu udCh-
| down should be confirmed. The Lib
erals declare 1t would be a humiliatinG
surrender to Russia and a severe blow
to British interests and prestige. The
members Of the late cabinet are already
communicating with each other with
the view of using the matter as a poin
OF attack upon the government during
the debate upon the queens speech up
on the reassembling of parliament.
Looks Like The Times Had 1t Right.
A wave of indignation has swept ovel
the press throughout the country a
Lord Salisbury's alleged backdown. 1t 4
understood that the government is an
cry with The Times for revealing tn,
position. The Standard This morning
in the course Of an editorial expressin,
its regret. assumes that since there il
no official information to the contrar!
The Times version of the situation i
correct. 1t thinks this will be painful,
felt in the course of the pending by
elections. and especially as the stor.
suggests suspicious of larger and wild
er surrender" The editorial conclude
by advising the government to let tn
country know as speedily as possibl
exactly where 1t stands.