New-York tribune., 1903-03-01
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
Interest en- Balkan PyobIem-CdnG-
dian Boundary Commission.

tsreclSf 10 The Nsw-York Tribune by French cabisJ
Copyright: 1908: BY The Tribune Associationl
London. Feb. 2S.-Macedonia remains the
storm centre. The sincerity Of Russia and
Austria Hungary in cooperating for the main
teuance OF peace cannot be questioned. The
Car z hhors wer, and shrinks from raising the
Eastern question in so aggressive a form as
II involve the necessity for 4 resumption OF the
Russian march 10 Constantinople. The EN-
peror OF Austria is an old man. worn OUT VIII
the Ia bor Of keeping a confederation OF antag-
onisttc races together in a dual monarchy. Thelr
characters the best guarantee OF the SIN
ceritv OF the negotiations with the Sultan and
the powers. The Sultan's prompt acceptance
Of the reform scheme is prima facfe evidence
that he Was consulted in advance, and that the
r,av-ers asked fer what they knew they could
get
While the representatives OF the powers were
Tot conspicuous for dignity in standing oefore
the Sultan with their hats in their hands ana
begging him TO say how little II would please
him 20 do delay and inaction were aVerteo
when the prearranged reform proposals were
presented and Immediately accepted. The means
provided for carrying the scheme were,
moreover satisfactory Application OF the re-
forms 20 the disturbed districts vas left unoer
Yhe personal control of the consuls and the gen.
eraI superN ision Of the ambassadors. Ihe
mowers in this way shared responsibility with
Of government in Southeastern Europe The
chief source Of danger is the ungovernaole char
acter of the AIbanians. who have an appetite
for hIoodshed repugnance to foreigners, and are
hapniest when they are fighting. either with
friends enemies.
The battaliors which are sent by the Sultan
n the disturbed district are undisciplned and
in full sympathy with these natural rebels
against authority. An outbreak Of hostilities
against the Christians or an attack upon the
foreign consuls may transform the situation at
any moment. The BuIgarians now under
control but they may become unamanageable
as soon as the AIbanians are tempted to display
,heir dislike for foreigners and lust for blood
Tn. poIitical situation in the United Kingdom
has net been cleared by the fortnfghts debate
in the Commons. The majority OF the govern
rnent for the army amendment was artificially
produced. The NationaIists practically out
of politics until the land bill is presented They
covered the Unionist defections by abstaining
from division. The ministers have prohted anew
~ Irish neutrality. as they did at the last ses-
Eion's struggle the Education bill The
time is coming when they must settle with the
Nationalists and this only be at the ex-
uense Of the British taxpayers. Mr.. Wyndhams
bill when produced. will show how, much the
country will be forced to pay for the settlement
Of the land question. and transfer the Irish
votes 10 the Unlonists In the doubtful. districts
OF EnRaEa and scotlszd- ~ess - =
The Liberals acted wisely in allowing the dis
contented Unionists to manage the debate on
army reorganization. Their chief source Of hope
is the revolt of the taxpayers against the gov
ernment- Lord Rosebery perceives this with
sure instinct His moderate and temperate
speeches on the thesis that imperialism is not
necessarily synonymous with expense and ex-
haustior Of the resources of the taxpayers are
T1.-F1
out the country. The services Of Mr. Chamber
lin Will be urgently required on the Unionist
sde in the next general elections. and new
programme Of social legislation is not unlikely
There has been no marked change in Anglo
American relations. The English journals dis
,uss the Alaska boundary question with exces-
sfre caution There is earnest desire to have
tire question settled. since it may be rendered
highly dangerous issue any day by fresh gold
discoveries but there is a clear recognition of
the obligation of the mother country to so
loyal confederation as Canada. Questions re-
lsting 10 the personnel of the commission at
tract little attention here. No sensible jour
ralist supposes that the commission can be
made up like a backwoods jury in murder
case and that only those without opinions and
convictions are eligible for service.
The interest OF the government in the St
Louis Exposition needs TO be stimulated bolH
France and Germany will outciass England in
general exhibits unless the royal commission
have a generous money grant. Governor
Francis has been disappointed by the slight
notice which his speech at the American dinner
attracted. He was not well advised in making
SO long an address. The American Embassy is
exerting itself to secure more sympathetic &C
zion from the British Government, and good
commission will certainly be sent to st. Louis.
ard probably the money grant will be increased.
Rudyard FipIng's poem The Settlers is
hailed with delight by the imperialsts as it-
ting epIIogue to Mr. Chamberiain's mission THE
Spectator describes it majestic patriotic
verse by which the laurel crown Of the empire
has been earned, and suggests that. as every
rsrish has wears churchwarden and peo-
rle's churchwarden also England is entitled
TO have a Kings laureate and a peoples lau-
reate. This is the unkindest cut which Lord
Tennvson'S successor has received.
The corrcspondence between Lady Roses
Daughter" and the memoirs of Mile. de Les
rinasse has not escaped the observation of
English resders Of Mrs Humphry Wards
story but there has been no public comment
upon II in any journal or I'm any review OF the
hook while IN courEe of serial puoilcauoh. MFs-
Ward is going abroad as as the novel is
published next week.
The fact that a large collection of Margaret
FuIIers letters should have escaped the atten-
rion OF numerous biographers, and have been
reserved for a new book, is easily explained
The text Of the letters to Mr.. Nathan will show
the e,.idence Of 2 previously unknown love af-
fair which preceded the italian romance with
dFrr