New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-03
FROM THE FOREIGN FIELD
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
Nesp Combinations of European
DipLomacy-Kings Progress.
especsl to The New-Yorit Tribune by French Csble)
Copyright. 1903: BY The Tribune Assoclation)


Copyright. 1903. BY The Tribune Assoclation)
London. May Punch" happily portrays
coutemporaneous history through a pair
Of English spectacles. not made in Germany.
Bernard Partridge illustrates the trap that
failed in a cartoon with cautious British lion
avoiding the Bagdad Railway ptfall. and with
The German Emperor half concealed by rocks.
Iinlev Sambourne depicts with vivacity the
new chain of friendship with the King galantiy
passing around the circle Of maidens-Portugal
and Italy behind him and coquettish France
lightly clasping the royal hand. These pictorial
rarables symbolic the new combinations Of Eu-
ropean diplomacy, which are momenJarily popu-
lar in England. The anti-Gerrlan feeling has
triumphed here. and has carried the sovereign,
the government and the nation into the Franco
Russian circle. Italy. while remaining in the
Triple Alliance, has made advances toward
France and strengthened the bonds of oldtime
friendship with England. The cordial reception
of the King in Paris and the satisfaction with
which the revival of French good feeling is
hailed here are signs that British ascendency
IN Egypt has been condoned and that the allies
sn the Crimean war are again on the best pos
sIbIe terms with Russia no longer enemy,
hut useful and serviceable friend temporarily.
These striking changes in European diplomacy
gre a great gain. British control of the Suez
Canal and the direct passage TO India are
fnchaIlenged. and Fashoda has lost Its
sting British naval armaments need not
be increased, since the British feet can be
reinforced by the Russian. French and italian
fleets instead of being measured and armed
against a coalition. Germany, moreover, has
been virtually isolated from the circle Of Euro
pean alliances a dangerous competitor
rwayed by enlightened self-interest. These are
Trifi
view Th~re are critical experts. however. who
consider the new lenses of the British pair OF
spactacles ADAPTED for nearsightedness alone
They assert that Russian diplomacy commands
the situation in Manchuria and the Balkans and
that the balance Of power in Europe has been
shattered. They point TO the subtle processes
Of Russian diplomacy in China and the prac-
deal evidence from Macedonia that the Balkan
States are kept divided and distracted and that
the Northern power is patiently bidlng her time
and will ultimately occupy Constantinople With
out resistance from the Western powers and
seize Jerusalem when the ottoman Empire
breaks uD-
The Kings progress from capital 10 capital
has been watched with pride by his own SUD
5ects. The familiar way of putting the case al
the London clubs is that the uncle has taugh'
the nephew that there is more than one SOW
ereign il Europe and more than one way oi
making the resources of great empire IelI
The Kings mana cement Of delicate issues H
Rome and Paris has been mastery and charac-
terized By consummate tact His prestge mas
Increased at home and abroad. The royal prog
ross on the Continent and the Kings interven-
tion both in South African affairs and lrlsn
politics have pointed the same moral namely
that the personal authority and influence OF tiie
sorereign have been strengthened during 'He
present reign.
Domestic politics is dull with the irisn
Land bill reduced TO the question Of improVe-
rrent IN administrative detail and with the
contest over the London Education bill mar
roped down 10 the perfunctory effort OF tne
Opposition 10 raise the religious question ane"
THAT the speech Of the Prime Minister TalISlI's
the Unionist clans passes almost without on-
eervation. The money market is so weak VIII
the bank rate artifcialy maintained from mo-
tives Of caution when the issue Of the TransNsaI
loan is expected next week. that the buIls ana
bears Of the Stock Exchange have forsaker
business for walking match from LONDON lo
Brighton. and are seeking to book seats Tor tiit
July motor Derby in Ireland
The chief resource Of the halfpenny evening
press OF ali colors is the ghastly Moat Farm
fnysterv with new evidence that truth IS stran-
ger than any fiction of Reade. Dickens or Stev-
enson an dthat murder will out, even though
elder trees take root the body concealed IN
ditch four years ago. and the victims money
has been drawn from the bank on forged checks
London is fun OF movement with the opening
Of the season, which promises TO be a brilliant
far court functions are concerned, and
8 useful one from the point OF view Of the match
making dowagers. Dances for daughters aho
Continued fourth paEe.