New-York tribune., 1903-02-09
GERMANY'S PROPOSITION.
ALLIANCE STORY DENIED
To Cut Dozen Ireiand's Representa-
ton at Westminster.
1snseial to Tho New-York Tribune by rreaeh csb,sl

ss,oc,.i to The Ncw-York Tribune by Frcach CsbeD
o-orvriebt; 1868: BY The Tribune Association>
London Feb Q, l a n.-Lord George Hamil-
ton has followed the lead of his fellow Cabinet
Ministers Lord Cranberne and Austen Cham
berlain. in making public speech on the Venez-
ueIa question He was evidently anxious to
disprove the report which had been widely
circulated in Germany that he stated at kendai
on January l6 that the British Government
first suggested the Anglo-German cooperation
against Venezuela. So far from this being the
case Lord George Hamilton says that Germany
last September proposed that she should CO.
onerate with England in the blockade which
the British Government had resolved to estab-
lish Lord George like other Ministerialists,
defends the alliance with Germany on the
ground that single action would have been more
difficult and less likely to succeed than doupie.
This argument is correct enough from the Ger
man point of view, but from the British point is
obviously wrong. II is clear, from speech
made by Mr.. Wise. Attorney General for New
South Wales to the Eighty Club that England's
cooperation with Germany excites some wonder
among colonial observers In this country II
is difficult to find a single individual. OUTSIDE
the Immediate ministerial circle. who does not
regard the whole business with disapprovaL
The government has determined to reduce Ire
lands representation in Parliament One Cao-
met Minister has foretold the advent OF an
other I distribution bill. and as he Is the son
of the Colonial Secretary It is obvious that ne
knows what he is saying The government
hands will be quite full this year with Irish
land and London education. and IL may be
taken for granted that the redistribution scheme
is To he the chief measure of 1904. Parliamen-
tary representation of the United Kingdom is
full Of anomalies There is proportional
rel regentation. England has only one MEMBER
to 66.s17 people while Ireland has ore member
to 43.04S people. On the basis of the present
population England has thirty-six members too
few Scotland three too many, and Ireland thirty
three too many. There are JOB Irish seats IN
the Commons to-day, and it is an open secret
that the government intends TO reduce this
number to eghty-five or less. The National
lists argue that as the Act OF Union gave Ire
land 100 members, the Imperial Parliament has
no right to reduce this representation. When
the act nassed the population of Ireland was
100000 about half that nf Great Britain
To-day the population is 4,434,ooO. OF q little
more than one-nnth that Of Great Britain
The Macedonian situation is causing much
anxiety at the present moment. Russia and
Austria are preparing reforms which, with the
approval of all the powers, will be pressed on
making military preparations which may or may
not be needed. The reason for the special solici-
tudc of the powers Is that fighting on the Mace
donian frontier in the early spring Is almost
certain unless something is done in the way W
reform. Bulgaria, too, is restless.
nrarconi has returned to London in very
thusiastic frame of mind. In about three months
time he believes it Will be possible to dispatch
general commercial messages across the Atlantic
by wireless telegraphy.
After a lull in buying, which was very marked
during January, America is again coming into
the English market for supplies Of coal and
iron One firm of London agents is said to have
received American inquiry for 100000 to oooooo
tons of coal and shippers on this side are now
talking of sending coal to the United States
for the remainder of the year. Ten steamers
have been chartered within the last few days
to convey Cleveland iron across the Atlantic,
and in consequence the iron market is holding
its own with considera BILE firmness. /. y. r