Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-31
WAR OFFICE IS
IN DARKNESS
SALISBURY, THE ENGLISH PRE-
MIER, HID AWAY ON THE
CONTINENT.
POLITICIANS LOOKING
OUT FOR REELECTION,
England Disjusted Over Large For.
eign Fleets in Chinese
Waters.

New York, August 31.-A dispatch to
the Tribune from London says:
Nothing is known mere of the note of
the United States to the powers; but this
Is not surprising as che foreign Office at
present is a mere forwarding agency to
transmit documents to Lord Salisbury
at MS place of retirement on the Franco
German frontier. If 4 formal commune
cation of the purport suggested by the
washington dispatches was received in
n kind could be taken on it until the
text had been dispatched to the prime
minister n considered by him.
Mr.. Broderick's references to the Chi
nese question in his speech of Wednes-
day have made some impression, chiefly
affairs is one of the very few ministers
who is not now on a holiday and also
because he is believed to share Lord Sal
isbury's confidence. Mr.. Broderick's
words, however, were extremely vague
and only repeated that Great Britain is
not to be forced into accepting the large
responsibilities in China, while at the
same time her maiesty's government Is
determined to defend British interests.
Not much a be made out Of this,
though no doubt it accurately reflects
the non-committal attitude Of the Brit
ish cabinet. 1t must be remembered that
Mr.. Broderick's speech was primarily in
tended for electiOneering purposes. He
stated almost in so many words that the
government will. if it can. get a reason
able opportunity. dissolve parliament
and appeal to the constituencies in the
cours Of the autumn. With that pros
pect before them and with the whole Of
their South African war policy to defend,
he ministers are not anxious for the
electors to imagine that there may be a
long, difficult and costly task before the
country in eastern Asia as well as in
South Africa
Fol- this reason English diplomacy
ever if busy lust now tends to be I'M
usually unobtrusive. and all appearance
Of undue activity and aggression will be
avoided If possible for fear Of frightening
Y the electors who have had quite as much
in the way Of imperialism and A spirited
foreign policy for the last few months a.
they care for. At the same time the
grave character of the Chinese outlook
Is not at all minimized by well-informed
persons here. official and unofficial, and
1t is recognized that Great Britain may
have to arrive at a most important de-
cision at an early date.
I believe the war Office has already
made preparations for keeping the two
indian armies and nearly a brigade of
English troops in the far east all winter
and that if the South African war comes
to a close this Htumn. a number of regi-
ments which were intended to come bone
will be shipped off to the far east. II
uOeS IlOl lOllU" THAT IN DIlllSI BONeTn-
ment contemplates further military op-
erations in China, but it feels that il
must be prepared for eventualities.
One of the most disquieting circum.
stances for British statesmen is the
name in which the naval strength OF
some Of the continental powers in Chi
nese waters. is being increased. The
German battleship squadron arrived al
Hong Kong on Tuesday and leaves there
for the north this week. Thus both Ger.
many and Russia will have more thar
England at any rate, so far as battleship!
are concerned, off the North China coast
The rioting at Canton was not in itsel
very serious and was easily suppressed
by the government soldiers but It I!
sympathetic of the unrest which is be.
ginning to spread over southern China
Canton is headquarters of the reform
ing and a~nti-Tartar movement and tn.
feeling against the dynasty, not only be,
cause It's members are 'Manchus, but be
cause thew are northerners, seems to b.
growing in intensity.