New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-20
THE NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS
PROOFS OF ANGLO-SAXON UNITY.
HEARTY ENGLISH SYMPATHY FOR THE
UNITED STATES IN THE
PRESENT CRISIS.

TRYING CIRCUMSTANCES - BELIEF THAT
SPAIN WILL RE IMPELLED TO A MORE
coNc1LrAToRY COURSE BY THE
MAINE DIsAsrER-MR. CHAM
BERLAIN AND HIS FORWARD
POLICY IN WEST AFRICA
[sY CABLE TO THE TRrBuNEl
London. Feb 19-The only grave incident O
week Of torpid and turgid debate In the Com.
mons occurred early this morning a few min-
utes before adjournment. Sir Charles Dixie.
evidently by prearrangement with his old time
colleague. asked Mr.. Chamberlain whether q
British force in the Lagos Hinterland had been
ordered by French force 20 haul down ito
flag Mr. Chamberlain replied with a porten-
tous air by reading two dispatches received
from West Africa few hours before. and de-
clnng to comment upon them. One confirmed
the report that a small British force at Borea
had been ordered by thirty senegaese TO lower
its flag. but had refused to do so; the other de-
clared that protests had been exchanged be-
tween the rival outposts the edge Of the
British settlements OF the Gold Coast and that
French station had been established in dis
trict which had been proclaimed as lying within
the British sphere Of influence.
painful impression caused by this ON.
cial disclosure Of aggressive action after tho
failure Of the protracted negotiations In Paris
to secure a settlement Of the rival claims The
outposts Of each side are small detachments.
but their presence under arms confronting each
other in territory claimed by each nation Is
proof that the situation is critical Whatever
may be the real value Of the Hinterland. the
British and French Governments have taken
up position from which II is not easy to retire
with dignity, while it is difficult 70 avoid the re-
proach of yielding 10 menace and undue press
ure.
This incident In the Commons throws strong
sidelight upon the rumors persstenty repeated
during the last fortnight Of Cabinet dissensons,
or. rather. a conflict Of views between Lord
Salisbury and Mr.. Chamberlain over the West
African policy. Mr.. Chamberlain. by putting
I'D Sir Charles Dixie 70 ask questions at an
unusual hour. has contrived to read two dis
patches a few hours after receiving them at the
Colonial Office. and has concentrated public at
tention upon serious conflict with France
over disputed territory. Protests fol-
low from the English press against the aban-
donment of the territory which is declared 70
be British a matter Of unimpeachab BILE right
The unusual manner in which the facts have
been revealed indicates that Mr.. Chamberlain
is intensely In earnest, and bent upon bringing
public opinion to bear upon Lord Salisbury.
who has not taken so serious view of tho
French complications as he has himself held.
The Cabinet has probably sympathzed with
Lord Salisbury in minimizing the controversy.
and Mr.. Chamberlain, convinced that a dis
play Of grim firmness Is essential to the main
tenance of peace with honor, has made
strong bid for the moral support of the Eng
sh press. BY A curious transformation Lord
Salisbury. who was once Beaconsfeld's leu
|
an advocate of peace at any price, and is
identified with vacillatng and timorous Dip
lomatc policy: whereas Mr. Chamberlain.
trained in the school Of commercalsm Of Bir-
mingham and Manchester, has reverted 10
militant imperialism not readily distingusha-
Bile from Jingoism SIR Charles Dixie Radi-
cal as he is finds common ground with his old
ally.
Apart from this Incident the debate on the
Address has been remarkably dull. and now II
has ended without any other result than series
Of striking demonstrations Of the weakness of
the facton-rent Opposition. The business ses-
sion will open on Monday with an Irish Local
Government bill. which canrot give rise to any
serious party conflict.
The English press has been left AZ leisure by
the duness Of Parliament TO devote A large
share OF its attention TO the affairs of two great
Republics There is a striking contrast between
its treatment of the two exceptional crises in
France and America The Zola trial has been
discussed with cynicism as an amazing indica-
zion OF theatrical excitement fraught with dam
gers OF revolution. The methods Of legal pro-
cedure are 90 un- English that the only conclu-
sion drawn here is that the French people are
only III FOR emotional politics and incapable Of
fno Sffrar
Of self-government. The tone OF the English
press toward the crisis brought on by the de-
struction Of the Maine at Havana is markedly
different II is sympathetic and cordial and its
iust admiration for the self-restraint modera-
ton and conservatism of President Mckinley
and the American press is unbounded. The
American people ale credited with a splendid
exhibition Of one Of the best traits Of the Anglo
Saxon character that OF cooness and self posses
sion in a momentous crisis which is an unan-
swerable proof Of their capacity for sef-govern-
ment. The common comment here is that Amer
leans can stand on the verge Of a precipce and
not lose their heads nor show any symptoms Of
giddiness.
The sincerity Of English sympathy with
America in this appalling disaster cannot he
questioned The Queen. the Prince Of Wales
the First Lord Of the Admiralty and Mr..
Gladstone on arriving in London yesterday.
hastened TO send hearty messages. Mr.. Henry
White has been fully occupied at the American
Embassy in receiving visits from the diplomat
lists, officials and representatives Of the Court
and Government He saws that he has been
greatly impressed with the depth Of feeling and
heartiness OF sympathy displayed Every one.
from the Prince Of Wales down 10 the humblest
agent. has seemed anxious to show his
goodwill in exceptional way.
The English press has voiced not only It's
sympathy with, but its admiration for. Amer
lea without a dissenting note. II means much
when finds in the papers here nothing but
appreciation OF President Mckinley. who has
long been regarded n Protectionist ogre and