Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-12
OUR LONDON LETTER
Absence of Cabinet Ministers
Provokes Comment.
MAYPASSARMYREFORM
JAPAN EAGER AND RUSSIA UN-
WILLING TO FIGHT.
Motorists UNHAPPY Over Recent Regula-
tions-"Bridge" Game Makes
Spendthrifts.
cial Correspondence of The Evening Star.

LONDON, december z, 1910.
Yesterdays hastily convened cabinet
meeting has aroused considerable curiosity,
which is increased by the fact that it will
be held on Friday, and hundred and one
different guesses are being made at the
cause Thibet naturally comes first to
the mind after Mr.. Balfour's speech on
Friday night. The full significance of the
premiers reference to the Indo-Thibetan
boundary does not seem to have been fully
grasped as yet, but 1t cannot be regarded
as other than preliminary warning to
Russia, and 1t will be interesting to see
what is the continental view of this part
of the speech
The premler's words dispose of the belief
in certain European capitals that Lord Cur
zon is acting as independently of the home
government as Admiral AleXief Is doing In
Manchuria and Corea, but those who take
this view are probably pretending to over
look the real factors of the situation both
In Thibet and the far east for their own
purposes. Yesterdays gathering at the for
eign office lasted longer than was expected,
but no alarm is felt, and there appears to
be no occasion for undue excitement de-
spite the vague rumors of large orders or
Welsh coal for the far east, and reports
that the admiralty have engaged large
number of surgeons.
At the same time it cannot be overlooked,
and the fact has already occasioned COM
ment in France, that not a single cabinet
minister Is included in the party of English
members of parliament who are now being
entertained in Paris. although it is be-
ifeved strong efforts were made to in
duce Mr.. Bafour and Mr.. Wyndham to
make the journey. Not only this, but
neither Sir Edward Monson. England's
ambassador in the French capital. nor NJ.
Delcasse, the foreign minister of the re-
public, were present at the banquet on
Thursday evening. The absence of both
Of these gentlemen is certainly strange,
and the most plausible reason Is that they
stayed away to obviate the necessity which
would have devolved upon them of making
speeches.
The Anglo-French entente cordiale Is
growing without doubt, but it is by no
means as complete many people are in
clined to imagine. A great deal was heard
some time ago of the slackening of the
bond between France and Russia, but there
is evidence that efforts have not been want
ing of late to revive the good feeling be-
tween the two countries.
The friendship for Russia is still very
strong in France, and it may prove an i'm
portant factor in the development of the
better feeling with England, for there are
those who favor an understanding between
England France and Russia
May Shelve Army Reforms.
No one attaches very much Importance to
the vague rumors which have been flying
aDout SiiiCC odtuI udy do W Lie pfOUdDlllty
of early dissolution Most politicians,
indeed, would hardly have given them a
second thought but for the prominence
given them by some Of the radical papers
today, With the liberals, of course the
wish IS parent to the thought, though 1t is
possible they might receive very rude
awakening as to the trend of public feel
ing If the government made that instant
appeal to the country for which they crave
The government, however, has no intention
of forcing an early general election When
It does come, it must necessarily turn upon
the fiscal question, and other questions will
be practically forgotten 1t would be a
thousand pities il the subject of army re-
form were thus put upon the shelf. Hap
PLY. however, Mr.. Balfour's last speech
be allowed and to that speech the rumor-
mongers may be referred as giving the
coup de grace to any idea that the imme-
date dissolution is in prospect
~' l have made point of making inquiries
in a quarter which is of the highest au-
thority as to the exact position which has
been reached in the crisis between Japan
and Russia. My informant, while unwilling
to be too definite, declares the newspaper
reports as to the Japanese war fever to be
only slightly exaggerated. Statesmen at
Toxic are fully alive to the fact that il
war must come 1t will be better for their
country sooner than later, and the fact that
the Anglo-Japanese treaty is for but five
years is an important consideration
Russia Just Blufing.
He declares that Japan is eager to fight,
while Russia. though playing the game of
bluff as skillfully as is her wont, is just as
unwilling. Japan Is determined, come what
may, to drive Russia now into such a def
mite agreement as to the future of Corea as
will mean general war if 1t be broken. In
the alternative Russia must fight, for Japan
means to have her influence in Corea rec
ognized for good and all, and will insist on
the opening of Yougampho and other ports
to foreign trade.
After giving me details too lengthy to re-
peat here, he emphatically states that he
believes war Is inevitable. When 1t comes
the struggle will be in and off the coast of
the Corean empire, as Russia could not
even contemplate an expedition to Japan,
who in addition to the powerful fleet and
an army capable of rapid mobilization to
the strength of 100000 men, has latterly
completed an elaborate and connected sys-
tenn of coast-defense Notifications. He
hints, too, and this is of considerable mo-
ment, that the war will be confined to the
two principals, diplomatic overtures hav-
ing, he suggests, succeeded In bringing
about an agreement on this point
The English county council Is interest
ing itself in the preservation of old build
ings; why not also the old English folk
songs? The suggestion. made by Mr.. Cecil
Sharp may excite a smile on account of it's
seeming trivia-ity- Yet in truth 1t Is not
trivial. Half a century ago French min
of France to be searched and the resulting
collection of French traditional song and
music was deposited in the National LII
brary in Paris.
Spirit of Aud Lang syne.
F'oIk-song differs from folk-speech In the
sense that it voiced a spirit tempera-
ment Of clanship which has almost passed
away. Folk-speech is bred in the bone, and
while preserving traditional traits adapts
itself readily to modern life.
The old folk-ditties die with those in
whose memories they are entwined with
traditional associations, and they are be-
coming fewer year by year. Still, 1t Is as
tonishing how many old English folk-songs
can be discovered by those who know how
apd where to search for them, and the ex-
pertinent tried by Mr.. Sharp himself in
little Somersetshire village is the most in
teresting encouragement to that search
since the publication some years ago of the
Rev. 8. Barring Gould's book on English
Minstrelsie."
Mr.. Sharp, although warned by the vicar
of the parish that there were no folk
songs to be heard. went in and out among
the villagers during a months hol dry.
smoking pipes with the old men and drink
ing tea with the women, and succeeded in
getting the old folks to sing no fewer than
forty new songs" he means forty new old
ones, "or new versions of songs already
known" Among them, he SAYS. are q large