The times., 1899-06-04
TOPICS DISCUSSED
In OLD ENGLAND
The Peace Conference and the
EPSON Races.
Coming Storm Over the Desecra-
ton of the Mahdi's Tomb.
Issues Dependent on the Conference
Between President Kruger and
Sir Alfred Miner.


London. June 3.-The Peace Conference,
arbitration, and the EPSON race meeting
have been England's themes this week,
and the greatest of these with most Eng
! iishmen has been. thanks to the lovely
spring weather, the EPSON gambling
crusade. The Derby day remains the great
English spring festival. and never was its
popularity with high and low more mark
ed than this year, nor was there a more
prominent figure on the EPSON Downs
than that of Lord Rosebery who hopes
to be the Liberal Premier of the next dec
ade.
At The Hague greater harmony and pro-
gress have prevailed than even the most
sanguine peace advocate dared TO hope for
few weeks ago. There seems now every
reason to expect the establishment, in
some form, of a permanent international
court of arbitration Three schemes are
before the Peace Conference.-The Ameri-
can, the British, and the Russian. In the
first two the principle at issue is whether
this permanent court shall be recognized
as the official medium of all arbitrations or
not England and the United States,
while allowing the disputants TO make
fresh nominations to the board on the oc-
casion of a dispute, would have all arbitra-
tion proceedings conducted through the
court. Russia would make recourse to this
permanent body optional for minor dis
putes, with special provisions for the es-
tablishment of special tribunals in the case
of more important disputes. The Rus
sian proposals thus are the more cautious
The Russian permanent court would be
mere international secretary, the English
or American might become an Areopagus
This all seems TO make for international
peace and progress, and yet it is impossible
to shut ones eyes to the fact that the pro-
ceedings of the Conference are being
watched with growing distrust among
many Radicals and Socialists here, and
especially on the Continent They see in
a permanent court a dangerous device
which, though il might foster peace as be-
tween nations, would be certain in the
hands of such men as rule Russia, Ger
many, and Turkey, to be turned against
the men and movements whose aim is to
overthrow autocratic Governments and in
stitutions which are destructive of the
freedom of the subject.
The Holy Alliance.
England foiled the last attempt at a holy
alliance, the attempt of the Gar Alexander
L but for the sake OF peace and an open
door she is willing to be a partner in the
equally hateful Holy Alliance of 1899. So
in effect Continental Liberals argue, but
on the other side ii must be remembered
that it is most improbable that England
or America would consent 20 invest the
new court with the right of unsolicited
meditation or of dictation to lesser States.
Meanwhile England is learning, with a
somewhat rueful face, the concessions TO
the spirit of peace which Europe expects
her to make Imperialistic expansion and
the dum-dum bullet to go together in saw
age warfare. Where fanatical onrushes
have 10 be met this death-dealing bullet is
regarded as Indispensable Without IL the
Lee-Metford rifle, with which the British
army has been provided at an enormous
cost, becomes almost useless. Major
Younghusband relates in his narrative of
the Chitral campaign how he had known
a Pathan to walk nine miles with no fewer
than six of the ordinary bullets through
him Judge then of the CONSERVATION
with which the British War Office learns
that the Peace Conference decided on
Thursday, by eighteen votes to three, Eng
land, Italy, and Austria alone dissenting
TO prohibit the dunn dun bullet. At the
this decision were more forcible than po-
lite, but service clubs do not rule England
Next week John Morley VIII attempt to
make England ring with indignation over
what he regards as another accompani-
ment of her imperialistic madness. He
will oppose the Parliamentary grant of
$3.50, 600 TO Lord Kitchener. as a protest
against the mutilation Of the Mahdis re-
mains. That strong feelings have been
&c i'm
perialists, is evidenced by the declaration
last night OF that most favored supporter
OF imperialism, of whom Parliament and
even ministries are likely to see a good
deal in the near future, Mr.. Winston Spen-
Ger Churchill, son of the late Lord Ran
dolph Churchill.
Differs with Mr.. Morley.
He went through the Sudan campaign,
and said last night: 81 rejoice TO differ
from Mr.. Morley on nearly every political
question. II is a matter for dispute
whether the desecrafion OF the Mahdi's
tomb and the removal OF his body were
actually necessary to the pacifcation OF
the Sudan, but it is beyond all contention
that the manner in which the disinterment
and removal were carried out were such
as to constitute the whole proceeding q
brutal act am very sorry for those con-
cerned. They bitterly regret their share
in the wretched business. l am also very
sorry for those who uphold such a method
OF treating the dead body of a conquered
enemy"
In one other corner of the British Empire
imperialism is having hard battle. There
Britain's case is in the hands of sane,
determined man, animated by the best
English traditions, and possessed of the
fullest confidence of Radicals and Tories
alike in this country. Here is a tbumbnail
portrait Of this man: "Sir Alfred Miner
has a long, 1.-THE figure, the scholars stoop
a quiet manner, kind, dark eyes; sensi
tive and sometimes strained, but most res
olute and reassuring face"
The portrait is worth recording, for this