BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 83, 4 October 1902, Page 13 (Supplement)

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

[Spectator Summary.] LONDON, 16th August. THE INDIAN TROOPS REVIEWED. In spite of the rainy weather, the review oi the Indian troops on Wednesday was a. magnificent and impressive pageant. The troops, who entrained at Hampton Court and marched from Victoria headed by the massed bands of the Coldstream and Irish Guards, were received with great enthusiasm as they passed up Grosveuor-place and down Constitution Hill to Buckingham Palace. Before the review a loyal address was presented on behalf of the 11th Bengal Lancers, a regiment of which the King is honorary Colonel, by two native noncommissioned officers. The troops then filed past to receive their medals, and after the .whole parade had then advanced to give the Royal salute, the King came forward and addressed them in a short but cordial address of welcome. Finally the troops marched' past in column of fours. Though the total of all ranks only numbered eleven hundred, it was comprised of nearly fifty units, including — besides cavalry, artillery, sappers, and miners from Madras, Bengal, and Bombay — Gurkhas, Dogras, Sikhs, Rajputs, Baluchis, Panjabis, Garhwalis, and Pathans, many of them decorated for their services in the frontier wars, in China, or as' bearers in South Africa. The 2nd Gurkhas, 1 it should be noted, carried two sets of tattered colours — those which went through the campaign of the Sutlej and those which had been borne through the Mutiny and planted on the ridge at Delhi. Splendid as was the review from a purely spectacular aspect, that splendour was entirely overshadowed by its profound historical significance. THE GRATITUDE OF THE RAJAHS. Friday's newspapers contained a most interesting letter addressed to the Lord Mayor by tiie Rajahs and other distinguished representatives of India attending the Coronation. After expressing their gratitude for the hospitality extended to them wherever they went, and their satisfaction at the cordial welcome given to the Indian soldiers, the signatories continue: — "Our regard and affection for the great British people become deeper, because the more we come into contact the more we understand each other, and thereby promote our common interest and mutual regard and attachment. We pray for the continuance of the greatness of the British people,' for we are satisfied that in and through their greatness the prosperity and happiness of our own country and people will be advanced. May God bless the United Kingdom and its inhabitants — the King and the Queen, the members of the Royal Family, and every one in all ranks and conditions ; in blessing them we feel that the Almighty will bless us also." This remarkable letter, which cannot fail to give the liveliest pleasure to all British readers, concludes with a firm and dignified assurance of loyalty to the British throne. THE KING'S GIFT. The King, in a letter dated Coronation Day and addressed to Mr. Balfour, has intimated his decision to offer Osborne as a gift to the nation. After explaining the reasons which render him unable to make adequate use of Osborne as a Royal, residence — the claims of Buckingham Palace and Windsor, and the "strong home ties" of Sandringham — His Majesty expresses the hope that the building may be converted into a convalescent home for officers of the Navy and Army, a very natural reserve being made in the case of the apartments personally occupied by the late Queen. If we-may offer any criticism- on a gift as judicious as it is generous, it is to express our regret that by this act the King, as the head of the greatest of sea Powers, should surrender the only official residence which brings him into direct contact with the sea, and at a point of such unrivalled advantage as the Salent enjoys. This difficulty, however, would be got over by the retention of a set of apartments for the King's v?e — a set of rooms which would be used in tie same way that the King's pavilion is used at Aldershot. THE LATE GENERAL MEYER. General Lucas Meyer, the Boer commander and politician, who reluctantly declined an invitation to attend the Coronation on the score of his health, died suddenly in Brussels yesterday week. A Free Stater by birth, Lucas Meyer attained considerable prominence as a progressive politician in the Transvaal, and was Chairman of the First Volksraad when the war broke out. Entrusted with high command in the earliest phase of the war, he was superseded after two failures, and only re-emerged into notice at the time of the final peace negotiations, in which he took an active part. During his recent visit to England he displayed not only an entire freedom from animosity, but a readiness to meet and confer with members of the Government, and a general desire to make the best of the inevitable, which, in view of the valuable services he had rendered and was ready to render as a reconciliator, make his premature death — he was only fifty-six — doubly to be regretted. THE DISOBEDIENT FRENCH COLONEL. A remarkable incident has taken place in France in connection with the campaign against the unauthorised Orders. Colonel de Saint Remy, when ordered to use his squadron of cavalry in closing a convent school, refused on the ground that he was "a Catholic." The disobedient officer was at once put under arrest and ordered to a fortress, and will be tried by Court-Martial. He will, no doubt, be dismissed the Army for disobedience. His proper course, it is pointed out, would