The sun., 1900-12-10
THE NEWS OF EUROPE.
The POrtuguese-Dutch Affair Due to
Great Britain.
A BOLD DIPLOMATIC STROKE.
England Shows Her Hand and Indi-
F.. Gates Her Alliance With Portugal.
The Chinese Problem-Cham-
BerIain's Right About Face.

berIatn's Right About race
London, Dec. 9.-Though the trouble
between Holland and Portugal can
scarcely result in war it is far more Be-
iious and interesting than generally re-
gardcd here. Great Britain is concerned
in the affair more deeply than appears
ON the surface, for it is due to British
protest to Portugal that the exequatur Of
Herr Pott, the Dutch consul ut Lourenc0
Marques, was withdrawn, and the visit
of the powerful British fleet to Portu
guese waters is something more than q
coincidence.
The Lisbon press frankly declares it
was intended as a warning demonstra-
tion to other nations to keep their hands
off Portugal. The British officials also
do not hesitate to admit their govern
ment's readiness to back up the action
which Portugal took at its request.
Hence Holland can do little more than
gracefully make the best of bad job,
unless she receives the support of some
of the great powers, which is very re-
mote contingency.
The temporary withdrawal of the Meth
erlands minister at Lisbon and the Portu-
gucse minister at The Hague, though Off
cially bclittled, is the sequence of serious
| friction, the details of which were known
TO the British secretary of state for for
eign affairs, the Marquis of Lansdowne,
some weeks ago. The unusual action OF
sending the whole British channel squad
ron 10 Lisbon is regarded by those who
have inside information as being one of
the boldest and most successful strokes
of aggressive diplomacy in recent history.
With Great Britain showing such n
strong hand, the absent ministers are
likely to return to their posts shortly, and
the incident will probably only produce
an effective illustration of the fact that
an alliance exists between Portugal and
Great Britain. 1t was effected whom the
question of landing South African troops
at Beira, Portuguese East Africa, came
up and was announced at the time in
these dispatches. In this connection it is
interesting to note that the French press
regards the whole affair as a fresh men
ace TO France and that the Spanish pa
pers interpret il similarly az regards
2 their own country.
, The Cbinese Problem.
, The Chinese problem is so wrapped up
in contradictory dispatches and SO com
plicated by the multitude of notes and
amendments thereto that even the keen
: est diplomats frankly confess they scarce
n ~ know how the situation stands. From
one OF those particularly interested In thu
American plans for China 1t is learnet
that the negotiations going on at all thu
e capitals may I've well summed up as al
d effort to get the Chinese court to return
- TO Peking.
At last the powers seem to realize tina
y all the able notes they could have formu
xI M. hay a.
n written on until the powers are in toucl
"A with the Chinese court. Providing this
accomplished, which it is now hoped wi
y be the ease. the powers are willing t
re make the question of reparation seconds
n ny to the establishment of stable fOrl
-, of Chinese government. When this
done. the question Of indemnity will com
~ ,lp. The method OF its exaction has nj
e. yet been decided. though all agree that
Il cannot be secured trlritoiinlly.
- judging from the Negotiations bctwnc
Mr.. .loSrph H. Choac. the United Stat,
~ ,,ai .a-Udor hcrr, and the Marquis
ly IaiH#,awnc, Secretary Hays suggestio
&. tlat tln 16wci's confer ~ brussels
=. som" othtr place" is not likely to me-
with the acceptance Of Great Brita
10 The Other Europcan nations 50 far hear
on from arc inclined 10 give their rcpreSr"
I'd tivcs at Pcking fairly free Il nj II
a dread the additional complications al
delays which they believe n congress
u the powers would entail. Otherwise N
We Hays latest propositions receive, on Il
les whole general approval and promise
IN. form the basis for an eventual settl
- ment.
'or While the activity of the negotiatio
cir is not likely to flag within the next fl
~, | 10 ic ho haliaf NJ tboaa
~ formed that they will not or rather CO
!, not result in anything definite until I
W ministers are personally in touch with
the Chinese court. There is no attempt he
NY TO conceal the fact that in the efforts
achieve this important concessions frt
the original attitude Of the powers ha
been made to China.
Jee Cham herlain's TPansformatio
The almost alarming transformation
the Mr.. Chamberlain from Hon into Ian
inr which occurred during Friday nights
ead bate in the house Of commons, afford'
twn prospect that the session will end will
tod the next week. After the spectacle
our Mr.. Chamberlain at bay, angrier til
two over before on Thursday the house
inc. pected one of the stormiest scenes
hpr record when the colonial secretary got
ced Friday 10 explain the governments |
var icy in South Africa. But never was
o5e more urbane speech delivered. Coul
Bal. ously, with gentle phrases, he agr'
Sew with the opposition and freely poured
the stream Of information clamored fol
Aiomentarily the house waited for
mask Of peace to drop and the mai
10 hand to appear, but it never came. In
the astonishment from which the LibeI
ruth have not yet recovered tne oihciai anne
a pttctr hAf
tier alen. was ,"oiIi.n.aS NJ ~hn,hor, ho%
mes has still 10 face the ordeal Of questi
and regarding his connection with vari
!. or companies, and it remains to be S
whether he will maintain such a pa'
Nv attitude when his own personality
nc fercely debated. None of the OF
IT is amendments to the address threaten
here take up much time, and the governn
.cts is likely to secure supplies without