New-York tribune., 1907-06-30
ONLY M4RKING TINE At
THE H4GUE.
Especial by French Cable to The Tribune
1907: by The Tribune Association,


rather than the prevention OF war. The mill
tary and naval experts dealing with mines and
belligerent operations at more conspcu-
Gus than the advocates of arbitration and neu-
tral rights. The commissions have barely begun
their work, and forecasts of the results are
premature The small powers have not yet
made their influence felt, since the management
Of the conference is controlled by the great
states. The American delegation has remained
in the background, watching the proceedings,
and not exercising the functions of decisive
leadership. The German and French delegates
seem to have common aims, and the British del
egates are content to follow their leading The
delegates hampered by official instructions.
and are marking time without making progress.
The results Will come when they are empowered
to exercise their own discretion after repeated
conferences among themselves. Outsiders with
dreamy projects will have little influence in
shaping the results.
LIBERALS WELL PLEASED.
Thu liberals profess to be well pleased with
the tactics of the government in deferring
measures against the House of Lords at least
two years and in regaining Nationalist sup
port by introducing the evicted tenants bill.
The ministers intend to remain In office as long
possible, and this suits the convenience OF
members in opposition are exasperated and con-
temptuous. The Prime Minister, having nailed
up the resolution against the House OF LORDS
a slgnboard pointing far afield TO a general
election, settles down to a steady jog uot for
the remainder OF the session. The Lords are
expected to keep their hands off the land and
eviCted tenants bills. No deadlock is looked
for between the houses before grouse time.
Lord Lansdowne has made a dignfed defence
TO the motions and policies in the upper house
inq Of IN
democratic aggression.
THE NEW STEEL COMBINATION.
The evidence that the leading steel combtna-
tons Of the world have entered into agree
ment for the regulation Of prices and division
of territory is greeted with the oldtime cuckoo
song that there is nothing like a steel trust in
the United Kingdom. There is a combination
sufficiently powerful to set the minimum prices
for rails in the United Kingdom, the British pos
sessions and South America and leave the
American trust in undisputed possession Of the
home market and German Belgian and French
steelmakers without effective competition
the Continent The negotiations among the
rival producing interests have been In progress
for a long time, and the rise in prices OF raw
material has helped to bring about temporary
condition. with definite proposals for the ln-
tation Of spheres of influence. The leading pro-
duCers are either reticent affect TO minimize
the importance Of these international agree
tributon of rails Even If the reports Of the
success of the negotiations not premature,
as has often happened before. there will be a
large number of competitors outside OF the Brit
ish combination The iron and steel trades will
not be demoraliZed, even IL the British trust
has a grip upon them, and at the worst the
Free Traders are consOled by Lloyd Georges
declaration that the United Kingdom is profit
ing heavily in increased business from the pros
peTity In trust-rdden protection countries like
Germany and America.
Now. Will speculation be suspended and
brokers retire from business because THE Lam
Get" has condemned the sanitation Of the Lon
don Stock Exchange and explained that every
body connected with il suffers from bad air
headache and mental depression?
THE KING AT NUNEHAM
The King. after reviewing the Yeoman of the
Guard on the palace grounds In the stately Old
World spectacle. has started for weekend visit
at Nuneham, where King George III and Queen
Victoria We're guests before him at the quaint
house. Lewis Harcourt IS the first Liberal min
lister 10 entertain the King at his country house
and he has effective assistance from his charm
ing American wife. The Kings health is excel
lent, notwithstanding the constant strain of pub
lie and private engagements. Social gayety has
been uninterrupted during the week with balls
at the Russian Embassy and the Duchess Of
NorfOlks, a series OF parties for the Kings
birthday, Lord Londesborough's dinner for the
King and Lady LOndonderry's and Lady Rid
leys parties the leading affairs and there is
a garden party at Lady Jerseys to-day The
Court Circular" which supplies the choicest
reading for the smart cat. will be converted into
an annual and sold a bulky volume, with a
complete list of presentations and numerous
signed portraits. The American Ambassador is
entertaining a small party at Wrest Park over
Sunday, after a busy week Of social functions
and academic honors. Mrs. Reid's reception on
Thursday promises to be the largest yet held at
Dorchester House, owing 10 the immense number
of Americans now in London. ]. Pierpont Nor
gan and Mrs Burns will be among the guests
at Nuneham during the Kings visit and the
Prime Minister also will be there.
Mark Twain has been collecting material for
numerous chapters Of his autobiography in So
cial adventures in London and academic recrea-
tions at Oxford. Compliments are showered
upon him wherever he goes, and the only unkind
critical comment In print has been the remark
that General Booth can dictate to a stenographer
copy for the printer more rapidly than he can
DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler Is among the
latest arrivals from America.
Two of Rossettis pictures Veronica Veron-
ese" and Dante at the Tomb of Beatrice" have
brought 1850 guineas less at Christie's than the
auction prices four years ago. The values of
Burne-JOnes's work maintained. but there is
Q general slump IN the prices OF Academcians
Of recent date
MEDIEVAL PAGEANTS.
The oxford pageant has produced better music
than drama literature. It lacks unity of de-
sign and the episodes less interesting than
the stage management by which the crowds are
effectively handled. The best passages are the
masque of medieval learning and the royal
np nrbic