have been to tender his resignation, which would no doubt have been accepted ; but we presume that he wished to make a more signal protest. Meantime, the execution of the deorees continues, and though there is a great deal of local sympathy, and even resistance, France as a ' whole is not greatly stirred. The Pope's silence is much dwelt on, as the "hot-heads" in the Clerical party would, of course, like him to proclaim a kind of crusade against the Republic. This, however, he refuses to do. He is said to fear very greatly the dissolution of the Concordat. Moderate Frenchmen, we kndw, also greatly dread the separation of Church and State in France, holding that it would produce a secular nation ; but it is just possible that they are mistaken. The Church dreaded very greatly the effects of thej law which obliged the seminarists to go iuto barracks, yeb the result was not to de-Ohristianise the young prieste, but to ■Christianise the barracks. FOP.EIGN AFFAIRS. For the rest, the news from foreign countries during the M-eek has not been marked by any events of special interest. The French revenue returns are, however, interesting. They are nearly £2,500,000 below the estimate, and about £500,000 below the receipts of 1901. An item of importance reported from Russia is that the Novoe Vremya has been allowed by the Censor to say in an article commenting on the Reval meeting that there is no idea of common political action between Russia, and Gernwny. The aims of tihe two Powers in Asia are, it is declared, diametrically opposed. From Germany comes news of a characteristic act on the part of the Emperor. It seems that the Bavarian Chamber lately refused to vote £5000 for the purchase of pictures and curios. TTnon this the Kaiser

telegraphed to the Bavarian, Resht that he had read "with the deepest oi indignation" of the refusal. "I hasten to express my displeasure at the mean ingratitude winch is displayed in. this action," wires the Emperor, and he goes on to say that' he will himself find the money. One may imagine the feelings of the courteous and "correct" Regent on receiving this astonishing telegram. He replied, however, with proper gratitude, but stated that the money had already been found by a member of his Reichsrath. The Bavarians, who have never much liked Prussian interference, will hardly be reconciled to 'ib by this lust act. The telegram may, indeed, possibly rank next in importance among the Imperial "wires", to that sent to Mr. Kruger. When will the Kaiser remember Bacon's warning to Kings not to say short, sharp things that "fly abroad like darts" and do such infinite mischief? THE CHANGES IN THE MINISTRY. On Saturday last the changes in Mr. Balfour's Ministry were announced. They | are very disappointing to those who, like j ourselves^ hoped, not for a mere patching of Lord Salisbury's Cabinet, but for real and genuine reconstruction. Lord Dudley becomes Lord-Lieutenant, without a seat in the Cabinet, and Mr. Wyndham enters the Cabinet. Lord Londonderry (sometime Chairman of the London School Board) becomes President of the Board of Education. Mr. Ritchie becomes Chancellor of the Exchequer. Mr. Ritchie was, we believe, at one time a Fair-trader, but it is understood that he has of late considerably changed his views in regard to economic subjects. Mr. Akers-Douglas goes to the Home Office, Lord Windsor taking his place as First Commissioner of Works, but without a seat in the Cabinet. Mr. Austen Chamberlain is promoted to Cabinet rank as Postmaster-General, Sir William Walrond becoming Chancellor of the Duchy, but without a seat in the Cabinet. The other new appointments are Lord Percy (Undersecretary of State for India), Sir William Anson (Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Education), Mr. Bonar Law (Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Trade), Mr. H. W. Forster (Lord of the Treasury), while Mr. Hayes Fisher becomes Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Sir A. Acland Hood Chief Whip— an excellent appointment — and Mr. Cochrane Under-Secretary at the Home Office. Lord Hardwicke, who was at the India Office, now goes to the War Office. It will be seen that the net effect on the Cabinet is to reduce it from twenty to eighteen — a move, though a small one, in the right direction — and to introduce two entirely new members — i.e., Mr. Austen Chamberlain and Mr. Wyndham. That is the extent of the new blood. The other changes are only shufflings of the pack. It should be noted that the mem* bers of Lord Salisbury's Administration who retire permanently are Sir John Gorst, Mr. Jesse Collings, and Lord Raglan, who has been appointed GoverI nor of the Isle of Man. ' r PARLIAMENT. Parliament rose on Friday week — i.e., Bth August — having completed Clause 7 jof the Education Bill. Nothing of importance was done on the last day, saving the announcement by Mr. Balfour of the names and terms of reference of the War Enquiry Commission. Lord Elgin presides, and the -other Commissioners will include Field-Marshal Sir Henry Norman, Admiral Sir John Hopkins, Lord Esher, Sir John Jackson (the eminent contractor), and Sir John Edge (member of the India Council and late Chic/ Justice of the North- West Provinces of India). There was, said Mr. Balfour, still another name "which I hope to be able to secure, but that, roughly speaking* gives the outline of the Commission the Government desires to see appointed." The reference, he added, will probably be in the following terms: — "To enquire into the military preparations for the war in South Africa, and