New-York tribune., 1903-02-08
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
COMPLICATIONS an the Balkans Nay
Hasten Tene@ueiaR Settlement.

csr.,,s, 50 The S.w-york Tribune by French csbleo
c-opvr,rh,; 1908: By The Tribune Association)
London Feb. THE most amiaole OF recent
lime Ministers taking counsel for TWO oas'
with the Cabinet makes little stir 1t is
q dull game with pawns when the Only Tree
moving knight is removed temporarily from
the board end is ranging in zgzags across
-be high veldt The spectators looking on nho
themselves wondering what tn game OF an
efficient government and high politics "oulo
he like with Mr.. Chamberlain Prime MIN
ister. Lord Curzon Foreign Secretary, Sir Al
fred Nilner in the Colonial Office, and imam
cier of original genius like Mr. Cromer at the
Treasury. Meanwhile every pawn is or Its own
square and cry move of the coming session
,ar he forecast George wyndham's Land bill.
, tho lines Of the Iunraven treaty; the London
Education bill. with fresh compromise Win
local authority and budget with the remission
- the threepence income tax are foregone con-
,lusiors Faithful Scotland. neglected year az
Ter wear. viii also have little licensing Dill as
3 helated reminder that there is a good nit OF
Britain north Of the Tweed
Foreign questions without doubt have been
discussed at two days meeting OF the Cao-
,ne+ The Venezuela question takes precedence
and the Macedonian question is indirectly con-
,,eo,s5 with II because it may become unmen-
areahl4 in The course of few months, and the
German Emperor will need to devote his exclu-
sfrs attention TO the affairs in Southeastern Eu-
-ore The details of the Austro- Russian schene
r. reforms for Macedonia have not been pub
1iehe5 but the fact that Count Larnsdorf and
(-o;lnt GoluchoTski lave considered 1t necessary
20 keep their agreement secret when the actlV-
,+ias ~ the Macedonian Commi unabst
e5 ard the excitement is increasing in Bulgaria
and servia indicates either that an understand
SC al nd
or that they = 9fer to keep the proposals back
,5nrfl il may be too late 10 intervene.
All The experts in the B&lkan question expect
en outbreak in Macedonia in the spring which
will involve serious European complications. ana
The proba bility that the crisis will speedily arise
ran hardly fai. to influence the German En-
,,eror in settling the Venezuela question. espe-
ciany as he cannot hope TO drag England into
second alliance with him for the defence Of
Furopean Turkey. The miniGters cannot be
satisfied with The course Of the TeneZuela neSo-
tfations Certainly cir POLITICAL supporters are
profoundly discontented. and the Unionist press
: sullen and contemptuous. The Daily Tele-
graph" which has taken the thankless task OF
deciding the ministry. sneers at Mr.. Bowen's
eccentric methods Of diplomacy. and the philo-
sophie Spectator" with an air OF deep dejec-
ton. proposes the riddle Why are We tied to
rhe tail of ,4ermany?'' What every observer
re-ceives is that, whatever may be the merits
Of Mr.. Herbert's controversy with Mr. Bowen
over joint diplomatic etiquette. England has lost
good part The preferential position which she
occupied in America when the unfortunate
coalition with Germany was formed.
The ministers anxious TO demonstrate that
Faciand was ot Germany's helpless dupe, took
the lead in the negotiations with Minister
Bowen but have not extTicated themselves from
lie vexatious catangiement and have strength
81 ID the impression in America that suspect
ID eneuly may be less dangerous than blum
dering friend. The government supporters were
fairly content so long as Germany was distrust-
- by Americans and England was regarded as
a sincere and useful friend. but their discon-
tent is unmeasured when they are convinced
that both partners are now equally out of favor
in the United States.
The best information which receive to-day
points to q speedy settlement through the inter-
vention of the United States Government. on the
lines Of the original proposal Of arbitration by
The Hague tribunal The German Emperor
having profted by Lord Lansdowne's unsuccess-
ful efforts TO establish preferential treatment
for the claims OF the coercng powers, and hav-
ing exploited the Venezuela affair until more
inPoi tant business is looming up IL Macedonia.
ought 10 be content TO promote good feeling in
America by calling off the allied fleets and leav-
In all the questions Of damages to The Hague
tsbi~g the responsibility Of arbtrating the
question of pI ferential treatment does not ex-
cite hostile criticism here. The fact that there
were American as well as French. Belgian and
Job lot Of foreign claims excluded his inter-
Venton. The explanation offered semi-officially
here IS hat no preference was demanded by
Lord Lansdowne for the British, German and
italian claims. but merely separate or special
treatment. 1t is not denied that the claims Of
the taree powers would have been classed by
themselves in special list 10 the disadvantage
II the other powers. and the explanation is
ADDED that the governments taking the trouble
70 order bockading operations could not be
pected to forego al the advantages Of coercion.
These plans are not withou. force. but the
faulty Of Lord Lansdowne's argument for sep
srate or special treatment is apparent when the
question is considered broad lines. The
Venezuela affair establishes precedents for the
Intervention o. European powers in South and
Central America for the purpose Of collecting
dents and claims. England has larger invest
ments in tropical America than all the other
European nations combined Her financial in
terests would not be promoted by the establish
ment Of pr, edent for separate or preferential
treat tnent Of the claims Of any power whose
squadron chose to batter down crumbling
Spanish fort or shell Indian village. The
German navy could easily be Strengthened by
subscriptions Of speculators in Sc-,-i and Cen
trail American claims if a preference for the
doubtful classes of securities could be estab-
lished by the bombardment Of coast towns.
The most interesting topic in drawing rooms
and clubs has been the compulsory retirement
Of Colonel Kinloch from the command Of the
Grensdier Guards in consequence Of his neglect
10 prevent or to Investigate the Raging" or