New-York tribune., 1903-02-07
IRISH LAND PURCHASE.
GARNET CONSIDERS IT.
Il Defeat for T. ". RusseA-1he
Ne.cs of London.
ESPECIAL to The New-York Tribune oy freneh .'

,snecisi to The New-York Tribune by French Cao'e'
tt-op.risht 1903; BY The Tribune Associati'n''
London, Feb Z, a. m-The Capme. 'ie'
terday to discuss the business coming peioie W.
Parlia nentary session. IT Is tolerapiE easy TINS
wear to forecast the chief features of the ies-
lative programme to be embodied in the hins
speech The Irish Land Purchase Dill ana 'he
London Education bill will be the principai
measures that the government VIII introduce
and between them they are likely to monopolze
a considers ble part of the session. Sir Ahthohy
MacDonnelI. Under Secretary for lrelaha' anu
John Atkinson the Irish attorney General
have been associated with George WFndham III
the preparation of the Land bill. All three iieh
have more liberal views about Ireland ana i's
distresses than they are usually credited @i'h'
and in ireland it is fully believed that the bill as
drafted is good one. A land purchase cahui"A'
has been beaten in South Antrim by 4,oe4 votes
10 3615. and the English Unionist press is joy
ful over what is regarded as big defeat TOT l.
W Russell Leader writer's III the English pa
pers overlook the fact that it was the VoIe OF
Orangemen in Belfast and Lisburr, who are not
interested IN the Land question. that turned the
scales in favor of the Mipisteriast candidate
MIR. Russell is not disappointed. He secured the
bulk of the farming vote and is more determined
than ever to continue his campaign in favor OF
compulsory Land purchase.
The Venezuela mess must be referred to
The Hague This is the general antieipa tion
now that the three cooperating powers refuse
to continue negotiations with Mr.. Bowen. People
here would be pleased if President Roosevelt
took a hand in the game and arbitrated the aues-
tion of preferential treatment, but it is under
stood that be will not interfere. Disappointment
is expressed at the opposition to the Alaskan
treaty. The Westminster Gazette" says II is
a pity that serious quarrel between the two
great friendly English speaking powers cannot
be an1ica bly, settled. and then remarks:
r. as seems likely the United States each
year extends the scope of her diplomacy ner
ministers will find themselves increasingly
hampered by the power which the constitution
gives the Senate
English newspapers are disposed to hold Mr..
Bowen responsible for the delay in settling the
matter. THE Daily Telegraph" says
If the question of preferential claims is
ferred to The Hague tribunal and a decision is
given in favor of equality of treatment, England
viii accept the Judgment with subdued delight;
but the principle must be definitely and autheri-
tstivey included among the recognized rules of
International Law wherein at present II has
place known TO jurists.
A royal commission has been appointed to
consider the question of rapid transit IN Lon
don. AS a consequence many tube schemes bills
for which in Parliament will be de-
layed until 1904 Mr. Yerkes can afford to
gard the commission with undisguised satisfac-
tion Most of his schemes have already re-
ceived Parliamentary sanction, and the appoint
ment of commission must put end for the
present to the proposed extension of the Cen
traI London Railway, which threa tened serious
opposition to the Inner Circle line, which he is
now equipping electrically. Reference to the
commission is very comprehensive, and the
work of investigation will proba bly, last four or
five months The most important point to be
considered is the question of establishing some
authority or tribunal for consideration of all
railway tramway schemes of a local character.
The annual Washngtons Birthday: dinner of
the American Society in London will be held at
the Hotel Cecil on February %. The chair will
be taken by D. c. Haldeman, president of the
society, and 450 guests expected to be pres
eft. Invitations have been issued specially to
a large number of prominent commercial men
throughout Great Britain. David r. Francis
ex- Governor of Missouri and president of the
st. Louis Exposition will be among the speak
ers and it is understood that he will refer O
the scope of the exposition with a view no
doubt of inducing adequate representation of
British crafts and industries at the great show
/. r. r.