New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-06-27
AN IMPERIAL CONFERENCE
TIE QUESTION OF COURT APPEAL, FRo,,
THE BRITISH COLONIES.
SOUTH AFRICAN AND CUBAN CAMPS OF
CONCENTRATION cOMPARED-A FASH
IONABLE FUNCTION.
foopyrigalt. 1901: BY The New-York Tr,h,rs,
LHE CARLE 70 LIE .rnInr-..=

taking NJ The question or court appeal. Canada
Australia and other colonies were represented
hut nothing decisive was done. This conference
Is one Of the sequences 10 the Australian com
7nonwealth settlement, which was arranged nv
q compromise between Mr.. Chamberlain and
Mr. Barton. and which left Canada and other
colonies in an anomalous position. The oues-
ton IS not a difhcult one. and Mr. Chamber
lain VIII be able TO find a solution for II II
really lies on the fringe of the whole fabric of
Imperial federation. the wool of which few Eng
fish statesmen understand. Mr. Chamberlain and
Lord Miner are perhaps the only two great
Englshmen who have the power of forecasting
the trend Of the forces of public opinion through
out the empire, and they are in advance of the
time They know that the time will come when
there VIII be a Parliament for the empire in
which the United Kingdom may be outvoted
and which will order customs relations on bust
ness principles for the welfare of all dependen-
ces included IN an imperial Zollverein. Other
statesmen are little Englishuen in comparison
with these two sagacious imperialists
The war news remains meagre Lord Kitchener
and the London journals acting on the principle
that the least said the soonest mended. Public
apathy respecting the war is illustrated by the
Indifference with which Sir Henry Campbell
Bannerman's misleading parallel between the
clearing operations in South Africa by British
troops and those in Cuba by the Spanish gen
erals IS regarded. Nobody finds It necessary 10
point out that whereas the Cubans were driven
out from their homes into encampments. where
they starved and persisted from pestilence the
Beers have been sheltered and fed in laagers
under the protection Of British garrisons Lord
Miner tells me these Boer refugees have re-
ceived medical attendance when they required
g. regular rations have been served out to them
and in many instances their children have been
sent regularly TO school There have been some
exceptional instances. but the processes by which
districts have been cleared have been essentially
different from those employed by the Spanish
generals IN extirpating the Cuban population.
II the London journals had more enterprise they
would send out special correspondents to let the
people at home know how the country is settling
down. and what is really going Considerable
progress has been made toward pacihcation Of
the Dutch colonies, many mines about Johan-
nesburg are IN operation and the farmers around
the leading railway towns resumng their
usual occupations and sending supplies into the
market.
Lord Miner has improved in health since his
turn 10 England in spite Of the constant pressure
OF business with the Colonial Office and unceas-
tng social invitations. He takes broad view OF
the situation in South Africa, and is hopeful that
the end OF the war VIII soon be reached and re-
construction measures be adopted.
The evening fete IN aid of the Lifeboat Satur-
day Fund was q unique entertainment, in which
the smart sets were keenly interested Stafford
House, the most beautiful private residence in
London. was brilliantly Illuminated and "A
Comedy Of Errors was enacted in the gardens
n the sumptu0us style Of Ben Jonson's
Mosques IN the oldtime Whitehall Gardens
There was a concert, with Melba, Ancona. Ku-
belik and other singers and musicians, and the
great gilt domed banquet hall was crowded at
the supper hour. There was a wonderful dis
play Of flowers IN all the main rooms and the
Corridors and arrangements for lighting the
house and lawn We're ingenious. It pictu-
rescue function of fashion, with millionaires
scattering their soveregns with a free hand
Lord Salisbury at the United Club dinner last
night administered a caustic rebuke TO those of
his followers who seem TO think that the in
efficiency Of the Liberal party absolves them
from a strict performance Of their Parliamentary
duties. The Prime Minister dealt with the great
moral gain which has accrued TO this country
through the war and certainly the Stratford
election shows that the policy OF the government
in South Africa is still generally popular The
Liberal candidate held nearly advanced views
as Labouchere. and he has been soundly routed.
IN this condition of affairs it is interesting 10
learn that Mr.. Asquith's friends intend at an
early date to entertain him at a dinner in
recognition Of the service rendered to the Lib
eral party by his recent speech.
Admiral Erben is making some stay in Lon
don.
At the lawn tennis championship meeting yes
terday considerable interest was taken in the
match IN the second round Of the mems doubles
between the American cracks. Dwight Davis and
H. Ward, and the well known English players,
HIlyard and caves. The visitors won after
some good play. l. y. f.
W. ". ASTOR ENTERTAINS.
London, June 26.-William Waldorf Astor gave
a dinner and a splendid concert at his residence.
at Carlton House Terrace, tonight. in honor OF
u. Paderewsh and Nine. Emma Eames. MI.
Aefor's q11esrs included the Duchess of RoX-
hnrnha - Lot ns titled rnersnnages.