BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 13, 16 January 1909, Page 13

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

SPECTATOR SUMMARY. (For week ending Saturday, 21ft Nov.) UNMERITED COMMENDATION. The situation in the Near Ea&fc seems on the whole improved, though there are still grounds for grave anxiety. In. Germany the Emperor's endorsement of Prince Bulow's promises for more <- reserve" in the future have produced a calming effect. Public opinion, however, still shows signs of very considerable excitement and suspense. The fact that the Government are obliged at once to ask the Reichstag to impose some twenty -five millions ol new taxation will no doubt tend to prolong the Constitutional unrest. The Chancellor in the Reichstag on Thursday, when introducing the new fiscal proposals, made a very characteristic speech. Acidity and honey, calculated indiscretions and discreet economies of truth, were blended in a most remarkable melange. We wonder whether Prince Bulow was merely misinformed as to our present financial position, or whether he was indulging in a piece of very delicate irony, when he held us up as affording an example to Germany, especially in our persistent efforts for the reduction of our debt. We wonder also whether Mr. Asquith and Mr. Lloyd George will be able to hear such, praises "with unwounded ear," considering what are their predatory intentions in regard to the sinking fund. A TACTFUL MINISTER. While dealing with the general foreign outlook we' are glad/ to note that Sir Edward Grey, speaking at Scarborough on Thursday night, emphasised Mr. Asquith's recent speech at the Guildhall banquet, and declared that it expressed the mind of the whole country. Sir Edward Grey's speeches on foreign affairs are always so tactful, so straightforward, and so wise that they leave very little room for criticism. It is encouraging to learn tnat he seems fairly satislied, in spite of the obvious dangers and difficulties of the situation. There was, however, a certain note of anxiety in hia remark that he hoped that the Powers will be able to make the best use of the weeks which arc before them, "because the winter, which is unfavourable to action in the Balkans, is favourable to councils." In other words, Sir Edward dreads what may happen in the spring, when war in those bleak mountain regions becomes possible, if diplomacy has not previously brought about a better condition of aii'aiis. EMPEROR AND DOWAGER. The Emperor of China died on Saturday last. At least such was the official announcement made on Sunday at Pekin ; but there had been some rumours that he really died earlier in the week. He declined, as The limes correspondent tells us, to allow himself to be removed to the Pavilion of Peaceful Longevity, thus violating the precedents which prescribe the deathplace of the Einpeior. He also refused to wear the traditional robes proper to the occasion. On Sunday the astonishing announcement was made that the Empress-Dowager was also dead. The coincidence was so re- | markable that there was naturally a suggestion of foul play ; but no evidence has confirmed this. Late on Saturday evening the Empress-Dowager had issued a decree appointing the new Emperon Pu-yi and naming his- father, Prince Chun, as Regent. On Sunday a decree was issued in Pu'yi's iiame de daring that tho late Empress-Dowager had directed that the .Regent, whenever lie was in difficulties, was to consult the new Empress-Dowager, the young Emperor's mother, who is admitted by all to be a nonentity. The satisfactory feature of these events is that there has been no crisis, tnough one 'had been long prophesied. PERSIA AND ITS CONSTITUTION. The Persian correspondent of The Times announced on Saturday las>t that the Constitutionalists in Teheran had just held their first meeting since the coup d'etat. Three thousand Persian Cossacks were present, but they did not intimidate the demonstrators. This success led to further demonstrations, and a telegram from St. Petersburg in The Times of Monday stated that the clergy were calling upon the Shah to redeem his promise's. Martial law had been proclaimed, and the streets of Teheran were occupied by troops. In Wednesday's Times the correspondent said that the Shah, in answer to the recent admonitions from the British and Russian Ministers, had declared that he himself had "Constitutional tendencies," but that the nation was anti-Constitutional. We did not expect to hear the Spenlow and Jorkins argument in this quarter, but it ought to be easily expo&ed. It is reported that the three hundred Cossacka under Colonel Liakofl" who were despatched to Tabriz have joined the Constitutionalists to a man. Messages from Tabriz and Teheran state that Turkey is about to intervene in Azerbaijan Province. These rumours are obviously false, and are intended to provoke Russian intervention, of which wo cannot believe there is the least danger. THE HOUSE~OF LORDS. The House of Commons during tho week has been engaged on the report stage of the Licensing Bill. We do nos propose, however, to attempt to deal with these guillotine-haunted debates. The real interest has already been transferred to the House of Lords, and to the action which will there be taken. We very greatly regiet to record that the impression seems growing that Lord Lansdowne intends to advise the Unionist Peeid who are to meet at his house next Tuesday to reject the Bill on the second reading. We gave last week the reasons which induce us to believa that such action will be most unwise. The tendency of public opinion since we wrote has confirmed us in the view that if the Lordb reject the Bill on the second reading, they will expose themselves to the accusation of being a Parliamentary ! "tied House." When we urge tho .Lords to show that they are not out of symt>arthy with, or prepared to condemn absolutely, moderate temperance opinion, we in no sense ask them to pass the Bill as it fctands. The measure, we hold, | requires grave modification, and it will be the duty of the Lords to make such [ modification, quite apait from whether they think the Government would or would not accept their amendments. It will be said, perhaps, that if the Peers accept the second reading they will find their power of amendment gone, owing to the Commons' privileges in the matter of all public expenditure. Our answer is that the Peers should not be afraid of meeting boldly the exaggerated claim of the Commons in this respect. Indeed, the sooner it is met the better. Otherwise tho power of revision I will in almost all cases be taken from i the Peers, and nothing will remain to them except the bare light of absolute acquiescence or absolute rejection a right which must be very difficult to exercise in a country which, like Britain, always regards a compromise as the natural and proper outsome of political controversy. Tho famous St Bernard hospice has at tho present time fifteen dope engaged in rescue work in the Alps.