The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-10
SALISBURY'S ATTITUDE.
Will Not Take the Initiative Unless
Forced to by Circumstances.


Forced to by Circumstances.
Copyright. 1900 by the Associated Pressl
LONDON, June 9.-The Chinese situation.
which at the beginning of the week was
merely small cloud on the international
horizon. now overshadows every other
topic. England, according to most authori-
ties-save those who control her foreign
policy-is face to face with a crisis in far
Eastern affairs which. though 1t may not
result in any immediate partition of China,
must determine the part that England
shall play when the partition eventually
takes plce. That such an emergency should
have arisen at a moment when England is
least able to utilize 1t, when almost all her
land forces are 5000 miles from home, and
when there is a paramount necessity for
keeping an extra strong fleet In European
waters. is deplored by all shades OF states
men and politicians. Lord Salisbury stands
almost alone amidst his own party In be-
lieving that the results of the Boxer out
break will be neither serious nor per-
manent The attitude he adopts toward
the unanimous agitation for more strenuous
action is voiced by an intimate friend.
who said TO representative of the Asso-
ciated Press
Lord Salisbury believes we should be
thankful for small mercieS. The co-opera-
ton of the diplomats and naval authorities
on the spot seems perfect and unusually
harmonious. So long the satisfactory
state of affairs continues he Will be emf
nently satisfied and will take no other
steps unless one or several of the powers
ask Great Britaip's assent TO scheme
which appears feasible, or unless Russian
aggression becomes much more apparent
than it is to-day. When these contingent
cies occur and the representatives of the
various nations at Picking fail to agree,
then will Lord Salisbury assume the initia-
tive. AT present he Is agreeably surprised at
the smooth progress of the negotiations at
the seat of the disturbances and implicit
ly trusts in Sir Claude Macdonald. the
British minister 10 China
IT may be added that Great Britain's pre-
mier is not particularly optimistic regard
ing the length of time the various minis
tiers and admirals In the far East will CO.
operate so admirably. But Lord Salisbury
is far too philosophic to borrow trouble;
or, as he Is irrevocably committed to the
opportunist policy pure and simple in the
far East, of not crossing bridges before he
comes to them. In the meanwhile, the
members of every embassy In London and
every club, to say nothing OF the stock
market. are discussing eagerly the pros
from the Picking troubles. 1t is the old cry
OF wolf and this time many well-in-
formed people are greatly inclined TO be-
lieve the wolf will materialize in the shape
Admiral Freemantle's reported statement
that war between these countries is inevi-
table creates no surprise, though such
plain speaking is severely discountenanced
officially. A government official. speaking
to a representative OF the Associated Press
said: II quite believe Admiral Freemantle
said what IS credited 10 him. He is splen-
did officer, but rash talker. II is not the
first time he has said things which had
better been left unsaid."
The financial situation brought about by
the absorbing interest wherewith the ac-
tions of Admiral Kempff and the other
admirals are watched is by no means salts
factory TO those who have any large hold
ings. One curious feature Is the opinion
held by many financiers that IL the present
disturbance portends opening up China IL
also portends an inestimabie increase fn
the circulation OF silver with the accom-
ranying tendency 10 put that metal on
parity with gold. A well-known American
nnancier I'm London explained this 10 a
representative OF the Associated Press
pointing out the fact that copper Is now
the general medium OF exchange In China.
With the ingress of Europeans these cum
bersome tokens would naturally be done
away with and npver introduced In the