New-York tribune., 1901-04-15
PEACE STILL REMOTE.
xo RELIEF IN SIGHT FOR THE BRITISH
TAXPAYER
ANXIETY OVER ALIEN IMMIGRATION INTO
ENGLAND-SIR EDWARD WATKINS
GREAT SCHEMES.
.Copyright: 1901: BY The New-York Tribune)
lBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l

GREAT SCHEMES
ocopyright: 1901: BY The New-Yorss Tribune)
lBY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.l
1ondon April 15, ] a. m-Military men do not
rseard the outlook in South Africa as entirely
satisfactory although organized Boer opposi-
.son to the British forces is practically at an
snd II is felt that long as the irreconcla bles
nersist their determination to fight the bit
,sr end the war will drag wearily on with here
and there a little British success chronicle and
occasionally news of trifling achievement
IN the part Of the guerillas Meanwhile Kitch-
eners huge army must be maintained, and Eng
,ish taxpayers must be content with the knowl-
edge that the campaign is costing the country
nearly, if not quite, l,5oo,00O every week.
The question of alien immigration is again
forcing its way into prominence A good many
neople fear that, following the colonization Of
South Africa on large scale by and women
of Anglo-SaXon blood at the close OF the war;
there will be an invasion of this country by i'm
noyerished middlemen. pedlers, money lenders
and tailors from Jewish centres of population
on the Continent The feeling among the work
ing classes Of the East End OF London with re-
gard TO the immigration Of destitute aliens Is
very strong Whitechapel is largely inhabited
nv Hebrews Of the very lowest class. whole
streets formerly occupied by industrious II
struggling Englishmen being now occupied by
an undesirable population from The ghettos OF
Western Russia, Germany and Austria Lord
Salisbury, Mr. Balfour and MI chamberlain
have at different times insisted on the necessity
Of preventing destitute aliens from taking up
,heir abode here but the colonization Of the
country with people who are undesira BILE from
every point of view except that OF the sweating
still
n the government have dropped the alien i'm
migration question because they are anxious not
10 lose the political support of the Hebrews In
the big cities
Reports received here to the amount OF the
indemnity claimed by the powers from China
vary TO some extent. For instance. France is
stated by THE Mail" correspondent in Peking
TO be asking for 100000 900, whereas dispatches
from Washington put the amount OF Frances
claim at a much less figure. 1t is considered
more than possible in Peking that the powers
NAV Jointly agree to reduce their bills pro
rata particularly If China will guarantee GER
tain commercial concessions. One difficulty in
the way is that some Of the powers will have
honestly spent the sums they demand. Russia
may be expected to abate her claim, which is
considered quite upjustihable. considering the
relative ease and cheapness with which she was
,able TO mobilize 1t should not be forgotten
Mat Russia is making separate demands for
territorial and commercial privileges, and be-
sides the rolling stock and railroad material
which she annexed in vast quantities and APP
piled to the local needs of the Manchurian line,
must be worth something
There was no more active railway magnate IN
the United Kingdom than Sir Edward Watkin,
who has just passed away at an advanced age
He was connected with many companies either
as chairman or as director, and, like Hudson. he
earned for himself the title Of the English Rail-
way King" His schemes were numerous, put
the English Channel tunnel enterprise, with
which his name will always be associated. was
one Of his greatest mistakes. Watkin waxed
eloquent in describing the enormous advantages
which a tunnel between England and France
would confer upon this country, but all his ef-
forts TO induce legislators to see his scheme as
he pictured it without avail, and to-day
the tunnel is closed and the unfinished work re-
mains as a monument to his misdirected zeal.
Another Of his failures is the Watkin Tower, in
one of the northern suburbs Of London. Wat
kin's idea was to build his tower higher than
the Eiffel Tower in Paris. 1t did not get be-
yond the first stage. however, and probably viii
never be completed. l. n. +.