New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-25
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
England NeUer Stronger in the
WorId-Neso Neutrality Question.
CsPse.al to The Nsw-York Tribune by French Cable)
lcncrr.ght: 100. Ia.- rha r--tlr,-a Assnclatan-A

a
thur, and viii not be shortened when the ap-
palling tragedy Of hopeless valor is ended. Yet
the North Sea inquiry and the favorable recep-
ton OF President Roosevelt's overtures for a
Hague conference. Notwithstanding the
Russian objections. are proofs Of the growth of
& spirit Of good will among the nations Eng
land was never stronger or more influential in
the councils Of the world, yet the Admiralty
ulartinets coatend that the Trafalgar tradition
Of sea power demands increased ornaments on
an enormous scale, and the military reformers
are convinced that the army is a fatal source OF
weakness and must be reorganized and once
more recruited by CONSUMPTION and armed with
new guns The Free Traders are emphatic In
declaring that English trade was never better
and the working people never more prosperous,
yet when they have proved the case to their
Owl satisfaction from the last Blue Book, and
shown how great is the increase Of the pur-
chasing power OF money and the Improvement in
wages and housing accommodates they are
senced by the terrible evidences Of poverty, des-
ttution and starvation in the East End Of Lon
don and Westham. Military men are con-
WINGED by the deadly struggle approaching an
end al Port Arthur that the really impregnabIe
fortress Is not surrounded by hills, but " q port
Ike Antwerp. with broad circle Of fiat coun-
try.
The naval experts Go not attempt to forecast
the result Of a fresh contest of sea power be-
tween the Russian armada in the Indian Ocean
and Admiral TogO's seasoned fleet but students
Of diplomacy are confident that a new series Of
pe-plexirg questions Will be raised II fleets de-
pendent upon neutral ports for food supplies and
coal meet AZ q remote distance from the home
base. One difficult point is already brought up
by the action Of the japanese in seizing the
British steamship King Arthur on the ground
rEar He carried naval 0f==rp-s on the yyav O
JON the Baltic fleet One Of the eighteenth cen
fury treaties established the principle that
neutral flag protected enemies unless they We're
military or naval forces actually in the service
OF z beIligerent. but the Trent affair was
precedent OF an UnuistaEable kind IF the ship
with Mason and slideu aboard could not be
overhauIed and mere diplomatic agents ar
rested, the action Of the japanese IS Of doubtful
validity
Although the facts are not yet accurately
known, there IS 2 general impression in the
diplomatic set that both the German Emperor
and France have been making efforts to induce
the Gar TO accept mediation and bring the war
70 an end before the Baltic feet is attacked and
the flag hauled down at Port Arthur But every
suggestion has been rejected. There are better
grounds for the conclusion that he has accepted
the warning that the DardaneIles question must
not be reopened and even a frner basis Of hope
that, while the imperial manifesto has been de-
Iayed. there will be important domestic reforms
in local government IN Russia at an early date.
The Christmas cheer, while cIouded with the
horrors Of war and minor perils, like railway
accidents IL fogs and hurricanes and wrecks on
the high seas. is not without reasonable assur-
ance Of the restoration Of peace and progress in
the world
Newspaper readers weary Of the fiscal ques-
ton would Ike 70 believe that the cessation Of
economic discussion is also possible but this is
z false expectation. The power Of the Harms
worth and Pearson press syndicates is massed
on the side Of tariff reform. and is steadily in
creasing. The purchase Of The Manchester
Courier by the Harmsworth interests. and the
appointment Of James Nicol Dunn, Of 'The
Morning Post" as editor. is fresh proof that the
Chamberlain cause has powerful newspaper
lacking The Manchester Guardian" the most
powerful Liberal Free Trade organ. viii now
have formidable antagonist on It's own ground
II Lancashire.
Christmas comes after dense fogs and pro-
traCted season Of disa greeabIe weather, so that
bright day will be the choicest Of all gifts. The
traditional baron Of beef VIII not be roasted IN
Windsor ovens and several peculiar Victorian
holiday customs viii be suspended, but there
VIII be more royal presents than ever and
large family party at Sandringham, with
Christmas trees and festivities the entire
estate. There VIII be a shooting party next
week. and the Prince Of Wales viii make an
early start for Ireland and the Duke and
Duchess Of Connaught for the Mediterranean
garrlsons and Egypt. There viii be the usual
Christmas parties at nearly all the great houses
but no theatricaIs at Chatsworth. The dates
for the first two courts have not been fixed. but
probably viii correspond to the dates Of last
years functions. before and after March l.
The King is expected to go TO the Medi-
teranean after these courts and remain
several weeks, but the cruise is not definitely
planned. The prospects Of the regular season
viii be dependent upon the Budget speeches and
thf exigencies Of politics. The tariff reformers
srl still talking about q surprise budget with
q per cent schedule on manufactured goods
Tor revenue only: but they have serious misgiv-
Ircs respecting the Prime Minister'S willingness
70 adopt so bold Z course and to break up the
season by z premature appeal 10 the country.
Ar autumn election is always more popular than
e spring election. Tradesmen resent Interior
ence with the usual round Of social festivities.
Holiday traffic has been held up by fog, which
while gray and yellow rather than black, ike
the November fog Of 1901. has been more pro-
tracted and troublesome. Railways, postofhce
and markets have been nearly paraIyzed Inc
fog has been peculiarly cold and penetrating
50 that every open fireplace has been vigorously
stocked and the stagnant atmosphere has been
fouIed with compounds Of carbon and sulphur.
AL London is suffering from mephitic fog head
ache and IS singing through the nose with
tureful cataTrh The meteorological society
was utterly knocked out when the appointed
meeting for the discussion Of the theme The
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