The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-14
ACTION OF HER MINISTER RE-
GARDING SAN NUN DIS
AVOWED
SIGNOR MARITIME RECALLED
The English Government cues
toned in the Commons Regard
ing Recent Events
GAME OF FOOLISH sWAGGER'

Six Great Powers in Naval Con-
structiOn-Attempt to Reduce
the Estimate Voted Down by the
House-ItaIy's Advent Welcomed.
ROME, March 13.-The Tribuna asserts
that Italy has not delivered an ultimatuIu
to China. On the contrary the Italian
government has disavowed the action Of
Signor Martino regarding the San Nun
bay affair, and has recalled him, con-
fiding Italys interests to the British min
lister at Pekin, Sir Claude Macdonald,
until the successor of Martino arrives
there.
ITALY WELCOME.
LONDON, March 13-In the house of
commons today William Pritchard Nor
gan, who recently secured what appears
to be an immensely valuable concession
. in the Chinese province of SEE Chuen.
moved to adjourn. in order to call atten-
ton to the support given by the British
minister at Pekin, Sir Claude M. Mac
Donald, to Italy's demand for lease Of
San Nun bay. He declared that Great
Britain, the United States and Japan
needed expansion of trade, and it was u
great mistake to support Italy, whose
demand, he claimed, was another step
towards the disintegration of China.
The parliamentary secretary of the for
eign office, Rt. Hon. William st. John
Brodrick, defended the governments ac-
ton. He said so far as Great Britain
was concerned, if Italy can persuade
China to make concessions her majestys 8
government would welcome Italy's ap-
pearance in the Far East as an ally of
Great Britain. The motion to adjourn
was negatived without a division.
FOOLISH SWAGGER.
During the discussion of the naval es-
innate, Henry Labouchere, Liberal MEM
ber for Northampton, moved a reduction
In the vote He argued that the govern
ment was playing the game of 'beggar
my neighbor' against the whole world, -
and declared it foolish swagger to build
more ships than any other country"
Great Britain, he asserted was not rich
er than the United States nor than
France and Russia combined.
John Dillon, Nationalist member for
East Mayo, In supporting the motion,
said: British statesmen who attempt to
induce the United States to abandon their
o traditions by embarking in wild career
of naval competition with Europe will
bitterly regret 1t. For the day will come
when England will be hard driven to
maintain naval equality with the United
States alone. The first lord of the ad-
miralty (Mr. Goschen) is trying to COM
pete with six powers.
Arthur J. Balfour, the government
leader, denied that the government had
any such insane idea. The first lord of
the admiralty, he declared, deliberately
based his policy upon the accepted prin-
ciple that Great Britain's navy should be
equal to the force of any two other pow
ers.
The house rejected the motion for a re-
duction in the estimates by 147 votes
against 49,
The news of Signor Martinos recall
came as a complete surprise to the pub
lie 1t Is understood that his note ask
ing China to accept the first Italian note
was regarded by the Italian too con-
ciliatory, but the general belief is that
China will interpret the recall as a sign
of weakness.
Count Orfini, the Italian minister at
Toxic, will be appointed to succeed SignoI
Martino.
ENGLAND GRABS.
LONDON, March 14.-The Shangha
correspondent of the Daily Mail says:
THE Chinese here report that Grea
Britain has seized the Mao Tao islands
opposite Port Arthur, in the Strait O
Pc Chi Ii and north of Teng Chau Fat
In the northwestern portion of Shan Tuns
peninsula"