New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-28
THE NEWS OFTWOCAPITALs
LONDON.
A STARTLING RUsfoR FROM THE PEACE
CONGRESS.

SIX JULIAN fAUNCErOIE SAlD ~ orFOoH
DISCUSSION AFFECTING RIGHTS OF
BELLIGERENTS TO SEIZE PRIVATE
PROPERTY AT SEA ANGLO
AMERICAN NEGOTIATIONS.
fBY CABLE TO THE TRIeUNE.i
London. May PIT is now reasonably GER
tain that the American Ambassador has not
succeeded in convincing Lord Salisbury that
Canada ought not to have absolute veto power
upon the Foreign Office in arranging the diplo-
matte settlement OF questions at issue between
England and America. The series OF confer
ences held here between Sir Julian Pauncefote
and Lord Salisbury and Mr. Choate has ended
in the adoption by the Foreign Office OF the OF
tawa proposals and the complete arrest of ne
gotations for the reassembling or the JOINT
Commission. The leading English Journal begs
the question when it asserts that Americans do
not grasp the idea Of the mother countrys re-
lations with self-governing colonies. and that
It is as much out OF place to talk Of Canadian
opinion as the power behind the British Gov
ernment as it would be to similar language
OF the opinion OF any American State.
Canada does not hold the same relation to tho
British Government as a single State to the
Federal Union; Canada is colony. free to legis-
late for and to govern itself. but II has also
come to have exceptional power and influence
British diplomacy which no other colony
exercises. This is the plain fact. which The
Times" conceals when it suggests that Amer1-
cans do not understand England's relations with
Canada. Australia does not control British
Diplomacy In the Far East, has the Cape
Government exercised the veto power upon the
imperial policy in Africa. nor has British Guiana
taken possession OF the Venezuela boundary
question as a local rather than an imperial
issue Canada alone has the distinction Of be-
ing the self-willed power behind the Foreign
Office.
English journals, with the exception or "The
Daily Chronicle" in their comments upon tho
deadlock over the Anglo American negotiations
respecting the Clayton Bulwer Treaty. the Alas
ka boundary and other issues, are slow to
recognize the essential truth that Canada blocks
the way to the settlement of all these questions.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier received effusive well
come in the Jubilee year foi services to
England as a colonial imperiast who was will
ing to place her merchants a favored basis;
that policy has not been taken up by other colo
MES and it's commercial results have not met
public expectations. Good feeling with America
has taken the place Of that fervor for Imperial
ism which was conspicuous in the Jubilee year.
This is shown on public occasions like the din
ner at the Hotel Cecil on the Queens birth
day. when an English audience wildly cheered
Colonel Tayors American speech and stood
while THE Star Spangled Banner was played
by the band; whereas the series Of dull replies
from India. Canada. Australia. South Africa
and the Crown Colonies was received hstlessly-
Canadian statesmen disappointed over the
results of this preferential tariff scheme and
jealous of the increased influence and popularity
onA hoflt
upon holding the balance of power in inter-
national negotiations, even II various !vexatious
questions remain unsettled This is phase Of
the present deadlock which the English press
does not consider. Americans need TO under
stand It in order to place the responsibility for
the possible failure OF the Anglo American
Commission where it belongs. Happily. 1t Is
premature to forecast that failure as a foregone
conclusion; public opinion here is really In favor
of the settlement OF all outstanding questions
with America, and the two countries are on ex-
hibiton at The Hague as working together for
the high ends Of peace and progress.
The secrecy with which the Peace Congress
is conducted produces naturally great variety
in the reports published here Of what is going
on One Of the strangest and most incompre-
hensible rumors now current is that Sir Julian
Pauncefote has received positive instructions
not to take part in any discussion affecting the
right OF begerents 10 seize private property
at sea- and has induced Russia TO oppose the
introduction Of this subject by the American
delegates.
THE Manchester Guardian" remarks with
emphasis that English shipowrers, IL Sir Julian
has been instructed to this effect, should lose
no time in protesting against the sacrifice OF
their interests. No argument is needed to prove
that commercial and industrial England. with
the greatest merchant fleet in the world, 10
actively interested in the adoption of the Amer
lean proposal. which would assure the safety
of shipping interests in time Of war and d.
minish the necessity for the maintenance OF
costly naval armaments. II will be most re-
markable anomaly II Lord Salisbury has con-
trived TO get on the wrong side Of this moral
question. which has a practical bearing on the
safety and prosperity OF British commerce. The
advocacy OF the exemption OK private property
from seizure during wartime is the logical sequel
to the refusal of the American Government to
join in the Declaration of Paris In 1856. on the
ground that it did not go far enough. The
American delegates at The Hague will naturally
day stress upon 1t, and will be supported by
Germany II Russia allows the subject to be In
troduced. France hangs back, but England
could force the issue 10 the front IL Sir Julian
Pauncefote were instructed to do So and new
landmark OF modern progress could be estab-
lished. 1t seems more than doubtful that Lord
Salisbury is prepared to commit the greatest
naval Power In the world 10 the humane and
enlightened policy Of never harming the COM
merce Of the enemy in time OF war and OF fully
protecting neutral goods under any hag.
The settlement OF old scores between England
and America and the adoption OF new rules
enA
high seas depend in the last resort upon the
moral force Of public opinion here. and this finds
inadequate expression when the Liberal oppo-
sition is weak and without light or leading.
II is so easy to say. The Daily Mall" does
to day. that the British Empire cannot be ex-