PEACE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11750, 30 November 1898, Page 4

PEACE.

There are two messages- of; goodiLomca published in the cable , new s' and possibly even in this in- away corner of the world there are soms<ivho.wdtlfareathja more easily on reading them. In/thedcrsfi place, we-Icara that-tiie militaryvaniom-aJ preparations in Great Britain-and. atidoreign stations are being relaxed, and, the- natural inference to be drawn is that the» Empire has passed through. the critical stage in. its relations with other Powers. Itita-probable that war was not actually time during the past months or-two •; but it is also possible that tie "very warlike preparations of Britain were a poteiifedaclcl in the maintenance of peace. Prance is now hardly likely to interfere in Egyptian or Soudan affairs, and she must, havedcamt a very unpleasant desson when -sheu-proposed to dictate to her neighbour as to the spheres of influence of the two nations .in the Nile Valley, The steps taken by-the colonies to place their military forceson.'a sound footing and. to make their means of defence effective, though not of immediate use, were nevertheless not without value; for the aMtiioritioain-eacli colonyavalldj© prepared now for any future emergency. Tha “Jingoes” whoso spurred heels clattered on the pavements and whose moustachioa curled with patriotic pride, have been dis j appointed ; but, for ourselves, we are iinfeignodly glad thjat peace is once more- assured for the British Empire. The other pacific message published this morning deala with the relations of Spain with thoJJnited

States. % -day or two ago it was stated that the Spanish Commissioners would not listen to the American proposals regarding the Philippines and Cuba, and it even seemed possible that hostilities between the two countries would be renewed. The good sense of the Spanish Government has now, it seems, prevailed, and we are told that Spain has accepted the American conditions. The message is not absolutely definite, but at least wo may assume that the ultimate settlement of the difficulty between ihe recent belligerents is close at hand.