New-York tribune., 1898-11-06
THE NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
ENGLISH COMPLACENCY OVER THE OUT
COME OF THE FASEODA AFFAIR.
A MILITANT GATHERING AT THE KITCH-
ENER BANQUET-HOPING FOR RE
PUBLICAN VICTORY IN AMERICA.
fBY CABLE TO THE TRIBuSE.l

week without apparent reason, except the coh-
tinued activity OF the dockyards and the roma
ness of the afternoon journals for catchpenny
headlines Mr. Goschen was too busy at the
Admiralty TO keep his engagement at a public
dinner This fact sent down consols The Ad-
mralty Department officials did not attempt 10
disguise their own alertness and energy. They
explained brusquey that they were arming be-
cause France was arming. What was suspi-
cious was the eagerness. both here and IN
France to advertise warlike energy. 1t tend
cd to convince prudent stock operators and
keen observers that war impossible; other
wise officials on both sides would have been
anxious to conceal their purposes as far as pos
sible Last night Lord Salisbury dspelled all
illusions by announcing positively the WITH
drawal OF the French force from FashotA so
that the stock market to-day is reacting under
a strong and buoyant feeling.
Two lines Of comment are open on the reIa-
tions OF England and France. The first is thar
England. having exposed France In an UNDER
hand intrigue against her interests on the Me-
has taught her a wholesome lesson and pre-
vented the recurrence Of similar plots. Eng
land has shown her willingness to fight even
over an unhealthy swamp. when the flag was
there. and has offered fine illustration or her
readiness for war at short notice The second
up her obvious advantage of position. has been
perilousy near creating hostile spirit. which
would have mpered the true interests Of both
countries II cannot be doubted that the Queen
and Lord Salisbury would have preferred
moderate course by which British rights would
have been maintained without wounding wan
tonly the feelings of Frenchmen and humilia-
ting the nation. but that indscreet utterances
of Cabinet Ministers and the mpaience of the
press have made IL difficult to persevere in this
wise policy
There has been a strong opinion among Eng
lishmen that their Egyptian relations were on
a false basis Of pledges which could not be re-
deemed and that a time had come Tor new
policy in accord with the facts. and that tnere
would never be a better opportunity of an
nouncing it. There also secret desire for
war on the part OF the naval service This
feeling had been greatly strengthened by the
success Of Dewey and Sampson in destroying
inferior fleets. British naval officers admitted
with cynical frankness that they would Ike 10
have a war with France, ard were confident
that it would offer fresh proof that the Latin
races are not good mechanics. and consequently
unfit for fighting on the high seas. Lord Sails
bury has been master of the situation ana
with the help given him by that excellent dip
lomatist Lord Kitchener at Fashoda, has Kept
a bridge open for the French retreat "a
An these aspects OF the situation were Illus
trated at the brilliant banquet at the Mansion
House last night The fact that the diplomats
world regarded the situation as critical was
shown bv the absence Of the Ambassadors
Only one foreign country had diplomatic rep
resentative at table The exception was the
United States: Mr. Henry White was present to
prove that America did not hesitate 10 display
sympathy with England in return for the good
feeling shown by Americas only stanch friend
in Europe during the Spanish war. 1t was
military feast with blaze OF uniforms
quarterback manners and imperial aspirations.
Civilians were in the minority. and among them
there were few Liberals; yet Lord Rosebery
had a reception almost cordial as the greet
ing to Lord Salisbury or Lord Kitchener in re-
turn for the strong stand taken by him in the
Fashoda affair 1t was militant England on
its mettle that received the Sirdar with cymbals
and shawms. yet Lord Salisbury remained un-
moved He extolled Lord Kitchener as dip
lomatist who had acted so adroitly tfat dell
cate situation had not become dangerous. ana
then added casually, as though unconscious that
all England was hanging on his words that the
French Government had ordered the evacuation
Of Fashoda 1t a consummate exhibition or
dignity. moderation and the great qualities OF
the British Prime Minister Dut hlS HlltaHi
audience received TIE announcement that the
French Government had come TO the conclusion
that Fashoda was Of no value with prolonged
laughter and cheers. This a striking illus
tration OF that unconciliatory militant opinion
against which the prudent and statesmanlikc
Prime Minister has been arrayed. He has tri-
umphed: the Fashoda question has been settled
without unnecessary irritation to resentfuI
nation sensitive on u questions OF honor and
with a fatal faculty for remembering injuries
and grievances
Incidentally this banquet has impaired fresh
prestige to Lcrd Rosebery, whose speech was
the most brilliant one Of the evening. tuil OF
tact and umned by oratorical fire His claims
10 the Liberal leadership were fully recognized
by his Tory and military audience In the pres
ence OF Sir William Harcourt. whose subsequent
tribute to the army and homily on peace suf-
fered from being indistinctly heard
Lord Kitche1er's speech. after the splendid
honors Of the day was one worthy Of tho great
est lion London has known for many day 1t
was modest ard dignfed. and II bright
ened by ingenious pleasantly in the novel use
which was made of the economies Of the Nile
campaign
With public attention centred upon the issues
Of peace or war. all other foreign questions
have escaped observation. although the German
Emperor has continued his pilgrimage. the
French Ministry has taken up the challenge or
militarsm to the civil power. the last Turkish
soldier has left Crete and the Peace Conlmis-
sion is negotiating under difficulties In Paris.
This last subject receives thoughtful attention
from the weekly reviews to-day. and the point
is clearly disccrnod that Spain is hoping to OBJ
tain direct help from the American elections.
The English view is that a verdict Of the Ameri-
can electorate which can b. interpreted abroad
as hostile to Mckinley and the party in power
will encourage Spain TO resist the inevitable and
also enable her to obtain moral support on the
Continent Neither Europeans generally nor the