New-York tribune., 1903-02-15
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
Permanent Council of Imperial De-
.fence-Macedonian Uprising.
Special to The New-Yora Tribune by French caoleo

,,en+ The most slittering generality is the
passage relating 30 the great revolution wrous"'
IN the constitution of the committee OF ueieiiOe
The utility of that bulwark for the protecIloi
of the empire not demonstrated during 'iie
war with South Africa, but Mr.. Balfour mas
been convinced Of the necessity for reconstiu0'
ing it and converting it into stronehoiu o-
imperial policy 1t will be transformed from d
committee of the Cabinet into a permanent
council Of imperial defence, exercising super
vision over the military and naval forces anu
profting by the advice of the best experts III
the fighting services. 1t is shoyy scheme IoI
creating a centralized advisory body and I'M
parting unity and continuity TO Imperial meas
ures of defence. Possibly something VIII ul'l-
,os+el,, he done to secure the representation OF
the important self-governing colonies, whose
co-operation and loyal support in the Boer war
were most valuable. Mr.. Balfour is eNldehuS
deeply interested in the new scheme OF I'M
perial eanization and Mr.. Chamberlain, If he
has not suggested it, Will lend powerful support
20 it. Temporarily il will be a convenient cover
for various failures in developing the resources
OF imperial defence
MIR. Brodricks army corps reorganization plah'
based upon German experience, has been de-
pIora BILE makeshift and deserves the causuc
ri5icule with which Winston Churchill has con-
demned it during the week. Lord Selborne mas
been more successful in proposing a we'll devised
scheme for training naval officers ana lhcieas-
ing the efficiency of the feet, but Mr.. Broorick
has not increased the prestige of the BRUSH
army by organizing six corps on paper and leaV-
ing them in the air, the commanders RECEIVING
nav when gazetted, hut the soldiers not being
visible anywhere The Grenadier Guards scan
dal has demonstrated anew the urgent need OF
efficiency and authority in the War once.
Something more effective than an imperial COM
rittee of defence is required for the restoration
of British military prestige.
Mr. BaIfour's announcement on Lord Lans-
eowne's authority that the Venezuela question
has been settled is the most welcome valentine
which the nation could receive If he seeks TO
minimize the importance of this diplomatic
tangle by asserting that the government has
much more serious work hand in Somallland
he does not deceive anybody in the United King
dom He is an adroit party tactician. accus-
TONED TO touch lightly vulnerable points OF gov
eminent policy and to assume an air OF childllke
innocence when he can easily be convicted OF
carelessness and recklessness in the conduct OF
foreign relations. His supporters are not mised
l7v evasions even when they cry out, "Alrs well
that ends well" They know that the govern
rnent has come badly out in an alliance which
has enabled Germany to place doubtful bond
holders claims equality with valid British
claims for the seizure of ships and the. i'm
prisonnent OF subjects, and to obtain twelve
times as much ready money for them. Even If
the question of preferential treatment be ruled
out Germany, and not England, gains prestige
out of the affair." which has caused irritation in
America and impaired public confidence in the
Balfour Ministry at home Whether the Ger
man Emperor has obtained a precedent for
future intervention in South American affairs
on behalf of bondholders and mercantile syndi-
Gates is not yet apparent, but he has profted
materially by the assistance received from the
ironclad coalition.
Mr. Balfour's message respecting Southeastern
Europe confirms the conclusion formed by the
best informed men in Fleet Street, that the
Austro- Russian proposals of reform in Mace
donia viii receive the unanimous support OF the
powers and be accepted by the Sutton. Mace
donia Will not have autonomy which is the only
thing likely TO allay discomfort, but 1t viii Sc
cure promises of reorganization Of the gen
darmerie and other halfway measures. The
agitators viii not abandon their political cam
paign in Macedonia and Bulgaria in conse-
quence Of these promises. and it is impracticable
for experts on the Eastern question to forecast
the events Of the next few months.
Fleet Street expects an uprising soon as the
mountain passes can be traversed and Bulgarian
cooperation secured, while Servia and Greece
jealous and suspicious spectators. and the
Russian army is a great force in reserve The
feeling in official circles here is that peace will
be maintained through timely concessions by
the Sultan and strong pressure from European
powers. The officials, having heard threats OF
the Macedonian uprising and the expulsion of
the Sultan from Europe for twenty years. natu-
rally have phiosophic doubts res pecting the bag
and baggage policy and the imminence of the
final struggle for the possession of CONSTANT
nople
Mr Chamberlain has reached the most difficult
stage Of his work in South Africa. The Beers
were not in power in the Transvaa and the
orange River Colony. and he could deal with
them firmly and coax them into good behavior.
The Dutch are in power in Cape Colony, and
retain their ascendeEcy with tenacious grip
Ti,ey- have received him coolly, because they
suspect that the main purpose OF his mission to
South Africa is 10 carry the next general cleo
tions against them. The Cape Colony loyalists
on the other hand, have not resented his action
in discarding Lord Miners advice for the
pension of the constitution. but have hailed his
appearance with enthusiasm Temporarily his
presence in a colony rent with political and race
feuds tends TO strengthen faction feeling, but
he tas not finished the work.
Dr. Jameson and Alfred Belt who have re-
turned TO London to-day from the Cape. would
have preferred Lord AIiln4r's solution. by which
Sir Gordon SpriGg's method of government. with
the help OF antagonists, would have been avoid
ed Ii Mr. Chamberlain succeeds I'm forming an
imperial British Dutch party and carrying
the colonial elections, it win be one of the great
successes of mis- career
Dr. Jameson, who had much 10 do with the
exposure of General Buffers heliograph mes
sages to Sir George White respecting the sur
render of Ladysynith returns at the moment
when Lord Methuen has testified before the
Committee On the Conduct of the War that he