New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-01
NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
AFFAIRS IN LONDON.
No Mediation in Far EaSt-CoSt of
WGr-RoyaI Academy Pictures.

(special to me New-York Tribune By French Cabla)
CCopyriEht lsO4i BY The Tribune AssOcistiOn)
London, April 3O.-The rumor mongers have
ceased chattering over the chancs OF mediation
and Intervention in the Far East The Russian
government has announced authoritatively that
It will carry through the war. and at the end Of
the campaign conduct negotiations with Japan
directly, without allowing the intervention of
any European power. This is virtually what
Lord Salisbury said when outsiders attempted
to eu1barrass the Foreign Office in the Boer war.
but the Russian note contains a reminder, easily
understood. that the settlement reached between
the two fighting powers will not be revised Ike
the treaty Of San Stefano by the European Con-
gress The rumors Of mediation have come
from German sources. and have been caught up
in France where public opinion is not wholly
reconcied to the relations Of friendship
with England, but prefers undiuted partisan
ship fo- Russia. The English press. with the
snaIogies OF the Boz and the Spansh-Arnerican
wars pointing sga'nst meddlesorne diplomatic
activity, has NOT taken a serious view Of the
Continental rumors, but it IS apparently. con-
WINGED that undue enthusiasm for the japanese
cause is a fatal error OF judgment The Spec
tator" says bluntly that England stands to lose
in any event. Henry Norman. in the num-
Der Of The Worlds Work" contends strenu-
ously that Russia viii win and that the Jap
anese will resent British inactivity. Japan VIII
prove a most embarrassing ally II the conquest
Of Manchuria and its restoration to China be the
ulterior aim and defeat he courted Japan IL
victorious. must assume a protectorats over
China and create a revival Of Oriental ambition
which may be troublesome to the English in
India. Diplomatic speculation s. .1ore copious
than news. The raid OF the Vladivcst1sl
squadron on Port Gensan was not a desAdve or
brilliant operation, yet II helpful 10 Russia
as an indication Of the facility with which Jap
anese sea transport can he harrled The earlier
accounts Of Japanese fanaticism and Russian
cruelty were too strongly colored, and the sink
ing Of the KinshiC Mara. according to the re-
vised versions. was a less barbarous affair.
Land operations are still suspended, and the
two hundred newspaper correspondents are
mainly employed playing billiards.
The cost Of the war is a problem which IN
terests hnanciers. The Russian expenditures for
the first six months are estimated ar S200,O00,-
600, and the japanese outlay at $140O00O00
Russia expended S5OOOO0OOO in a single year of
warfare with Turkey. and the present cam
paign, with 100000 troops in the field, ought to
be even more costly There is no market for
either Russian or Japanese loans here. but the
value of money IS falling at Berlin. and finan-
cial operations are possible there.
The government here has escaped the budget
votes With two narrow majorities The tea
trade is making vigorous protest against in
creased duties in Ceylon, and the Indian mer-
chants contend that it IS the heaviest tax on tea
since the time Of Charles H. and that colonial
trade will be destroyed by the importation OF in
feror Chinese tea. Mr.. Balfour IS indifferent to
colonial protests when the free trade budget
has relieved him from immediate critical anxi-
eties The ministers are pulling the boat easily
In s9a and Mr. RaIfo11YLs hand 90 sloro
on the tiller. Mr.. Chamberlain is taking care Of
his health and carrying out the pledges given to
Mr. Balfour. but the Tariff Reform Commits
sion IS working vigorously and systematically.
and receiving strong support from the great
industries and income tax payers. Winston
ChurchiIls consent TO stand for the Liberals Of
Manchester in the next election was not .unex-
pected. At least half dozen Free Trade Union
lists viii follow him, but as the pioneer back
slider from Toryism he will read his title clear
to the Under secretaryship of the coalition
Devonshire Ministry If the present government
can be bowled out by hook or by crook.
The opening Of the St. Louis Exposition re-
ceives generous treatment in the English press
in long dispa 'ches and descriptive and historical
articles The British exhibit 10 regarded as
comprehensive and well organized and strong.
especially in the artistic and educational sides.
It divides attention with the new Sargents in
the Academy and Wattss grand statue designed
for the Matoppo Hills. where Cecil Rhodes is
buried
The Royal Academy collectively is n poor
exhibition. Nearly all the painters are dis
tinctly below their own average Sargent is
better than last year, with three notable sue
cesses and three failures. The best work is the
portrait Of the Countess Lathom in a rich brown
evening dress. with gauze floating over her bare
arms. and brown wraps behind. The face and
the figure are painted with restful dignity, and
the brush work in the dress IS amazing. II
rivals Van Dyck's most picturesque portraits in
Continued On fourth page.