New-York tribune., 1899-07-16
THE NEWS OFTWO CAPITALS
LONDON.
PRESS WARFARE AGAINST THE TRANS
VAAL
EVIDENT PURPOSE OF THE GOVERNMENT
TO ovERAwE THE BoERs - DIsTIN-
GUIsHED BRITISH DELEGATES TO
THE INTERNATIONAL LAW AS

GUIsHED BRITISH DELEGATES TO
THE INTERNATIONAL LAW AS
ISOLATION MEETING.
[BY CABLE TO THE TRIBuNEl
London. July 15-There have been signs OF
uneasinCss in Downing Street this week over the
continued preparations for war in South Africa
The Ministers evidently bent upon making
a show Of lighting even If they have no serious
intention Of repudiating the convention with
the Transvaal which pledges them not TO In
terfere With the internal affairs Of that republic.
They are sending out to the Cape to-day thirty
officers and 320 men, ard gun carriages and
other war material are also shipped. The open
ness with which these warlike movements ar.
conducted is suspicious since secrecy is ordi-
narily observed before the dogs OF war are let
loose. The natural inference is that the Minis
ters anxious to put on the screws and
squeeze few more concessions out of the Boer
Government by menaces OF hostties.
They are we'll supported by the press. which.
with the exception of THE Manchester Guar
dian" and The Daily Chronicle" rejects the re-
form scheme at Pretoria as utterly inadequate.
although it marks decided advance upon Presi-
dent Krtsers proposals 70 Sir Alfred Miner
The press discussion. however. has hollow
sound; il does not seem credible that moral
country like England will commit a deliberate
breach Of treaty law and divide the white races
Of the Cape Colony by going to war with the
Transvaal rather than to abate single jot or
title Of Sir Alfred Miners demand.
The warriors Of the press have been COM
PEELED this week to train their guns upon the
schreiner Ministry. which is representative OF
the Government Of the Cape Colony, and 10
lombard the stronghold OF colonial constitu-
i snlrA
an optimistic view Of the Boer concessions. but
! it has a clear majority of eight in the Assembly
and one of thirteen when the independents are
| counted. and 1t cannot justly be regarded as
minority faction representing Dutch feeling IN
! the Cane Colony. 1t is true that Mr. Schrener
| in expressing approval OF the Boer compromise
| has gone outside the scope Of the self govern
/ ment OF a single colony and has medded with
/ imperial interests ne does not appear, however
| to have done anything more. apart from the
suzerainty theory, than the Canadian Premier
| has done in blocking the Alaska negotiations
and taking full charge OF imperial interests in
the American Continent, and there has been 10
outory in England against that form of meddle-
some activity.
The views Of Schreiner and Hofmeyr certainly
are entitled to respectful consideration, when
they nave been trying to bring KRUGER TO terms.
and when the Cape Colony is nearly evenly d.
| vided between the Dutch and English races:
| vet so eager for war have some campagners
| heen that they they have charged Mr.. Schreiner
with something like leze majesty toward the
! High Commissioner and have welcomed the
aarmist report that Sir Alfred Miner would
dismiss the Cape Ministry and invite Sir Gordon
sprigg to form another which would not have
a majority behind it.
Miner shows no signs Of any intention OF
| adopting reckless measures and embroiling
the two races at the Cape. His speech open
ing the Cape Parliament was model Of dig
lity and discretion, complete silence on imperial
questions being the only reminder that he was
| a High Commissioner under no obligation
TO consult the local executive respecting Trans
vaal affairs The fact that the text was written
by the Cape Ministers is proof that Messrs.
Schreiner and Hofmeyr are too prudent TO at
tempt t. pat him In false position. The
Times" to-day refers kindly 20 Schrener and
Hofmeyr. and refrains from Joining in the Jingo
onslaught upon them. This is important be-
cause The Times" is in hearty accord with MI
Chamberlain who seems to have entire charge
Of the Government policy in South Africa The
Prime Minister alone control Mr., Chamber
lain. and Lady Sasbury's illness takes MIN
temporarily out OF public life.
The political necessity for an aggressive
policy in South Africa has abated since the by
election at st. Pancras The Unionsts nave
been reassured by the evidence that London Is
not following Lancashire but remains tena-
ciously Conservative. They have forced me
| Tithes Rating bill through committee under
closure after an all night session, and are "lna-
inc nm the business of the se--lon with high
Priv al fo nh
size the point that the Government has carried
an IN timed and unpopular measure Of clerical
relief at time when the country is deeply inter-
| ested in a religious question which hei'"eF
party is anxious TO take up.
The Ministers for their part, are shrewd
/ enough 10 give the country something fresh to
think about by planning naval maneuyres OF
| excentional interest and magnitude. II viii be
a virtual mobilization OF the available feet In
/ home waters for the purpose OF testing the
! relative advantage OF speed and hghting
! strength OF cruisers and battle ships, and illus
| trating the efficiency Of destroyers and torpedo
/ boats 1t will be costly naval operation, but
| will AlI Engshmen with just pride in their
! supremacy in power. Something Is learned
! from II al the start. for seven torpedo boats
have been disabled either by collision or by
e,sordered mechanism. showing that this is the
least trustworthy branch OF the service.
Many prominent jurists and barristers from
England and the Continent will attend the ses-
/ slons Of the American Bar Association ana In
ternational Law Association at Buffalo sailing
/ on August II from Liverpool by the Dominion
/ Line. Among the English delegates VINO VIII
read papers before the association are Sir VIII
lam Kennedy Judge OF the Supreme Court ana
two eminent Queens Counsel. Mr.. Thomas Gil
bert Carver and Mr.. Joseph Walton. all high
authorities in commercial and maritime law
Judge Kennedy will preside over the conference
NJ the International Law Association ana MS
,wo colleagues will take prominent part IN