New-York tribune., 1907-02-24
WORLD AFFAIRS VIEWED BY OBSERVERS ABROAD
WORK MIPPED OUT FOR
PARLIAMENT.
Especial by Frencl: Cable to The Tribune
copyright. 1907. by The Tribune Association ]


London. Feb. 23.--After the annual tourna-
ment Of windy debate, Parliament is settling
down to work Mr.. Haldane leads the way with
the reduction Of moro than 100000 in the
army estimates and with proposals for the reor-
ganization Of the auxiliary forces. He is loaded
for a three-hour speech Monday and will
probably convince the country that If has at
last really great War Minister Only a
plausible debater can hope to prove that the
army is strengthened and rendered more efficient
by the reduction of the force and the retrench-
ment Of expenses. The genuine radicals are de-
lighted with the evidence that the government
is redeeming its pledges of economy and pre-
pairing to enter the Hague congress with clean
hands and the promise of the larger policy of
further disarmament Mr.. Haldane cannot ex-
pect to reassure the military croakers. who are
complaining that he is hacking the army to
pieces but he Will command popular support for
ms practical measures for restoring efficiency
10 the auxiliary forces which were despised
and neglected by Arnold Forster and Mr. Brod-
rick Mr.. McKenna's short education bill for
the relief OF the passive ressters will also be
introduced as a financial measure which the
Lords cannot veto This will be a bold effort
10 relieve the rates Of the cost of sectarian IN
struction, probably by empowering the local au-
thorities to collect charges from the denomina-
uons. AS I'm principle the bill obtained the as
sent Of both houses last year. there ought not TO
ne serious resistance to its passage, even with
MI Balfour disposed to split hairs over every
line. This is side issue of the conflict between
the two houses over Lord Newton's bill, which
is set down for a second reading in the House
OF Lords early In March. II is a comprehensive
reform measure. and is arousIng intense inter
est in both houses. II regulates the hereditary
element in the upper chamber by establishing
an order Of merit securing election OF represen-
tative peers by those losing their own seats,
and by giving the Crown power to appoint one
hundred life peers. What support this meas
ure Will have IS uncertain, but the government
can hardly hope 20 introduce a better con-
st7ucttve scheme of reform, and the Tory lords
by adopting It would greatly enlarge the au-
thoTity of the upper house
rue TRIN&TEhL ELECTIONS.
The government comes out badly in the Trans
vaal elections, since Sir Richard Solomon. who
was defeated. was Lord Elgin's fayorite aud
was expected TO head the coalition of the Beers
and the British malcontents. The Boer ma
jority is so large that hybrid ministry viii be
dispensed with and General Botha IS called 20
the Premiership in place Of Mr.. SMUT who is
a rancorous opponent of the mining interests.
This result will probably be more satisfactory
than a coalition government with :he full
force Of the Boer organization behind II. Leg
rule in the Dutch colonies will make a South
African confederation indispensable.
NAY FORM IMPERIAL COUNCIL.
The Colonial Council Is looming up as an I'M
portant body whicn may establish permanent
imperial mechanism. Mr.. Balfour has unwise-
iy sneered at the possibility of forming an i'm
perial council. but winston Churchill has dis
cussed It soberly in straightforward speech |
which will command the confidence OF the col |
onies Preferential trade cannot be considered |
but the main features of the Australian pro-
gramme likely to receive strong support at
the Colonial Office. Mr.. Balfour. after finding |
himself on the subject Of reasonable tariff re- |
form. has again lost himself. greatly TO the dis |
gust of his main body OF followers. Lloyd |
George described him last night at the Golden |
Club dinner as a protectionist straphanger in |
the tariff reform car, ready 20 get off at the !
first available station. This almost the |
only merry quip in long address designed to |
warn free traders that they mus; be on their |
guard against the fuctuation OF public opin- |
ion, and never cease to appeal TO British pride |
in supporting Cobdens against the world !
and TO argue that industry could not be |
artiicialy helped without protection all around |
one ardent free trader made a strong appeal |
for the renewal OF Cobden's commercial treaty |
with France. the most promising diplomatic |
work for the Foreign Office when the King had |
succeeded in bringing about era Of good |
feeling.
THE LOCAL CANVASS ~ LONDON
The procession Of four thousand municipal re- |
formers from Islington Market to Trafalgar |
Square to-day has been a unique political de- |
nonstration ending with a OF partisan |
speeches against the electric trust. wastrel |
steamboats, high taxation and other evils OF the |
progressive socialist policy This local can |
yass exceeds IN bitterness any previous struggle
since the creation of the London County Coun- |
ell The meetings have been largely attended on |
both sides and about half million voters are |
expected to go to the polls. The progressives |
are making a defensive fight. and Will certainly |
lose many seats. The municipal reformers viii |
he fortunate If they fall short Of actual ma |
iority in the Council. for they will avoid the |
impossible task Of redeeming their pledges and
reducing taxation.
CHIEF SOCIAL AFFAIRS.
The levee and court have been the chief social |
functions of the week. with a moderate attend |
ance in each instance. The Queen looked hand |
some in black lace. embroidered with sequins, a
Maltese crown glittering her head. Mrs
Harcourt and Mrs. Herbert Gladstone were |
among the ministers wives present at what was
largely an official and diplomatic court There
were many young married women In wedding
gowns abIaze with diamonds and large group