New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-27
THE ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN
SALISBURY LIKELY TO SUPPORT
UNITED STATES ACTION.
Copyright; 700: BY The New-Yo-k Tribune.I
rRE CABLE TO THE TRIBCNE.l


rBE CABLE TO THE TRTBvNE.l
london. Sept. 81. a rn-Rurnors that Count
Won waldersee would present an ultinatum de-
handing the surrender Of five leaders Of the
snti-foreign movement have not been adequately
confirmed. and were without doubt premature
No action Of the Powers so aggressive in form
and spirit could be taken until the reply Of Lord
Salisbury had been received at Berlin. It has
teen assumed with confidence at the German
capital that Lord Salisbury would support the
German proposals. and the English press, with
one or two exceptions, has strongly favored the
Emperor's circular.
Count Won Hatfield is too experienced a dip
Iorat to confde Lord Salisbury's secrets TO cor
RESPONDENTS before he communicates them TO his
chief IN Berlin and it will be a premature fore
cast Of the scope and spirit Of the British an
suer until II has been delivered and the text
has been published. I have, however, strong
reasons for believing that both the Berlin and
London press have been misinformed, and that
Lord Salisbury viii not support the German
demand that certain leaders Of the anu-foreign
movement 70 be designated by the Powers shall
Be surrendered or punished before negotiations
are entered into for permanent peace He has
remained in the background. brooding in silence
over the whole subject, and viii deliver his
answer after all the other Powers have eX-
pressed their views. I do not believe that he
VIII use phrases identical with those employed
a. Washington but am convinced that his po-
sition viii not be far removed from that of the
State Department. with the single exception that
there VIII not be any intimations that British
troops VIII be withdrawn from China. Lord
Salisbury IS too adroit diplomatist 10 cause
irritation al Berlin by a point blank refusal TO
consider the German proposals, but unless / am
misled by those having the best sources Of in
formation. he viii not commit England to the
imprscricable policy Of suspending all negotia-
tons for peace until the leaders Of the campaign
# outrage and massacre are surrendered by the
Empress
English and Continental journals which have
been amusing themselves with pleasantries over
the amateurish diplomatic methods Of the state
Department. may find their gioes less humorous
Then an Old diplomatic hand ike Lord Salisbury
reverts 10 common sense policy not essentially
different from the American plan.
One point Of which the leader writers here
have lost sight is the magnitude Of British com
inercial interests. which viii be paralyzed If
the diplomatic demands Of the Powers are based
upon impossible conditions and a settlement IS
deferred thereby indefinitely British diplomacy
always mas its commercial side, and Lord Sails
huIys policy viii NOT be regarded as well or
dered unless it hastens rather than retards the
normal resumption Of trade relations win
China
The proongation Of the transition PERIOD
moreover, by q demand that the guilty Empress
shall present u the Powers on charger the
heads Of the mandarins who obeyed her orders
viii inevitably open the way for a partial par
tition Of the empire. Russia is already in Man
churia Furnishing China by annexation and
slaughter and Germany and Japan have their
eyes fixed upon the provinces which they are
prepared 20 hold until their indemnity claims are
settled. Impracticable peaceuahing cannot De
regarded as z natural or legitimate lhteresl
either in England or America !. n L