Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-13
TOPICS IN LONDON.
WHAT THE BRITISH CAPITAL Is
TALKING ABOUT.
THE DE- LONE DIFFICULTY.
English Press Almost Unanimously
Approves Our Position-No Chance
of Ac1uittaI for ZoIa--G1adstone's
Specific AiIment.
Copyrighted. 1898. by the Associated
Press)

| A<t-NDO4Nt ic DC t<'Aie
incident has excited little interest In
England, but the press almost unani-
mously endorses the position Of the
| United States. The daily newspapers,
with the exception Of the Morning Post,
have adopted the view that the admins
tration took the right course. The Sack
ville-West incident, naturally. has been
| much quoted but It must be added that
| II has always been in the most friendly
| terms toward the United States.
The weekly newspapers express the
| opinion that President Mckinley would
have done better to ignore Dupuy DE
| LONE. and the Staiist says that "a man
| better qualified to conduct the foreign
| affairs Of the United States than Mr..
| Sherman would refuse to notice De LONE
and every one participating in the af-
| fair" adding that a government based
upon popular suffrage has to expect free
criticism.
Continuing, the Statist says IT does not
see why President Mckinley, "who Is ac-
customed to the roughness, as well as the
smoothness Of politics, shows suscepu-
bility and refuses to allow such freedom
of expression by foreigners"
The Spectator expects that the dismissal
of De LONE will produce more friction
between Spain and the United states.
Continuing, the Spectator says: III
President Mckinley were wise, he would
have promptly declared that he would
not pay any attention whatever to a pur-
loined private letter. however genuine.
President Mckinley should have publicly
called on De LONE and informed him that
he did not need his assurance that the
letter was a forgery, the bad taste ana
vulgarity of the language being ample
proof of the fact. If he had had the
nerve or wisdom to do that, he would
have immensely raised his prestige, both
abroad and in his own country"
MKINLEY WEAKNESS.
"At the same time. one cannot be sur
prised that the United States failed 10
treat the letter with the contempt II
merited We do not for a moment sug-
gest that the Executive failed TO ignore
IL because 1t was ignorant Of diplomatic
usage. or because it was not sufiiclently
good-mannered TO be self-restrained un-
der provocation. The Americans are as
good-mannared As other people, ana their
political officials are perfectly wei awai"
how Lord Salisbury or NJ. Hanateau~
would have disposed Of such a matter,
and how President Lincoln would nave
treated It. 1t is not lack of manners or
traditions which made the United Stateo
Government take the incident too serious
ly. but rather a want of firmness, when
has been shown by the present admins
tration throughout its term OF offlce'
The Spectator is not sorry the moment
NAV be approaching when the United
States will intervene to stop the agonies
Of Cuba" adding: '"rheir only hope Is
In the United States sternly declaring
that the Spanish troops roust leave afe
that the Cubans be allowed 10 settle their
own fate. That the United States would
be morally justified In saying the war
must end and that Cuba be given peace
there is no doubt for a. moment"
MADRID EXCITED.
Madrid advices show that the De LONE
affair created much suppressed excite
ment there. The public comments OF the
diplomats and part Of the press were
generally unobjectionable. but there was
an undercurrent of bitterness on all sides.
Even some days before the incident be-
came known there had been particularly
nervous feeling in regard to the relations
with the United States, which was eYi-
denced by the unusual precautions taken
to guard the residence Of United-States-
Minister General Stewart Woodford. Any
rumor, however absurd was taken as
gospel in the alarTnst circles, even though
a repetition of news which was stale
weeks ago. For instance, quite FER
ment was caused by a reference 10 the
fact that sixteen United States warships
were off the Dry Tortugas, and it was
taken as evidence that blockade OF
Cuba had already begun.
The advent of the French cruiser Du-
bourdieu at Habana was hailed with de-
light by the Madrid press, and much was
made of the polite remarks addressed by
the French admiral to the government
officials, on the occasion Of Ms compli-
mentary visit. These remarks are said
to have been most fiattering in regard TO
the establishment of the new regime
and were, it is said, accompanied by
hearty wishes that peace would soon re-
suit from the establishment of autonomy.
FAR EAST SITUATION.
Although a certain class noisily per-
sists in distrusting the situation In the
far East, the great majority are abun-
dainty satisfied with the Marquis OF Sails
bury's statement, and there is reason TO
believe that they will be still more graft
fed I'm the not-far-distant future. When
lay the papers on the subject before Par
lament, 1t will be seen that the conduct
of affairs has been in strict compliance
with the principles enunciated by half
dozen Cabinet ministers.
OF course, the Premier is not in a posi-
ton to reveal the whole story, as there
is much yet to settle. but he will be able
to relieve all anxiety with an explicit
statement that he will allow no power TO
interfere with British treaties with China,
which give freedom Of entry to every port
which may become open. under authority
or at the request of any Power whatso-
ever.
By his attitude I'm regard TO Kiao Chau
Ray. the Marquis of Salisbury has paved
the way for a community OF political ac-
tion between Great Britain and Germany,
which will not only produce excellent re-
sults in the far East. but help TO assure
the stability of the general international
situation.
Great Britain's agreement with Russia
will probably also be found TO be more
than a written assurance
that Port Arthur will be free port, and
agreeing to the opening of Ta-IAen-Wan
when the railroad reaches there.
The British warships now on their way
"a China are the first-class battleship Vic
torious. the frst-class bat.teship Barfieur.
the 6rst-class cruiser Gibraltar, and the
cruiser Bonaventura. When
they arrive, on March 5th, or thereabouts,
Great Britain will have a preponderance
NJ * coo tons of warships over Russia and
France combined in those waters.
NO CHANCE FOR ZOLA.
There IS little chance of the acq1ittal
of Emil Zola The mob would be ready