The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-09
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Diplomats Awaiting Lord saiisbury's
Return to England,

( LONDON, Sept. S.-Lord Salisbury is to
return next week from his holiday in the
I Vosges, and he must then take some de-
cided action in China. II he follows the
wishes of most of his supporters land on
the eve of general election no English
Prime Minister dare neglect their views.
especially when, as in this case. these
supporters represent the great manufac-
turing interests of Lancashire and York
shire). he will decline Russia's invita-
ton to withdraw from Pekin and trust
all 10 Ii Hung Chang
lie will. in fact. declare that the allied
forces ought to remain in control of Pekin
until two things have happened until re-
paration has been secured fol the out
RACES upon foreigners and adequate
guarantees have been given for the flu
ture. Whether the whole of the allied
forces remain at Pekin or only propor-
tionate contingents. as Germany is IN
derstood to suggest. is matter of detail
The main object is to keep Pekin under
international control. until these two OBJ
( jects have been attained. and in his own
conciliatory way Lord Salisbury may be
expected to take this course.
As an indication of this probability much
Importance may be alta he'd to public
statement made at Inverness on Thursday
by Sir Robert Finlay, who is Attorney
General in the present Ministry, and a
man of great weight in ministerial circles.
Our policy in China he said, must
be to secure punishment for those officials
who have been guilty of completely in
the outrages. as far as possible. The
formation OF a strong Chinese Govern
ment should be encouraged-a Govern
menr capable of recognizing Its duties to-
ward foreign powers, and which will have
sufficient understanding to recognize that
there is something in European ideas that
warrants attention. and will not think
that all wisdom is summed up in the
practices which have been handed down
by tradition for thousands of years"
No one pretends that this policy would
not become doubly difficult il the powers
should relinquish their hold upon the Chi
nese capital, nor does anyone pretend
that Lii Hung Changes present eagerness
to kill off certain of the Boxers is any
thing at all to the point 1t is too pal
pably a demonstration of Chinese correc-
titude. and ministerialists call all the
louder for the condign punishment of the
ringleaders. however highly placed as
guarantees of China's future behavior. In
ministerial circles, generally we'll in
formed on Chinese affairs. the hope is
expressed that these will take the shape
of a reform of the Chinese fiscal system,
and such a measure of international SUI
peryision OF provincial taxation as will
remove the present obstacles to equal and
open foreign trade.
Against Russia's policy of withdrawal
must, moreover. be set the powerful voice
and vote OF English churehmen whose
views Lord Salisbury, stanch churchman
as he is would be the last English states
man to overlook. The whole missionary
problem has been the subject of very anx-
ious thought In Church circles OF late
but the outcome OF it is that the mis-
sionaries cannot. if they would disso-
ciate themselves from the diplomacy of
their own country. Whether they like
it or not, they are in the eyes OF China
men. representatives of England, and no
British Government dare leave them I'M
protected. Hence the Church throws the
great weight OF its influence against any
scuttling from Pekin II is, by the way.
interesting to note that, according to an
official statement OF the Church Mission
airy Society, the total loss of Protestant
missions during the recent upheaval in
China is believed to be between fifty and
sixty men, women, and children. together
with a terrible list of murdered native
Christians. The English missions which
have suffered most severely have been
the Society for the Propagation OF the
Gospel and the China Inland Mission.
Singularly enough, all the Church of Eng
land missionaries escaped, and none of
their native converts is believed to have
been killed.
During the recent criticisms on the de-
linquencies OF British army officers In
South Africa one has often heard the Dious
hope that the British navy would come
better out of a similar ordeal. This weeks
admiralty return of naval gunnery for 1899
makes Englishmen feel uncomfortable.
England, it seems. has the finest guns. and
gunners who cannot hit the bull's-eye at
practically point-blank range. The 1875
inch, Pinch, and 19-inch gun returns show
that the ships steamed at eight knots. with
targets at from hoo to 1000 yards range.
and yet only 80 per cent of hits were made
by them all The Majestic, which is the
flagship of the Channel Squadron, obtained
only three hits in twenty rounds with the
12-inch gun The Magnificent the second
flagship OF the Channel Squadron. obtained
only two hits in seventeen rounds, yet in
the event of a European war the Channel /
Squadron would be the first to be engaged.
The heaviest weapon carried in the first
class cruisers is the 9.2-inch gun, and here
the percentage OF hits has fallen from 1876
to 81 while the Royal Arthur. another flag
ship. made only two hits in eight rounds.
The critics have been busy this week
with the two Nell Gwynne plays now run
ming in London. There is praise for both
Anthony Hopes and Kester's productions.
but, judged by the severest canons. both |
have tendency to iimsiness. 1t is doubt |
ed. moreover. whether these rosy repre- |
sensations OF the relations between king |
and his mistress are desirable, yet both |
theatres are full each night and are run |
ming two matinees during the week.
Mr.. Tree has reopened Her Majesty's |
Theatre with a gorgeous revival of Julius |
Caesar" and is rewarded with the eusto |
mary paeans.
The new play by Sydney Grundy. entitled |
"a Debt of Honor" at the St. James The
atre, is not likely to make any great sue
cess. Its morals are doubtful and its con-
struction wabbles.
In literary matters London has nothing
better to talk about than Marie Corelli's
i'll -infor med onslaught upon Roman Cath
olicism in her new novel. The Master
Christian. One hundred thousand copies
of the work have been Sold but the crit
ical view is that il is neither literature
nor serious polemics. One critic waggishly
that all the wisdom in the volume
might be written on an ordinary soup
ticket.
SOLD AT THE PRICE OF poRE