The times., 1901-03-31
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Joseph Chamberlain at Present
MonoDoIiyiuE Public Attention.

I
MonoDoIixing Public attention.
| LONDON. March 81 week such as
| this goes some way to justify those Euro
| pean critics of England who maintain that
| Joseph Chamberlain is the man that
chiefly matters in English public life. In
the early part of thef week the libel ac-
ton brought by his brother Arthur. a
Birmingham ma manufacturer and contrac-
tor with the Admiralty and War Office,
| against two London Radical halfpenny
journals, was the main theme of public
discussion. The action was the sequel to
the campaign directed by the extreme
Radicals against Joseph Chamberlain
during the general election on account Of
the connection of his family with Govern
Tnent contracts and now that q London
jury has awarded Arthur Chamberlain a
paltry thousand dollars to salve his
wounded feelings. both sides claim the
victory, one moral. the other material.
Against Joseph Chamberlain himself no
charge in connection with State contracts
was brought. or could be sustained. but
that does not prevent journals represent
ing the old school of aristoCratic Tory
ism with whom commercially-mi
Chamberlain is now in alliance, from
reading Chamberlainism a pretty little
lecture on the beauties Of the ethical
standards associated with Caesars wife.
And as the week began with Mr.. Cham
berlain. so It has ended. The Continental
comic papers are poking merciless fun at
England. because of the fghtings in Mrs.
Britannias army kitchen. which Lords
WolseIey and I.ansdowne disclosed in
their recent conflict in the House Of
Lords. mo wonder" says Britannia, Il
GOT -,yt.h i Il no Il
bates in the House OF Commons present
a parallel spectacle in the Colonial De-
pdrtment
Mr.. Chamberlain, not content with ov-
er-riding in the privacy of official corre-
sp0ndence General Kitcheuers peace
terms to General Botha, has gone out of
the way to publicly deride General kitch-
euor as a peacernaker. General kitche-
ner fay oTed amnesty to the Cape rebels.
i cannot, so Mr.. Chamberlain told the
House of Commons on Thursday con
cevc anything more mischievous Cen
cral Kitchener proposed certain form
Of elective assembly in the Boer States
MIR. ChambeTaiu's comment is: How
any man who knows anything Of ch2 sit
uation can make such a preposterous pro-
posai as that we should commence wit II
an elective assembly, l cannot for the ME
OF me understand" Sir Alfred Miner,
too, is not exempted, for in answer TO
those who contend that Mr.. Chamberlain
IS himself the greatest obstacle TO peace,
Mr.. Chamberlain declares that Sir Al
fred Is the man TO whom the Beers take
special objection This triangular duel
between the Colonial Secretary, the Com
Chief, and the High Com1nis-
sioner is hardly a help TO that peace for
;rf, iCs es+ Y
is the further disclosure of this week
that the War Office. having by eXcep-
tional effort seraped together $4,000 fresh
regulars and volunteers for General
Kitchener's more active pursuit Of the
Boer commandos, is taking no steps to fiji
up vacancies as they arise, or to replace
the troops whom a years continuous war
fare has rendered stale
Englishmen long ago made up their
minds on Mr.. Clevelaads part in the Ven
ezuelan affair. Nothing he can now say
win alter it. The Times" indeed, seems
TO be the only journal that thinks it nee
essary even to report Mr. Cleveland 5
Princeton remarks. The capture OF Aguin-
aldo also attracts singuiarly little notice.
4 more general Angio-American theme
is Americas : apparently calm reception of
what the Spectator" today calls Lord
Landsdowne's easy and logical diplomatic
victory over the Senate and State Depart
meut regarding the Nicaragua Canal
There il no doubt that business men gem
orally here would welcome the construc-
tion of a canal by America as good for
trade. and marvel that the politicians
cannot arrange their side of the question
satisfactorily. Naval experts smile at
English official nervousness and restate
commands the sea it little matters who
builds the land batteries.
The approaching launch ct Belfast on
April l. OF the White Star Liner Celtic,
Of 2tU1 tons. leads Mr q. w. Woin, NJ.
r., the builder, to declare that the Celtic
by no means approaches the limit in size
of transatlantic steamers He says:
we will undertake 20 build steamers
up to 5000 tons, perhaps over. If money
be found and the harbor authorities make
harbors spacious and deep enough. Yes
seIS OF the size of the Celtic and Oceanic
would have been impossible only fifteen
years ago. but since then harbors like
those Of Liverpool and New York have
been dredged to accommodate comfort
ably ships drawing thirty-two feet. Their
example might be wisely followed by
other ports"
The Grand National was run yester-
day at Liverpool in a SnoWstorm. The
oxford and Cambridge boat race was row
ed tins morning in a southwestern half
gale. Everyone grumples at the depreSS-
ing persistence OF biting winds. Farmers
report heavy losses among lambs Sports
men alone seem happy, for March has
been for them the one redeeming feature
OF the hunting season.
London will In q few weeks be the scene
OF one OF the most important assemblies
in the recent history Of modern medi-
cine namely, tn congress on TuberCu-
iOsis. The scientists taking part include
Prof Koch NJ. Henri Mouod, Director of
the French Public Service; DIR. Herman
Biggs of New York: Prof. Sheridan Dele |
pine. of Manchester; Or. RouX, Prof. |
Bendal. Of Berlin: DR.. Heron, Sir r.
Douglas Powell, Prof. Sims Woodhead.
and Prof. Sir George Brown The eSpe-
cial subject of discussion Will be the in |
huence Of climate on the treatment Of !
and how far the forms Of |
the disease can be grouped for treatment |
under certain climates.