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Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 268, 31 March 1898, Page 2

Tllli situation in the Far East and the relations between the different Powers shew little chango for tho-better— in fact, the prospects of peace being

maintained seem somewhat less promising than thoy did a week back. Public opinion is moused in England, and nearly all the leading journals uro urging upon the English Government a more pronounced assertion of British rights. The opinion is growing stronger day by day that the Government must put its foot down and state definitely whatßritain is prepared to allow and what she is not, and that any attempt to exceed what she thinks fair and reasonable will be resisted even at the cost of war. It has not been very often, if ever recorded in history, that a British Conservative Government has been urged by public opinion to support the dignity and interests of the Empire, and we are loth to believe that Lord Salisbury's Ministry has, so far departed from the traditions of its party, as to merit the severe criticism to which it has been subjected by the English Press. We are inclined to the opinion that Lord Salisbury has left a trump card in the hand of his successor, which will be played in due time.