New-York tribune., 1903-04-26
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
Ministers IN Good Fighting Form
Pro-Russian Feeling.


by the Budget speech. There are various eN-
plantations of Mr. Chamberiain's relations TO
the Budget but these are not authoritative
Mr.. Chamberlain. being the best pontlclah ia
the Cabinet is naturally credited with having
suggested the abolition OF the corn registration
duty and silencing the Liberal agitation ana
exaggerations. which were not without "elshl
AT every bye-election. Mr. Chamberlain now
ever. has been an irnperialst with advanced
views who has openly advocated the zoIIVerein
and preferential duties to favor Canada and the
other colonies and he was probably reluctant
20 draw out the wedge, although it had been
driven only a little way into the trunk OF the
free trade tree. without doubt be was consulted
with the other members Of the Caoihet' ou'
Mr.. Ritchie and Mr.. Balfour between 'heih
share the responsibility for the popular Budget
which brings unexpected relief TO income tax
PAYERS and removes one of the most mischieNous
election cries of the Liberal party
The Tories are not unanimous in approving
the repeal Of the grain registration dnty' ou'
Il cannot be doubted that Mr. Rltchie mas
strengthened the position of the government
With the Irish Land bill approved by National
lists and land owners; with the Basdad halfway
scheme vetoed; with food once more unequiVo-
callv OH the free list, with the exception OF
surar and tea and with consols rising once
more the ministers are now in good hshtlng
form with nothing more serious than the little
war in soInaliland and a protracted struggle 10
menace their peace Of mind The ecohoInIstS
who have been arguing in favor OF large euOi
tjons to indirect taxation and the lnperlalis'e
who have aimed 10 promote closer business ieio
lions with colonies are disappointed anu
,ritfcaI They must blame Sir Michael Hicks
Beach for the failure Of their hopes be hao
fle opportunity in financing the boer
he
insirect raxpavers. hut being d convinced free
trader and standing in awe Of Sir Nlliiam
Vernon Harcourt he neglected to take ao-
vantage Of the supreme occasion. Even "heh
he consented TO put the registration TAX Oh
grain he acted in a half hearted way lhahlns
tl1e duty an insignificant source OF revenue anu
not providing for remissions TO favor 'he
colonies The results of his feeble pohcy were
NOT encouraging. the colonies were not aided
the British agricultural interests were NOT pro
tected. little additional revenue was received
and the hue and cry was raised on every LID
eraI platform about the dear loaf and the aoan-
donment Of free trade.
The ministers have now escaped from a false
rosition ana have silenced the dangerous Lid
eral election appeal: The discontenteo IotS
sqrires and disappointed imperialists VIII soon
he whipped into line. The moral OF the recent
financial expedients is that the revision OF lne
British tariff on higher revenue lines Is a oah-
r-Arors policy which excites the hostility OF the
working classes here. even when they nave no
real grievance. The United states will continue
20 have a free market for food supplies ana
the British colonies must wait indefinitely Ior
DETERMINATIONS in their favor. whether or not
-be, consent to share the expenses of imperial
defence.
The reputation of the Bagdad railway pro
,,oea1s &c sign that the Foreign Office is taking
diplouaatic cues from the press and declined 10
s,Irport Germany in the adoption OF an du-
,nittedfv anti Russian scheme How 1ar Ihe
newspaper censors propose TO go in suostltu'lils
c-e5,1lo5,s confidence in Russian good faith for
serseless dstrust and suspicion Of the subtle
Northern power the editors of The Nauonai
t.e,-iev., and The Spectator have not an
rounced and neither The Times nor MI.
2 Harmsworths haIfpenny 'thunderer" has yet
la5ovred the trend of the anti-German,
r-o-R Russian propaganda. The situation IN
CHINA ought to warn the Foreign Office that
the Russian conditions which are being forced
1pon China are opposed by the japanese and
American interests The Russian policy in the
Balkan peninsula. moreover. is not yet dehned
with sufficient clearness TO warrant British
aoquiesoence in everything arranged at st.
Petersburg
The Kings holiday journey is not diplo=
matte mission but a reception At Paris he
will create better feeling between France and
England. and this account will be hailed
with delight by the new school Of Pro-Russian
press diplomatists-
The related action of the British government
,o amounting a strong commission TO the St
Louis fair is the result of the strenuous ef-
forts of the American Embassy, supported by
2 large staff of agents from America. Ihe
German E.mperors zeal in securing compre-
bengive exhibit from the Fatherland has not
been without effect. It is not considered likely
that the Prince of Wales the president OF
the commission win go TO America. but stranger
things have happened A thoroughly represen-
tative art exhibit from the United Kingdom had
already been arranged, and now Colonel Wat
son starts of with an admirable plan for Sc
curing combination in place of individual ex-
hibits of British manufactures. The Prince of
Wales and Viscount Peel have impaired
immediate impulse to the rnoven- ent for secur-
ing worthy representation of the United King
dom at the Worlds Fair.
Social life has frightened up with the return
Of Parliament Mrs. Morgan Crofton's dance
has been one of the nveliest affairs, and many
dinners for young people were given for it.
Mrs 81 John Brodrick has become one of the
ministerial hostesses, and is giving parties and
receptions in Portland Place The opera opens
next week with a special Ring cycle. for which
new scenery and costumes have been provided
and a strong company Of artists and musicians
has been recruited from Germany and America
Preparations have been made on unprece-
deuted scale At Covent Garden. and music lovers
are expecting ali the giories Of the Bayreuth
festival Sir Henry Irving's production of