into the supply of men, ammunition, equipment, and transport by sea and land in connection with the campaign, and'" into the military operations up to the occupation of Pretoria." THE WAR COMMISSION. We fear that this means chiefly a "spilt-milk" enquiry which will be almost useless, and that the behaviour of the non-professional troops in the field when contrasted with that of the professional, which is a matter of vital importance for ( our future military policy, will be considered outside the scope of the enquiry. Yet upon a trustworthy answer to " the question whether t"he Imperial Yeomanry and the service companies of the volunteers were of value, and, if so,, of what value, in the fighting line the foundation of a sound scheme of Imperial defence must rest. We presume, however, that the raising of the Imperial' Yeomanry and kindred forces will come within the enquiry. If that is so, the matter should be dealt with very carefully and thoroughly, in order that the mistakes committed may be set up as warnings and some simpler and better machinery suggested for "next time." For example, one would like to know why the names and addresses of all the men — and there were, we imagine, some thirty thousand of these — who were rejected at the first I call for the Imperial Yeomanry were not carefully recorded, and why the authorities did not keep in touch with these willing men against a possible second emergency. That second emergency did, in fact, aris*e, brat when it did all the work had to be done over again, for the first set of men who failed to get in ha 4 been got rid of as useless water is emptied out of a bucket. Such improvidence is worth being enquired into, for i out of the enquiry may come suggestions for avoiding so prodigal a system in the fuhire. j THE COLONIAL CONFERENCE. The Colonial Conference has completed its sittings. Though no official communication has yet been made a? to the results j arrived at, the Daily Telegraph, The j Times, and other papers have given accounts of the agreements arrived at which are no doubt fairly accurate. There are to be increased contributions to the Navy in money from Canada and other colonies. Something definite, too, appears also to have been agreed on in the way of augmenting the local military forces. As regards trade, the policy of giving a preference to British goods in colonial tariffs was generally assented to. That is, of course, quite satisfactory, as the colonies make no demand that we should alter our fixed policy of tariff for revenue purposes only, and any relaxation of their Protective systems is to be welcomed and will incrense their prosperity. The resolutions as to military and naval matters appear to be equally reasonable. Speaking generally, the colonies desire to raise and control their own / military forces,, and to lend them for the common j Imperial service when desirable. That is by far the best arrangement. COLONIAL DEFENCE. We note with great satisfaction the speech of Mr. Deakin, the Acting-Premier of the Commonwealth, made in Mcl- , bourne on Tuesday, on the subject of national defence in the colonies. The choice of the British people, he declared, must be between "over-centralisation" and decentralisation— but both systems must, of course, he admitted, be under the supreme control of the Imperial Army and Navy. The policy of "over-central-isation" restricted the colonies to contributions in coin. That of decentralisation would .substitute trained men and bases of supply in the place of subsidies. We entirely agree with Mr. Deakin, and so, we believe, do the British people outside professional circles, in chooskur the

system of decent lalisation. If the colonies are to help us in time of war, it must be by lending us forces of their own raising. Contributions in cash are, in truth, valueless. In a very few years they become mere small payments in relief of the British taxpayer. Contributions in land from localised forces- are real additions to our strength. THE VACCINATION QUESTION. A powerful appeal on behalf of the ■Imperial Vaccination League') signed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishops of London, Rochester, and Stepney, Cardinal Vaughan, the Chief Rabbi, Lord Kelvin, and many of our most eminent physicians and surgeons, appears in Monday's Times. The objects of the League are twofold — to secure legislative improvements in the Vaccination Act, which expires in 1903, and to educate public opinion in support of vaccination. In regard to legislation, the attitude of the League is far from aggressive. Its promoters do not propose to urge the abolition of the "conscientious objector" clause. But they insist on the need for obligatory revaccination of school children at a specified age as an amendment of paramount importance — in Germany, where revaccination was enforced by law in 1874, epidemics have practically ceased — and propose to formulate the best expert opinion on the administration of the Vaccination Law and the adequate provision of glycerir.ated lymph. Such opinion will be then laid before members of both Houses. In regard to the instruction of public opinion, the League proposes to set to work by assisting ministers of all denominations and other persons working among the poor to make known by literature, lectures, and meetings the need for and value of vaccination and revaccination. As this plan of campaign | will often involve the distribution of literature gratuitously, the signatories appeal for funds, which may be sent to the secretary, Dr. E. J. Edwardes, at 53,. Berner^-street, W.