Lord Lansdowrie, speaking at Leeds on Tuesday night, remarked that
he Opposition were now without a leader, and also without a programme,—a condition of things,. however, which rris not altogether desirable for the Govern-. ment. He contested Sir Edward Clarke's assertion that the British case on the Venezuelan boundary question would not be upheld by any honest arbitrator, and said
that when the time came for submitting the British claim to- arbitration it would be sustained by evidence "based upon well-established principles f international law,"—a cautious and moderate statement of the case which does not seem to us very confident. But at least it suggests that all fear of a final quarrel with the United States on the matter is- over. There may be concession, but there will not be a conflict. On the Armenian question Lord Lansdowne was still more cautious, even feeble. The Powers "must be prepared with a substitute for deposing the Sultan," before they could insist on such a step. l'Isolatedaetionin-the-East-would he isolated folly, and the Government were well advised in maintaining the Concert of the Powers,—a Concert which was destined in the end to prevail, though it might move slowly." Yes; but if we move so slowly that we prevail only in asserting the wickedness of an already completed crime, there is no great tiiumph in " prevailing " after such a fashion as that. On the whole, Lord Lansdowne's speech will not persuade any one that the foreign policy of the Government is in a very prosperous condition. Lord Rosebery's languor is apparently contagious.
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