New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-16
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
LITTLE LIGHT on THE SAMOAN SITUA-
TION.
srrr1, ,EMENT OF QUESTION MUST BE
WORKED OUT BY DIPLOMATIC AC-
T1oN-INTEREsT IN THE BUD
GET QUESTION
GET QUESTION.

WORKED OUT BY DIPLOMATIC AC-
TIoN-INTEREsT IN THE BUD
GET QUESTION
lBY CABLE THE rRIBuNE
london April 15-Englishmen do not take
.h.,r cues on foreign affairs from Washington
y, Rerlin and when Lord Salisbury is silent
they suspend judgment intricate a puz-
Ola as the Samoan affair. Mr.. Brodrick has
hsen questioned several times. but has said
ro,h,ng. The leader writer's frankly admit that
,hev are in the dark and unable TO discuss in
,euieently this disturbing episode in interna-
.,onal affairs. Herr Won Bulow's speech en-
ob,es them to compliment him for his soberness
., Judgment in alaying the suspicious excited
-, tho Berlin press and in avoiding any phrase
,rb,ch will offend public opinion in England or
America No objection is raised to his emphatic
declaration that the tripartite agreement must
stsnd until il is modified by unanimous action
-, the three Powers since England herself can
have no other policy
Tho truth is recognized by THE Times" The
s,andard" The Morning Post" and other in
euential journals that provocative language VIII
M, serve any good purpose. and that selr-re-
s,ra,nt should be exercised by the press OF the
three countries while their Governments are ar
rivng at working agreement by the appoint
wan. Of a Commission which will supersede
their agents there. The government OF samoa
&c REGARDED as necessary and wise. and no stress
,s laid upon the principle Of unanmity. A set
tsnent of the question must finally be worked
out by diplomatic action after each Commits
s,oner has reported TO his own Government.
This will take a good deal Of time; but settle
ment satisfactory to the three nations must
come since there is no point of honor worth
fighting for in so insignificant group of ISL
ands.
England is having, meanwhile homely Illus
tration Of the familiar truth that one cannot
eat his cake and keep it. The largest income
ever drawn in prosperous years is exhausted
when naval expenditures are on vast scale
and spendthrift finance for the benefit of special
classes is the order OF the day. The humdrum
budget speech Of Sir Michael Hicks Beach, while
not a mastery effort, revealed fairy cieVer
method OF escape from next years deficit with
out increased income taxation or a revival OF
the duties on wheat and sugar II was only
necessary for him to make the fantastic dis
covery that the nation was getting out OF deot
with rrinous rapidity and TO force a balance at
the expense of the sinking fund with the heip
OF the new stamp duty and slightly increased
taxation on wines. His argument that future
Ministries might not be embarrassed by the
withdrawal of large interest charges for the
relief of taxation was neither ingenious nor con-
vincing but the supporters of the Government
were willing 10 accept any plea which pre-
cluded adding another penny 20 the-fncome TAX
Sir william Vernon Harcourt delivered
foreible speech full of whimsical hnmor but
the Government was not dismayed by liberal
objections to the course adopted respecting
tc too tach
cal to command public attention, and the party
in power is safe so long as the income taxa
ton Is not increased and brewers are not hit
Mir. Campbell -Banner1nan was dscreetiy silent
in the presence Of Sir William Vernon Harcourt
but consoled himself with the reflection that his
prestige as a Liberal leader has been greatly
increased by the adroit appointment Of Mr.
Herbert Gladstone as chief whip. 1t is now
evident that the position of the Government VIII
not be menaced by attacks upon It's financial
policy and that the dull session will end quietly
II the religious question can be kept down and
Sir William Vernon Harcourt allowed no chance
for debating It.
The Anti -Ritualist leaders apparently
satisfied with their success in forcing Mr. Bal
four to take up the subject at the risk of hav-
ing two Cecis against him. and Will allow the
burning question TO shoulder, at least until the
MacIvers bill is reached next month. Sir Will
lam Vernon Harcourt. however. may not be con-
tent to take to watching a brief for the sake OF
preventing ecclesiastical appointments. Which
are Inconsistent with the virtuous resolution
adopted by the House. He took a line of his
own last year, when he was leading the Opposl-
ton He is now released from political respon-
sibility. and free to make a large use Of hie in
dependence in dealing with the only question in
which England is deeply interested.
The r,imors that Lord Rosebery will speedily
return to active political work not we'll
founded. There Is no issue before the Liberal
party or the country which opens the way for
his return. Mr. Campbell Bannerman fills the
requirements OF the transition period; just as
Sir Thomas Esmond. senior Nationalist whip. is
useful in promoting the reunion of the Irisf
party, they also serve who only stand and wait.
Lord Charles Beresford ala not go out to
China in an official character but ne rendered
the Government great service last night by de-
scrbing Wei-Hai-Wei as good port. which
could be converted into an effective naval base
and strongly fortified at small expense. 1t has
been openly charged by the liberal critics that
Mr Balfour made great blunder in obtaining
a naval base on the China coast as worthless as
Cyprus is for the control Of the suez Canal.
Lord Charles Beresford is a naval expert, whose
Judgment can always be followed on technical
questions Of imperial defence He pronounces
Wei -Hai-We a better harbor than Kiao-Chao
and urges that guns shall be mounted for It's
defence as a naval base from which Russian
operations at Port Arthur can be watched
Another member OF Parliament is going out
90 China for a prolonged tour. but the Govern
rnent cannot depend upon him for help on votes
for imperial defence when he returns. This is
Mr.. Joseph Walton. who Will cross America in
the summer and make tour OF China ports.
ascend the Yangtse Valley and explore Tonquin.
The weather in London remains capricious
and disagreeabe. and there are no signs OF
gayety at the West End. IL is not prooap'e