New-York tribune., 1900-10-14

London. Oct 13--Lord Salisbury's cours. IN
the China affair is cynicalIy described by its
critics as "an aimless game OF hunt the sinner"
1t has been played in darkened room. for the
leader writers of the leading journals have not
known what was going on. and the British
policy in the Far East has remained an IN
scrutable mystery. The best explanation which
is offered by those behind the scenes is that
Lord Salisbury has remained in the BACKGROUND
because he could not count upon the support OF
any power and would only have exposed him
self to rebUffs IL no had taken the initiative
He would have acted differently IL the United
States Government had been willing to cooper
ate with hiu1i but when he perceived that the
state Department was respecting Washington's
warning against entangIing alliances and that
France. Germany and Russia would not tolerate
British leadership. he determined to make his
influence felt IN the background While Russia
Germany and France have presented proposals
for the settlement Of the problem Lord Sails
bury has contented himself with revising them
in minor details and with promoting general
agreement among the Powers. He has avoided
giving offence TO France. Germany and Russia
has saved England from the humiliation of hav-
ing proposals Of her own rejected by envious and
Jealous Powers. and has kept British diplomacy
IN reserve as a conservative force to be applied
at the right moment in the most effective way.
This may be Optimist's view but It Is the
opinion Of those who have the best facilities for
forming sound judgments upon public events
1t will be notable exploit If England embar-
rassed by the South African war and distrusted
at the outset by all the Powers. succeeds in
convincing them at the end that she is every
body's friend except the Chinese Empresss
when that astute intriguer is trying to play or
one Power against another
While DR.. Morrison tells in THE Times" to-
day with dramatic force the detailed story OF the
siege of the legations. public opinion here re-
specting China is in a state Of utter bewiIder-
ment. But there is little sympathy for imprac-
ticable proposals such the prohibition OF the
importation Of arms and the establishment OF
line OF military posts between Peking and Tien-
Tsin- Commercial England desires the shortest
possible interruption of ordinary trade relations
with China and a speedy settlement which viii
not place the Government there at the mercy OF
every foreign aggressor compel it to remove
| the capital inland from Pekng-
The elections are virtually completed by the
| results OF pollings announced this afternoon.
! Seven elections take olace to-day. and many
| next week. The Governments triumph is COM
pete. since il retains the immense majority
which 1t had at the time Of dissolution. The
most that the Liberals say is that khaki
enthusiasm has not increased materially that
majority and that it falls short of the majority
ments heard that it will prove un-
manageable majority, and that the Government
would be stronger and safer if the balance be-
tween the parties in the Commons were closer.
The same morals were drawn five years ago but
the heavy battaliOns remained session after
session in unimpaired discipline ireland has
gone strongly Nationalist and Welsh Liberalism
has gained ground, but England and Scotland
have demonstrated by a large increase in the
the Imperalist policies. The United Kingdom
at the close Of the most important campaign
since Waterloo has taken a broad rather than
a narrow view of national obligations and des-
tinies
While there is a good deal OF fresh blood in
the new Parliament. Mr. Winston Spencer
Churchill is the only young man with promise
of potency Of a great career. and he is in a fair
way to be spoiled by fiattery.
Sir Redvers Buffers return TO England is a
great surprise to military men here. who had
expected that he would succeed Lord Roberts.
1t is interpreted a sign that Lord Kitchener
will be left In command In South Africa This
result causes satisfaction In two quarters. The
AIdershot gang is relieved. because 1t breads the
transfer Of Lord Kitchener to London. where he
might turn the military service upside down il
allowed by Lord Salisbury TO have a free hand;
the South African community here is also
pleased, because IL Is weary OF what II describes
as Lord Roberts's 'softhearted Ieniency." and
regards Lord Kitchener as a rough and resOlUte
soldier who will not be swayed by sentimental
considerations but will restore order in the two
new colonies by drastic methods This feeling
is shared without doubt by large section OF the
public which reads with impatience the ac-
counts Of raiding operations by General De
Vets burghers and the Transvaal train
wreckers. General Butler has been relieved OF
command and allowed to return in advance OF
Lord Roberts in order that ne may not suffer
the humiliation of being set aside IN favor OF
Lord Kitchener. As Sir Frederick W. E
Forestier-WaIker Lord Methuen. Sir Francis
Clerv Colonel William G. Tucker and possibly
other generals Outrank Lord Kitchener, other
changes will be necessary. Lord Kitchener's
promotion may be a short way out OF the diff
fcuIty.
The army Of occupation has not yet been ma
teriaIIy weakened. The Natal and Cape Colony
volunteers are disbanding. the colonial forces
are returning 10 Canada and Australia, and the
London volunteers are recruiting their energies
at sea for the tremendous welcome which
awaits them here. but the regulars still remain
in overwhelming strength for police work.
Financial conditions here are dependent TO
a large extent upon the resources and invest
ments OF America which as the creditor na-
ton. now controls European exchange. The
chief problem Of the money market from day u
Law Is whether New-Yorx and Chicago VIII
transfer gold from London 10 Berlin OF call Il
back TO America. for healthy remittances are
constantly due from immense purchases OF ex-
ports from the United states. The increased
financial prestige OF the United States in the
markets OF the world is regarded by CONNER