New-York tribune., 1899-05-14
THE NEWS OFTWO CAPITALS
LONDON.
RUSSIA TO BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THH
LEAD IN THE PEACE CONFERENCE.
NO FORMAL UNDERSTANDING APPARENT
BETWEEN ENGLAND AND AMERICA
TIE CHURCH DISCIPLINE BILL
SOCIETY AND THE OPERA.


THE CHURCH DISCIPLINE BILL
SOCIETY AND THE OPERA.
IBr TO THE rnrpuxEl
London May 13.-The Peace Congress doeA
not lack advice from faddlsts and fanatics but
1t will be directed by veteran diplomatists who
understand the logic OF events Russia IN re-
sponsible for this unique assembly and WIFI
take charge Of 1t at the outset. There is gen.
eral agreement among the Diplomatic Corps at
The Hague that Count Minister will call the
delegates to order and will nominate NJ do
Beaufort. the Dutch Minister Of Foreign Affairs.
as honorary president. Baron de staal will
then be elected chairman. and the Russian
programme VIII be produced.
This is the logical order OF procedure. since
the Congress Is the Cars project and the dele
gates OF twenty-sx nations have been brought
together on Russian initiative There will be no
disposition on the part OF the great Powers to
interfere with Russias prior rights az the in
ventor OF this novel method of discussing the
gravest issues OF modern civilization; they will
politely stand aside and leave Russia to take
charge OF the Congress. define the scope of the
proceedings and propose practical measures and
hhes of action. When Russia has had a FREQ
neid Tor giving form and direction to the work
OF the Congress, the other Powers, great and
small will gradually emerge from the back
ground.
Ihere Is much cynical criticism Of this Con-
gress among dlplomatsts as an utterly Inn
practicable Russian device, which Will inevita-
bly, break down and end with reyulsion Of
feeling toward militarism as a necessary evil,
Veterans in the service do not expect II to ac-
complsh any useful result and are at loss
to conjecture how the sessions can be brought to
an end without an increase OF i-feeng among
the governments and pessimism among the ma
tions. more rational view Is that the Con.
gress Will create a moral atmosphere for arbi-
tration, disarmament and peace without taking
decisive action on any question OF first Inn
portance.
The faddsts are sll outside the Congress,
which is made up of skilled diplomatists and
practical experts In the military arts and In
ternationa law 1t is probable that various
compromise resolutions will be adopted and that
the Congress. instead OF being a whispering
gallery Of intrigue. will be a sedate. business
like gathering, with the force Of the moral
opinion OF the world behind It,
The American delegation will have a COM
Portable house in the centre Of the town. adjoin-
ing the hotel where the representatives of ten
or twelve nations have quarters Baron de
Staal. who Will be the central figure OF this
assembly, will be in this hotel and the Duke
of Tetuan and his Spanish colleague will be
directly in the Of the American reception
rooms. Minister Newell has made excellent ar
rangements for the comfort OF the American
delegates during their stay at The Hague. which
will probably extend over two months. Presi-
dent Seth Low. with Mrs. Low, will be at an
other hotel near the American quarters Am
bassador White will be the senior member Of the
diplomatic position In Europe Secretary Hollis
has already started for Berlin, to have pre-
liminary consultation with Mr.. White before
the meeting at The Hague. The American
delegates have been overwhelmed with hospi-
tally since their arrival in London. Captain
Mahan's time was fully engaged for every at
ternoon and evening OF his visit before he had
been here a single night. President Low has
met many prominent Englishmen at the Ameri-
can Ambassadors and other houses and has
produced fine impression. The delegates have
talked with Mr. Arthur Bafour and Sir Julian
Pauncefote, but there Is no evidence that there
is any prearranged basis OF action between Eng
land and America An international debating
society in which the little Duchy OF Luxembourg
has the same voting power either the United
States or the British Empire offers small scope
for diplomatic combinations and caucuses.
America and England will probably take SINH
lar views of the practical questions under dis
cussion, and can hardly fail to exert great In
fuence in the final revision OF the Russian pro-
gramme and bring about harmonious action
in various minor matters.
THE Times" returns this morning to the sub
ject cf Anglo-American negotiation ms In a good
tempered, almost optimistic, article, but con-
fesses that the functions OF the British Gov
ernment are advisory. and that Canadian In
terests must be dealt with primarily and I'M
perial interests secondary. The obvious mean
ing is that Washington must settle old scores
with Ottawa rather than with London. In
other portions Of the empire the British Foreign
Office exercises supreme influence and retains
complete direction of diplomatic questions, but
Canada is the spoiled child OF the family. and
must have first place, on the plea that she
knows her own interests and that the imperial
Government cannot fully understand them; yet
Mr. Chamberlain is generally wide awake. and
thinks he knows what Is going on In every
corner Of the empire. and is always ready to
coach Lord Salisbury.
Lord Rosebe-y's stepping backward" speech
has thrown the Liberal party into new state
OF generalization worse than It's former plight.
His friends are urging him TO take an early op-
portunity for repairing the damages done to HE
own claims upon the leadership Of the party.
but staid Liberals are shverng over the pros
pect OF another speech from him; the party
needs strong tonics. not douches OF icewafer
One result OF the speech is the stinening OF Sir
Henry Campbell Bannerman's back his friends
scout the idea that he has assumed the leader
sh,p OF the House of Commons In order to serve
an warming pan for the ambitions Of any
noble lord.
Sir William Harcourt is known to be furious
oyer what he considers to be the betrayal OF
Liberal principles and dlsoyalty to Gladstopes
memory. His speech next week In Monmouth
shire will probably be filed with invective and
sarcasm. unless his wrath has time to cool on.
Some OF his closest friends are advising him not