New-York tribune., 1900-12-15
FATE OF THE TREATY.
BRITISH FEELING OVER THE sEYATEs
ACTION.
TONE OF THE LONDON PRESS GI,ooM
OVER REvERsEs TO BRITISH
ARMS IN AFRICA.

Copyright: 1900; BY The New-York Tribunel
IBT cABLE TRIBUNK.l
London. Dec. IL. 6 a m.-Henry Norman made
his bow in Parliament yesterday in asking a
series OF hypothetical questions respecting an
interooeanie waterway in Central America. but
viscount Cranborne declined to discuss the sub
sect.
Any forecast OF the action OF the Foreign
ofice the Hsy-Pauncefote Treaty would be
premature, since the subject cannot be taken up
ofically until the Senate has disposed of every
proposal and voted on the amended convention
Much depends upon the temper with which the
Senators discuss the canal question II they
adopt the tone recently taken by Senator Teller
the difficulty OF making any readjustment OF
the canal question VIII be greatly increased.
Negotiations which might have offered a promise
OF success year ago are now less hopeful be-
cause certain uncompromising things have been
said in the Senate and have caused irritation and
resentment here. Much also depends upon the
tone OF the English press in discussing the action
o. the Senate 1t has been temperate on the
whole so far but shows sign OF supporting
the Government I'm any further concessions TO
the United States. The St. James's Gazette"
describes the conduct OF the Senate in passing
the Davis amendment as 'fmpudent" and con-
tends that England must fan back on her rights
when asked TO abrogste the Clayton -Bulwer con-
vention. The Pail Mall Gazette" asserts that
the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty has received death
blow. and other journals assert that the oppo-
stion Of the trunk railways has killed the canal
project, that the Mckinley Administration has
received q more serious blow than the Salisbury
Government. and that no negotiations can be
undertaken. either for the acceptance OF the
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty or for the abrogation of
the convention Of 1850. unless full equivalents
are offered for every concession demanded.
The best hope Of any readjustment of the
canal question by diplomatic means lies in the
speedy ratification OF the treaty with as few
additional amendments possible. But this is
saying little. Lord Lansdowne cannot with rea-
son be expected 10 acquiesce in any new ar
rangements for canal unless there is a general
settlement OF all Canadian questions or some
system OF compensating advantages based on
give and take principles This is clearly the
opinion Of the English press. which regrets the
revival OF n vexatious controversy with the
United States.
Lord Kitchener's evil tidings OF Boer success
in the Iransvaal put everybody on the Minis
terial side in bad huuor in the Commons yes
terday. The news had been suppressed by the
War Once overnight, as was the official habit
year ago when reverses occurred. but there had
been leakage in some military club, and the
haIfpenny Express" had let out the secret
General KItchener's bulletin was not clear and
military men suspicious last night that the
worst had not been told. that the British losses
would prove heavy, that a considerable body Of
prisoners had been taken, and that BrOadwood's
cavalry hnd met with fresh reverse. Even If
these alarms were not well founded. there was
evidence that General Clements had been at
tncled with great spirit by formidable Boer
fierce. that his camp had been rendered unten-
able by the capture OF the Magaliesberg. and
that the British army had been compelled to
retreat. There was the same grim look on Eng
lish faces yesterday which was seen year ago.
when everything went wrong with Gatacre.
Methuen and Butler. and preparations for the
Thanksgiving service at St. PauTs over the
turn OF Lord Roberts early in January were dis
cussed in a cynical tone The situation at STAN
derton, Koomatipoort and elsewhere
garded by military men as serious. and there
was a good deal OF croaling al Westminster. A
more judicious view was that the Beers were
taking advantage Of the exposed position OF the
British camps. but that their stock OF ammu-
milton must soon be exhausted and their struggle
against overwhelming numbers be brought to
end.
No further news has been received this morn
ing from South Africa, and the fate OF the
Northumberland Fusiliers is still in doubt The
defeat OF General Clements has caused general
disappointment, but il is hoped that Colonel
Broadwood may be able 10 send intelligence more
pleasing TO Englishmen. The newspapers insist
that he must have heard the lighting, and moved
toward the scene OF conflict, and they are not
inclined 20 admit that any mishap may have
befallen him. French as well as Anderson, is
reported 70 De moving to Clements's aid. and the
British faith in the ability Of the man who re-
leved Kimberley 10 redeem the situation is al
most universal The situation is particularly an
noying 20 British amour propre because IL was
only a few weeks ago announced that Deiarey
had been surrounded by Clements, and the capt
of the Boer corlmandant was not unex-
pected II Is urged that the Beers are still more
mobile than the British. and the success or
Kitchener's plan Of operations viii depend upon
a further large supply OF mounted troops able TO
move with rapidity and unencumbered by
heavy comulissariat This week is the ami
yersary Of the Black Week OF the war, when the
English were beaten al Stormberg, Magersfon-
TEN and Colenso. Exactly twelve months ago
to-day Colenso was fought EN.F.
COMMENT OF THE BRITISH PRESS.
ADOPTION OF THE DAVIS AMENDMENT
ChTrSEG DrFP RFSENTMFNT