New-York tribune., 1903-01-24
BRITISH HANDS TIED.
Joint Responsibility IN Penezuela-
Lynch's Case.
Special to The New-Yort Tribune by French cable'

Especial to The New-York Tribune by French Cabieo
Copyright: By The Tribune Association'
London, Jan. "a / a.. m.-The indignation eN-
pressed by American journals over the con-
tinuance of Germany's harassing operations
against Venezuela does not excite surprise III
England The attempt of the German naFdl
authorities to destroy the San Carlos fortlhea-
tions. capture a gunboat in Lake Maracaipo
and interrupt the passage of supplies from ~
lombia eastward is considered most inopportune
by all English writer's commenting on the al
fair since it is direct affront to the Washing
ton Government, which is striving TO MAKE
peace and procure satisfactory settlement OF
outstanding claims. Hands which are tied can
not. however be publicly washed when respon-
sbty for the hostilities at Maracaibo is dls-
claimed The German commanders may not
receive orders through the British Admiralty,
but the alliance binds 10th nations. and. ac-
cording to the Berlin press whatever is done Oh
the coast of Venezuela is by joint authority.
If Germany be guilty OF unfriendiy conouce
toward the United States England as part
ner in the alliance with her, is also responsible.
This obligation to support an ally whose swas-
gering methods and offensive manners cannon
be controlled lends emphasis to the warnings
from the strongest Conservative journals that
there will be grave dssa tisfaction throughout
the United Kingdom if the alliance with Ger
many involves England in any sort OF trouble
with the United States. The Yorkshire Post
sums up the matter thus:
We are not prepared to sacrifice American
friendship to German mpetuositv-
The court and ministry between them have
put England in a false position. II the truth
were not known that there is joint RESPONSE
bility for the blockade which Mr.. Balfour him.
self described belligerent rather than pacinc.
protests from the British press against the Ill
NJ thp
commanders would be more emphatic. As 1t Is
Englishmen who abhor the German alliance
must carry Kipling's 'rowers" in their waist
coat pockets md keep silent S@hen the German
Emperor is demonstrating how useful ana
costly navy can be in disturbing the peace OF
the world and creating bad blood.
The Lord Chief Justice summed UP the case
against Colonel Lynch in perfunctory way
after he had concluded an ineffective argument
and the Crown lawyers had replied. The YER
dict of the jury caused surprise in court
and the death sentence was passed without a.
sign of emotion the prisoners face Lynch,
while a traitor to his country, as many thou
sands of the Kings Dutch subjects also were.
was a victim of Irish politics. He would not
have been prosecuted for treason If the Galway
electors had not elected him to Parliament His
deliverance from the death penalty will follow
of Irish politics. Whether the death sentence
be commuted to Imprisonment, or free pardon
be ultimately arranged. may be uncertain. but
the government is not likely to smother the
new Irish policy OF land purchase and concilia-
ton by hanging Lynch, much less beheading
him in the old style
Lord Lansdowne well enough yesterday
to receive the deputaton from thirteen Cham
bers of Commerce the subject of British
trade in Cuba. The proceedings were strictly
private. but it is Understood that the various
speakers, who included 7. P. O'Connor, Sir
Henry Norman and Sir Alfred Jones. appealed
to the Foreign Secretary to try to secure
modification of the terms of the reciprocity
treaty between America and Cuba. They urged
that British trade will be seriously interfered
| ith IL the treaty is not amended. Lord Lans-
downe's reply it is believed. gave much salts
faction. l. n. f.