Evening star., 1899-04-12
Russia is PleadiDg for Peace and
Preparing for War.
FEELING IN THE BRITISH CABINET
English Manufacturers Worried
Over American Competition.
LANDMARKS OF LONDON
special Correspondence q rhe Erening Star.

LONDON, March 2S, 1899.
1 have had occasion once or twice to put
forward reasons why the good faith of
Russia in proposing a general reduction in
existing armamerts may be questioned, and
today a further incident seems to put
kind question mark after the tsar's solicit
Gus phrases in reference to peace. The Rus
sian foreign minister, Count Mouravieff,
has sent out a circular, which is posted this
morning, thanking in the emperor's name,
all foreign governments that have ax-
pressed their assent to his majestys hu-
manitarian work" The Emperor Nicholas,
according to the circular, sees in this
sent yet another earnest in the success Of
his efforts to sow the fruitful principles of
universal peace in the public conscience
and life"
simultaneously with his majesty's mes
sage comes the Information that the Rus
sian government has practically resolved
to supply the whole of the artillery with
new quick-hring gun The cOllocation of
the news is unfortunate, from Count Mour-
avieff's point of view, but as a trenchant
comment on the fruitful principles Of uni
yersal peace" as interpreted in Russia it
self, ii cannot be said to be untimaly. 1t is
too much to hope that the enthusiasts for
program of partial disarmament will
cease to address their tokens of admiration
to St Petersburg on account of so trivial
matter as the fresh equipment of the
ItuSSldH on the eve OF the peace
congress. There is a form of defamation
so persistent that it cannot hear the argu-
ments on the other side. and the devoted
advocates of impossible schemes of peace
would appear 10 be afflicted with this fail
ing.
Preparing for War.
1t is stated that the gun will be
modelled on that already in use in France,
and that an order for one battery has been
placed with French firm. Moreover it is
believed on the same excellent authority
that the somewhat unusual haste of
the Russian government is due to its
anxiety to refer to the matter as 'tchose
5ugee, should a question be raised at the
peace congress. This is not particularly
dignified proceeding. If true-and it is
Eupported by military authority in Paris
il cannot but diminish respect for the senti-
ments conveyed in Count Mouravieffs cir
rular.
on the face of it. the probabilities are in
IaVor OF the truth of the report. The
Grand Duke Michael, it will be remember
fd' organized some artillery experiments
tas, year, and the necessity of the con-
femplated reform has been long recognized
IN russian military circles. The principal
pbstacle has been want of funds, and
DOUBTLESS the government would still prefer
10 postpone the heavy expenditure which
would be involved But a loan NAV still he
raised in the United States or elsewhere.
ana at all costs the new gun must he
stamped with a date anterior to the pro-
1ected conference disarmament OF
course 10 one disputes the right of Russia
TO arm her artillery with any sort of
weapon she likes. The trouble is that since
the ts7rs proposal for disarmament sew
eral incidents have occurred that throw
suspicion on Russia.
Dream Cannot Come True
While the dream of peace is yery beauti
IuI ana every true person may ardentIy
lcng for such a contamination vet as long
as International questions exist it is i'm
possible No real progress can be made
without a preliminary settlement of out
standing subjects of difference These are
found in the near east and in the far cast
ana pner no prospect of a speedy and a
satisfactory solution. All the French
writers. II Il to be noted, Were unanimous
IN referring 10 the question of Alsace Ior-
raihe as a crucial obstacle to continental
peace ~
distinguished Bordeaux professor could
see bGt two alternatives. neither of which
was contemplated in the scheme of the Rms
sian emperor. One was that France should
disarn "and renounce her claims founded
on International law and the other was tn
let matters take their course Two nrofec
sors from Toulouse proposed to submit the
problem 10 a plebiscite, but both were once
more IN agreement that France could not
ulsdrH while the question was unsettled
And 50 with all the countries of Europe
British politicians have been greatly
pleased by the information cabed from
Washington that the United States will not
titSi tdll d proposal 10 reduce her military
iorces- II Is safe ground far as America
Is considered and establishes precedent
that Great Britain may be glad to follow
The British Cabinet
The rumors of changes in the British cab
met. ard even of an early dissolution are
persistent, and tend to become more cir
cumstantial rather than less 1t is well
known that, apart from the want of inter-
est shown in the business of parliament by
large number of the conservatives who
came IN at the last general election there
Is cer-ain amount of active discomfort
Promotion has been very slow for those
who consider they have any chance of off
cial life. As to the rumors of disagreement
IN the cabinet. these are manifold Ii is
becoming evident that there will have to be
reconstruction soon If the cabinet is to
pull together. Mr.. Ritchie's surrender to
The railway companies and withdrawal of
the autoJ-atic couplings bill is the sort of
conduct that destroys the harmony of any
cabinet
This bill was introduced with much solic-
tude for -ailway employees and was found
ed on the American system. Indeed. com
missionerS have already been sent to the
United States to study the working of auto
matte coup. ngs.
sign of Weakness
This Legislative Influenza seems to ius-
tify the sneers of the opposition and must
do the government irreparable harm II
displays weakness exasperatins to the
public, and n axes people think it is not be-
cause the bill is bad. but because the COM
panies prefer to sacrifice life rather than
spend money. that it has been abandoned
Even If there Were any justification for the
withdrawal. what can the country think of
minister vho introduces a life-saving
measure and then decides to inquire
whether ii can be put into operation? The
time for inquiry was before the introduc-
tion of the bill. not after No doubt the
government VIII repent Mr.. Ritchie's folly
before the Harrow election is over for
there are many railway employees in the