Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-24
FIRM REFUSAL PEI H0 FROZEN 0RTHE CHINA MUDDE HONG KONG UNTAFRE
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Matter Entrusted to the Colonial
Office.
REQUEST OF TIE UNITED STATES
Seizure of the British Vessel
Taboga
NOT SERIOUSLY REGARDED

LONDON, November 24.-The request of
the United States ambassador, Mr.. Joseph
H. Cboate, for the suppression of the Fill
pino junta at Hong Kong has been put in
the hands Of the colonial office. 1t will
probably take some weeks to ascertain the
facts, with doubtful results. An official
said:
Hong Kong, of course, is part of a free
country, and we cannot take too arbitrary
steps, even to please America. Most of the
international plots are Matched right here
in London, but We are quite powerless to
suppress them
The seizure of the British steamer Taboga
by the Colombian government officials at
Panama is not regarded seriously here.
The British gunboat Pheasant will investi-
gate the matter, and in due course of time
Colombia will probably be asked for an ex-
planation. But the affair is not likely to
produce any striking developments.
The persistent reports that Sir Alfred
Miner, the British high commissioner in
South Africa will be invalided home per-
manently are groundless. He will be af-
forded a holiday, so soon as feasible He Is
the last man the government cOntemplates
Withdrawing from South Africa. and the
state of his health by no means justifies
the rumors.
LOndons new lord mayor, Mr.. Frank
IlteIi, lanes d very anu liieiiuiS
view of the American invasion of the city's
finance, trade and transportation.
Matter of Utiiitarianism.
1T is merely matter of utilitariansm,
he said to a representative of the Associat-
ed Press. American capita, is bound to i'm
prove business here, and | welcome warmly
anything tending to bring the two nations
the most good, even though it may appear
to result only to the advantage of one of
them. Together, England and America are
more powerful in every way than the rest
of the world.
"Regarding placing government loans in
America, patriotism, naturally, compeis me
to say English financ.ers should nave the
first chance; but, if Americans give better
terms, why let them have them by all
means. All things being equal, l see no
reason why America should not be allowed
to subscribe to the loan which is likely to
be asked for at the resumption OF paria-
ment, and if by open competition. she can
secure the bulk am sure no nara 1eeilhSs
will exist in the city.
Hot on the heels of Mr.. Charles T. Yerkes'
underground railroad scheme come the an
nouncementS of so many projected FoadS
that London may be said to have become
the victim of the tube mania II all the
companies were allowed-to operate half OF
London would be undermined. Parllamen-
tary sanction will be applied for IN the case
Of no less than ten electric tubes, necessi-
tating the deposit of to,OOO,GOO as parma
mentary guarantee 1t is likely that sew
erai of these will never materlallze; but, as
Mr. d. II. Lauterbach, who is here IN the
interest of Mr.. Yerkes, points out, there Is
no reason why London should suffer from
lack of transportation facilities, when cap
ital is going begging and the electrical
science of the world is at its beck and call.
MIR. Johnson's Concessions.
Mr. Albert Johnson of New York is inter-
ested in an entirely different scheme, his
Iy-;p in he direction of suburban
surface traction, especially in Manchester
and Liverpool and the large cities of the
north, where he is acquiring important con-
cessions.
The announcement that Mr.. Francis How
ard, the sen OF Mrs T. p. OConnor by
previous marriage, is representing the lead
ing artists in his visit to the United States
In order to induce the United States govern
ment to establish a national art gallery, ap-
pears to be premature. The Daily Chron-
icle says:
He has it is true asked Messrs. Sargent
and Whistler whether a national gallery
had their approval, and both made an OBJ.
vious affirmative reply. But there is no ques-
ton OF an agency and hardly one of an -ad-
vocacy of national galleries, in the sense of
international galleries, which the leading
cities of America already have, and pure
ly patriotic collection in which Benjamin
Vests would BE- flanked by Whistlers would
not be particularly eXhilaratng."
Two cukes viii. soon arrive in the United
States, the Duke of Manchester and his
bride, who, with A'r. Kruger, has divided
the honors of the EEK in public interest,
and the Duke Of Newcastle, who sails De-
cember 4. The latter Intends to spend a
few months in Florida, return ing in April.
He will not be accompanied by he duchess.
All sorts of rumors are current about the
jockey club investigation into Lord Dur
hams charges against Lester Reif, among
which is the allegation that a well-known
sportsman bribed Jockeys with large
amounts during the past season. with large
profits. Whatever the truth of this. it is
certain that the investigation has developed
into a far larger scope than when it COM
menced, and now involves grave issues, in
which English, well American, jock
eyS and owners are concerned.