The Portland daily press., 1900-12-10
In ENGLAND.
Nlesr.saa Canal Create. Only mia
Interest.

cAHhi ofcateS ouly mltu tntofoas ~ --aas
land. The long cable despatches dealing
with ths probable action of the United
States Senate and It's deliberations are
read by ths general public with oompara-
lively little interest ana less understand
ing. The report that the British govern
ment has In any way indicated its VIII
ingness to accept the amended treaty Is
utterly false, in fact the indications, such
as they are, point to Great Britain refus-
ing to consider an amendment TO what
tbs foreign Office already believes TO
be a generous concession. 70 quote
high authorityi a..
"we would not have sbrognted the
Clayton Bulwer treaty for any other ma
tion In the world. Unless ell the ira
ditions OF British foreign police are re-
versed, I fall to see how we can shord TO
give away any moro advantages, even 70
America"
No official representation or Inquiries
have yet been made to the foreign ofiice.
where 1t is pointed out that It Is impos-
sibls to form any Judgment until the
Senate acts. That war, OF even serious
Misunderstanding. could ever result from
such q cause receives no official or pupiio
crsdence.
Though the trouble. between Holland
and Portugal can scarcely result In war
IL lie for more serious and interesting rs
generally regarded here. Great Britain
is concerned in the affair more deeply
than appears on this surface. for ths AS
sociated Press learns that Ii Ia due to
direct protest to Portugal that TINS ex-
quatur OF Herr Pott, thu Dutchoonsui
at Lornzo Marques, was withdrawn, ana
ths visit OF ths powerful British fleet to
Portuguese waters is something more
than a coincidence. The Lisbon press
frankly declares it was intended as q
warning demonstration to other nations
to kesp their hands off Portugal.
Ihe British officials also do not hesitate
to admit their governments readiness to
back up the action which Portugal took
at its request. Hence, Holland can do
little more than gracefully make the
best of a tad job, unless she receives the
support OF some of the great powers,
which is a very remote contingency.
The temporary withdrawal OF the Meth
erIsnds minister at Lisbon and the Port
uguess minister at The Hague, though
officially telittled, Is the sequence OF Sc
rious friction, the details of which were
known to the British secretary OF state
for foreign affairs. the Marquis OF Lans-
downs, some weeks ago. The unusual
action OF ssnding the whole British
channel squadron to Liston is regarded
by thoss who have inside information as
being one OF the boldest and most sue
cessful strokes Of aggressive diplomacy
in recent history. With Great Britain
showing such a strong hand, the atssnt
posts shortly and the incident viii prob
ably only produce an effective illustration
of the fact that an alliance exists be-
tween Great Bsitain. 1t was effected
when the question OF landing South
African troops at Bentgabeia, Portuguese
East Africs, came up and was announced
at the time In these dispatches In this
connection 1t Is interesting to note that
the French press regards the whole affair
as fresh menace to France and thai the
Spanish papers interprets 1t similarly as
regards their own country.
The Chinese problem is SO wrapped up
in contradictory dispatches and 50 CON-
piicatsd by the multitude of notes and
amendments thereto, that even the keen
est diplomats frankly confess they scarce.
ly know how the situation stands. From
one of thoss particularly interested in
the American plans for China. 1t is
learned that the negotiations going on
at all the capitals may he well summed
up as an effort to get this Chinsse court
to return to Pekin,
at last the powers seem to realize that
all the able not.s they could have formu-
lated are not worth the paper they ara
with the ChiDess court. Providing this
Is accomplished. which, 1t is now hoped
will be tho case, the powers are willing
to make the question Of reparation sec
ondary to the establishment OF stable
form OF Chinese government. When this
is done, the question or indemnity will
come up. The method of its exaotion
has not yet been decided, though all
agree that 1t cannot te secured territorial
ly.
Judging from the negotiations between
Mir. Joseph Ii. Choate, the United States
am bassador here, and the Marquis OF
Lansdowne, Secretary Hays suggestion
that the powers confer at "Brusseis OF
some other place. Is not likely to meet
with the acceptance OF f.Grelt Britain
The other European nations SO far heard
from, are inclined to give their represen-
tatives at Pekin "a fairly free hand and
dread the additional complications and
delays which they believe a congress of
powers would entail, Othsrwise Mr..
Hays latest preparations are ON the
whole, generally approved, and promise
to form the basis for an eventual settle-
ment. While the activity OF the negoti-
ations is not likely to flag within the
next few weeks, 1t is the belief of those
best informed that they will not, or
rather cannot, result in anything definita
un til the ministrs are personally in ouch