The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-03-08
GREAT UNREST IN RUSSIA.
1t Causes Counter uneasiness in
British Official Circles.
WAR WITH HER SEEMS CERTAIN
The willy Diplomacy OF 1t. Pstersbarx
Has Never Before Been SO Active and
So Menaolnx "A watcnfui Ego ON
Paris.

So MIenacinE "A watchful Eye ON
Paris.
London, March 6.-It cannot be de-
MED that growing uncertainty pervades
official circles here. The thin garb OF
exultation over the capture of Cronje
and his men fails to conceal the feeling
that the future is pregnant Of great pos
sibilities. 1t is a long cry to Bloemfon-
tein; much longer to Pretoria and to
the close of hostilities in South Africa.
The specter that haunts Downing
street is Russia. The willy diplomacy
of st. Petersburg has never before been
sc active and SO menacing, and were it
not that the dowager empress is .un-
friendly to Count Muravieff and his
anti-British schemes, more exciting
episodes than the Boer war might be
looked for.
General discussion the latter part OF
the week just closed has mainly con-
cerned Mr.. Chamberlain's secret mes
sage to the Australian premier. 1t will
be remembered that the colonial secra-
tary inquired how many men the Aus
tralian colonies could send to South
Africa, adding that it was the inten-
ton to withdraw certain troops from
Roberts command for service else
where. 1t is hardly necessary to say
that it was never intended this dis
patch should be given publicity. The
annoying leakage occurred, however,
at Melbourne, and since Thursday the
diplomatic world has talked of nothing
but the possible schemes that underlle
the Chamberlain dispatch.
In certain quarters 1t is looked upon
as a mere ballon d'essai to test the
temper of the chancellories, and to dis
cover whether in reality there exists q
movement antagonistic to England;
but the general view in well-informed
circles is that the Salisbury govern
ment actually intends to prepare for
emergencies. In no place do emergen-
cies exist save in Persia and the At
ghanistan border; and it is in those
directions that the official eye of Eng
land is turned. There has been no
abatement of Muscovite aggression,
and, though the Bunder Abbas affair
has proved to be canard, the number
of British war craft lowering about the
entrance Of the Persian gulf is signif-
cant Of the dread felt by the Marquis
of Salisbury that his attention is likely
to be disagreeably diverted from the
campaign against the burghers. A
watchful eye is also kept on the Quai
d'Orsay in Paris. Delcasse's Irritating
operations in Constantinople, in con-
nection with the cars representative,
are without doubt affecting the diges-
ton Of the ministry. Were it not that
exhibition interests stand in the way,
France, 1t is believed, would ere this
have provoked conflict with England
that might have emDrolle1 Europe.
The speech Of President Mckinley at
the Ohio banquet In New York is cold
~ received. While 1t was expected that,
should he refer to the matter, he would
make a denial Of any secret treaty with
England, it was thought, at the same
time, that some ardent expression
would be uttered touching the Boer
war.
This the president, however, careful
ly guarded against, and anti-American
papers assert that it is gross display
of ingratitude. Reference is bitterly
made to Britain's attitude in the Span
ish war. 1t is recalled that England
stood as bulwark against European
intervention in that affair, and the
statement is added that reciprocity in
friendship might at least be shown In
an assertion, however equivocal, that
the Washington government favored
the contention of Salisbury as against
President Kruger and President Steyn.
Closely analogous with disparage
ment of President MeKinley's speech is
public feeling in England and Scotland
with reference to the United States.
The general tone of the American
press has been SO pronouncedly pro-
Boer that the people are beginning to
look upon the Americans as enemies.
Incidentally it is known that Mr..
|, Chamberlain has become Jealous. He
has almost dropped out Of sight, while
the commanders in South Africa occu-
py the. foreground in the public news.
While there is talk Of dukedolns and
peerages for Roberts. Kitchener and
others, nobody has been SO bold as to
suggest title for Chamberlain. In
stead, the curses invoked on him arc
both loud and deep.