The times., 1899-04-02
SALISBURY HAILED As
THE MAN OF PEACE
English Radicals Want Him
at The Hague.
A Tory Minister as an Olive Branch
Is New Thing.
Opinion IL UnfriendIy to the Gar
because of Russian Oppres-
sion in Finland.

London. April 1-London is something
like q deserted city today. Even the For
eign Office, that home of agitation for
many months past. is quiet as the grave.
Its chief is summing himself on the Ri
viera; its deputy chief, Mr.. Balfour, is de-
lighting his heart with long drives ON
distant golf courses. Recalling the crucial
times through which England's foreign re-
lations have been passing Of late. espe-
ciaIly in the case of France and Russia,
Englishmen reflect how different the out
look might be today were the reins not in
the hands of so peace-loying a statesman
as Lord Salisbury. Indeed, Lord Salisbury
has this week been paid one of the most
striking tributes ever paid to Tory For
eign Secretary by Radical opponents. In
his absence on Wednesday Mr.. Balfour re-
ceiyed n deputation OF peace crusaders,
Radicals almost 10 a man, and with una
nimity they urged that Lord Salisbury and
no other Minister should be England's del
egate to the international peace congress
at The Hague next month. Who would be-
lieve this to be the same Lord Salisbury
OF Beaconsfield associations in the days
OF the Berlin conference?
MIR. Baltour is also strong friend of
on Wednesday, there is reason to suppose
that the British Ministry means TO give its
fullest support to the Cars proposals, es-
pecially in the way of mutual reduction
of naval and military estimates. No one
could doubt the sincerity OF the regrets Mr..
Balfour expressed over the failure OF the
Anglo-American arbitration treaty His
exact words are worth quoting. He said:
Il think that was the most promising
10 nf u-hf fef, Is
all the more disappointing because il ap-
peared to be so very near 10 success al
one moment of the negotiations. But an
well convinced that when two communitie:
like the United States and ourselves, hav-
ing so much in common as regards mate
rial interests and those moral forces which
ought to unite great communities fee
sure that the scheme though deferred. il
not defeated. The time must come when
even If plan OF general arbitration is moi
universally adopted. 1t will be. at al
events, adopted so far as the two great sec.
tions of the Anglo-Saxon race are con-
cerned."
II the full history of those negotiation.
ever Is written, it will be found that Mr.
Balfour made it his personal concern I,
further them in every conceivable way
through private as well as public channels
and he has more than once made it clea
that il is in a similar direction of interna
tional arbitration that he looks most hope
fully for practical results OF the peace con
ference. To be quite frank, the Englisl
peace crusade. of which the last issue o
Mr. Steads weekly journal. War Agains
War marks the close. has been somewha
OF failure. II has been conducted to-
Historically to appeal 10 the stolid Englisl
nature. Mr. Stead. indeed. rs spent fore
In English political life, but greater OBJ
staele stiil has been the Car himself
Every English tradition OF freedom an
good government has been offended by III