Of the subjects other than the fiscal question which Mr. Joseph Chamberlain lealt with in his speech to the Liberal Union Club by far the most important was the Anglo-Japanese agreement, renewal and extension of which he stra tional policy of the Liberals is to eschew international alliances, and many even of those who would welcome a change Government entertain misgivings on this point. It is even eaid that Mr. Balfour's main adject in scheming to postpone a General Election is to get the alliance renewed before he goos out of office.
In all probability this is only a guess; but it is a not unlikely one. In order to effect this, Mr. Balfour would have to remain at the Treasury through next January; but if the present effort ata Unionist understanding on the fiscal question should p successful, be might easily accomplish "that. At present we are all in a state of excited expectancy about the meeting of the Russian and Japanese fleets; and there is a not insignificant minority of naval experts who are disposed to regard Admiral Rozhdiestvensky's chances of a victory as by no means hopeless.
Frederick Greenwood, There was a remarkable gathering of journalists and men of letters at the complimentary dinner to Mr. Frederick Greenwood, e: of the Pall Mall" and "St. Jai Gazette," at the Trocadero on Satur with Mr. John Morley in the chair. Mr. Greenwood is ised by all newspapermen as one of the ablest of living editors, though his present position of more or loss greement with both political parties im without a journal under his own control. ut no fewer than five © present eilitor of the " Pall Mall," for that journal has had a curious career. It was started a Conservative organ, with Mr. Gr wood as its first editor. Then bought by the Liberals, and the editor and the principal members of his staff seceded' and formed the "St. James's Gazette." Then a fow years later it was bought back by the Conservatives, and it was the tim of the Liberal editor and aff to form a new paper—the "VY minster Gazette." All three papers ai alive and flourishing, though the St, James's" has been amalgamated with the "Standard." The Into J Greenwood, famous as the "An Casual," was a brother of Frederick's, but though at one time his name was better known to the general public, his work was altogether on a lower plane than that of the founder of the " Pall Mall."
21st April.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.