New-York tribune., 1904-08-07
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALSI
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
Common Defence of Neutral Com
merce-Meagre Details of Battles.

Especial to The Nsw-York Tribune by French Cable)
Copyright: 1904: By Tho Tribune Associat;on)
London. Aug. 6.-The suggestion in an Ameri-
dispatch that President Roosevelt is walt
ing for Englands initiative in diplomacy amuses
those in touch with official circles The truth
is that England is waiting for a lead from
Washington in negotiations for the common de-
fence Of neutral commerce The Knight Com
mander case has been described by the Prime
Minister a breach Of international law but
the Russian government justhes the sinking of
the ship by detailed references TO its own proc
lsmation respecting contraband of war and the
explicit instructions To naval commanders The
Foreign Office finds it an awkward matter 10
take Up whore there is international agrec-
ment respecting contraband of war. and every
Admiralty claims the right Of leaving to naval
officers discretion to destroy prizes I'm certain
contingencies Decisive action on the part OF
the Washington government I'm defence OF
neutral commerce would he welcomed here es-
pecially as the effect of the Russian attacks on
British shipping is already widely felt by ship
ping interests. and underwriters are complain
ing that the Foreign Office is sluggish and al
lowing Russia to inhict serious damage on
British trade The PenipsuIar ana Oriental
Line discontinuing sailtngs for Japan. and
many vessels with cargoes of coal and general
merchandise are held back owing 10 the risks Of
being overhauled IN transit. Many shippers are
acting upon the theory that there will be no
safeguards for neutral commerce until the fall
OF Port Arthur enables Admiral Togo To block
ade Vladivostock. The opinion prevails tina.
Russia by her elastic definition Of coutraband
Of war and arbitrary orders Ia he's Admiralty.
has virtually rescindeG the Paris declaration
that neutral flag covers all goods even An
enemy's. and that urgent measures and strong
diplomacy are required for the defence Of private
property sea-
The war news published In the London jour
nails is extremely meagre when series Of bat
ties has beer fought and the doom Of Purt
Arthur Is impending. The war correspondents
arc helpless when the japanese STAFF is too busy
10 revise dispatches and the Russian headquar-
ters afraid To have tidiugs of a humiliating
defeat made public. The result is that one cf
the most picturesque and momentous cam
paigns Of modern times Is unrecorded day by
day md the newspapers have not received
turns for heavy expenditures. Genera! Kuro-
ratkin's retreat from Liao-Yang is reported but
not yet credited by the military critics, They
assert that the abandonment Of the immense
amount OF military stores massed there is i'm
probable without another battle, and that It
viii probably he deferred until the japanese
forces are concentrated ard turning move
ment northward monaCes the Russian retreat
The crisis Of the war I'm Manchuria is watched
so closely that the British expedition at the
gates OF Lhasa passes almost without observa-
tion. South Africa has fallen completely into
the background; even the presence Of Dr.
Jameson in London is unnoticed. although he is
Premier Of the Cape. Parliament itself would
cease to interest the bored aud listless public
il there were not theatrical acts. Welsh defiance
Of authority. a chairman I'm GilbeGtian retreats,
delinquent members and other episodes indi-
eating midsummer madness.
The temperature has been rising Inside as
well outside Westminster. Every body is irri-
table. and the ordinary amenities OF debate are
lightly regarded. Winston Churchill Lloyd
George and other fighting men on the Liberal
side have continued their barassing tactics. and
have forced the House to remain in session
through the night, and have exasperated the
main body of MIR. Balfour's supporters. The
Licensing bill Is almost the only Legislative re-
suit OF the prolonged but noticeably barren ses-
sion of Parliament. The government has held
its ground through the mastery of tactics of the
Prime Minister. and seems likely to survive the
intrigues and dangers of another session. The
Free Traders on the Unonist side have neglect
ed every opportunity for destroying It, The fol-
lowers of Mr.. Chamberlain may compass its
defeat next year Mr. Chamberlain has failed
proposal for colonial conference. but succeeded
unexpectedly in interesting Lord Rosebery, who
supports the scheme under free food conditions.
The correspondence OF these two statesmen is
a pretty display Of adroit fencing. but will not
( lead 70 anything.
Meanwhile Mr.. Chamberlain has opened his
Welbecl Abbey campaign among the farmers
. and agricultural iaborers. His speech is
I highly praised by the dscal reform press
and condemned as a v-etched failure by
the Free Trade journals The truth lies some
where between these extremes Of partisan opin-
ion. What was new i'm it was the argument
that fiscal reform, with low duties on foodstuffs.
meat and dairy produce. would yield more
profit for the farmers. more employment for
farm labor and cheaper food for consumers.
This plea is not answered when the Free Trad
ers call the roll on the Dukes present pla tform
/ and ccnoede that tariff reform will add enor-
mously to the income Of great landed estates.