The New York herald., 1879-09-06
England and the Mediterranean

There is no doubt that England is about
to add another link TO her famous chain of
fortresses from England to India. Since
the signing of the Berlin Treaty she has
steadily pursued the course of laying hands
on desirable points by means of little inno-
cent bargains which, once sanctifed by
precedent, open up many curious possibil-
ities. The capture of Cyprus by the easy
plan OF leasing it, as it were, from
the Sultan Of Turkey, is now followed
up by the capture of Tangier upon the
easy terms Of defending the Sultan of Mo-
rocco against pretender. Egypt, too, has
been practically captured by the process of
seizure for debt, the part of associated
creditor which France has played being. as
will be seen, at most q purely honorary one.
Inasmuch as France has no weighty in
terests beyond the Red Sea end of the Suez
Canal, and England has such interests, it is
easy to be seen that France is simply q
creditor, while England, in addition, is en-
gagged on securing her road to India; and it
is all the better for her that she has the
countenance and aid of France in this
purely English project Tangier, the new
point OF England's purchase policy, will, in
combination with Gibraltar, enable her to
close the mouth of the Mediterranean at
will. Pains have been taken, it appears,
to throw out the idea at Madrid that
England's ulterior object in fortitying
Tangier was to enable her to surrender
Gibraltar to the Spaniards, to whom.
of course, it of plain right be-
longs. All we can say of this
is that it shows bland innocence
past doing justice to on the part of Spain
if she credits any such stories of British
generosity. 1t is not the English way Of
doing things.
Emboldened by the failure of the Powers
at Berlin to put an embargo on the under
hand job that gave Cyprus to England. en-
couraged by the direct aid of France in her
seizure of the Egyptian government, she is
prepared to 60 forward with her plan
of purchasing ports and fortress sites
from the poor and greedy rulers OF semi
barbarous States. The new plan Of mer.
cenary annexation is, however, too full OF
dangers to be quietly acquiesced in by the
Powers Of Europe. Its successful pursu-
ance rests on the fact that Europe has left
it to the individual Powers, who may get
their own sop for the moment To Germany,
at present the strongest Continental State,
the plan, who knows, may have its attrac-
tions. She needs seaports and she has lately
shown hankering after colonies Russia
is too much occupied at home and in Asia
to offer effective protest. Spain is incoming
over dream OF Gibraltar Austria is in
no condition to stir alone; and Italy, which
has shown some signs Of uneasiness, finds
herself solitary. Therefore England in
dustriously puts her purchase principle
into practice, and is prepared to growl
that it is nobody's business but her own
and the barbarian with whom she happens
to be in treaty. But suppose Prince Bis
marck should convince Belgium that there
was no safety from French greed except in
handing over Antwerp to Germany, accept
ing Germany's protection in return, how
would England howl? That is where the
principle leads, and Europe collectively
must settle it soon or see it grow into
another menace to the peace of the Con-
tinent