The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-02-27

and when questioned on the subject
the Russian ambassador assured his |
dear friends in Downing street that
the reports we're exaggerated. IL was
nothing but annual maneuvers, ne eX-
planned, and least of all was 1t intend
ed as a menace. In fact, it was so be-
Titled by this diplomat that the BRIT
isb officials had no other alternative
but to believe the reports were practi-
cally untrue, especially as Russia, in
conjunction with every other Euro
pean power, had, few weeks previous,
formally assured Lord Salisbury that
she had not the faintest intention OF
profting by Great Britain's embarrass-
ment in South Africa by pressing out
standing claims or interfering in any
way. News from Central Asia trickles
into England slowly, but this week
there came from many sources infor-
nation showing that Russia's Embas-
sador had, to put it mildly, misled Lord
Salisbury, and the Foreign Office
Wednesday last had to bring itself up
with a sharp turn to the realization
that the Central Asian situation de-
manded immediate attention. Yet,
what form such attention Will take
constitutes dilemma, on the horns of
which the British Government Is still
perched. Details of the proceedings on
the borders of Afghanistan are still
lacking and are likely to be for some
| time. AS a high official said to rep
resentative of the Associated Press:
IF we politely suggest to the Russian
ambassador that a further explanation
| Is in order we are sure to get the same
| friendly assurances that 1t does not
amount to anything. If we address a
| formal, stringent protest to st. Peters,
burg, we deliberately cast doubt on
Russia's practically spontaneous dec
| laration of friendship and non-inter-
| ference. 1t is possible the latter Is
what the Americans call bluff. But
we have to be very sure of our facts
before proceeding on such basis. The
Ameer is not i'll, in spite OF all the
alarming reports. | suppose he VIII
die some day and there will possibly
be great disorder. But until this oc-
ours | fail to see what Russia can eff
feet. If the movement is as important
as represented, / think 1t far llkeller
that she intends to make demonstra-
ton of the strength that might be
brought to bear upon some minor con-
cessions to be asked for by Russia
hereafter" The opinion of this OIL
cial and those of the majority OF per-
sons accurately informed is that RUS
sia's move is merely one OF the liner
points of the diplomatic game and that
She has no more idea of forcing wal
with Great Britain than she has oil
forcing a war upon the United states
So, while 1t appears that international
relations are really not threatened
with any serious break, 1t also appears
that Russia Is likely to get whatever
she asks for, within reasonable uiplo
macy, in the near future. Nothing
is more patent, from the conversation
of the Cabinet Ministers and officials
than the desire to conciliate and mo-
to overvalue minor concessions. HOW
ever, it must not be inferred ina
Great Britain intends to allow herself
to be bullied into granting any'hint
: asked for, and 1t is interesting to nott
; in this connection that the channe
squadron. consisting of eight battle
ships and other craft, is due in th'
neighborhood of Gibraltar Febru
airy Goth.
The renewed naval activity has hat
| almost as much to do with the return
OF national confidence as Lord Rob
, erts' evident grasp OF the campaign
While the nation Is evidently sill
} looking askance at the new mllltar
( program introduced this week, there
: genuine qualification at learning tina
the reports that hundreds of thousand
8 OF tons of Welsh smokeless coal ha
: been bought for foreign nation ar
" untrue. There Is no substitute 10
vt that breath OF empire" 1t Is almo!
is as important as smokeless powde
n and were the supply to be seriously d
N minished it would affect Great Bri
3 aims power of defense tremendously
g. The navy's activity Is also eviden'
W ed In its progress with wireless selel
y raphy. Experiments will shortly o
le cur to ascertain whether 1t is possib
IS TO communicate by this means b
ii tween ships and balloons. The !mpo
le lance OF such test, in ascertalnit
D. the whereabouts OF an enemy al
ST countless other points OF warfar
c. cannot be overestimated.
IN The Queens personal interest
1T the meh lighting her battles is bell
d, constantly illustrated by her visits