The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-03-18
THAT IMBROGLIO.
The Behring Sea Question il CT Dat
Britain.
ASSUMING A SERIOUS ASPECT.
ssThe British VIII Fight and Are Ready to
Fight If Necessary" Says Conserva-
tive, "But We Do Not Seek
Fight"-Matter Discussed.

LONDON, March 14-The Behring sea
controversy is apparently assuming a
serious aspect
The latest news from Washington
has aroused an interest in the subject
that did not before exist and every
body is anxious to learn the next move
of Lord Salisbury and President Harri-
SON.
There is an impression in England,
growing cut of the Gillian controversy,
that President Harrison means what
he says aud there is nothing of that
which the Americans call bluff about
his warnings or demands.
1t is we'll known that Lord Salisbury
is equally in earnest and that he will
sustain whatever course may be de-
termined upon with any naval and mil
itarv power that NAV be necessary.
The foreign Office is reticent and as
yet has given the public no official
statement as to the position of the
British government but Lord Sails
bury's mouthpieces all speak in a
tone that leaves no doubt that En-
glands navy will be ready TO meet
any American aggression in the
open waters of Behring sea. an the
British sealers will be defended in
capturing seals beyond the coast limit of
American jurisdiction. That is, En-
gland will take no offensive action, but
will ,be resolutely on the defensive,
leaving it 10 the American govern
lnent to assume the responsibility for
hostile action should any be taken on
The Behring sea issue.
THE British will fight and are
ready to fight if necessary" said one of
the leading conservative members of
parliament, but we do not seek
fight If the United States govern
ment is insane enough to 90 to war, or
to make a show of force that would
be tantamount to provoking war, for
the sake of their Alaska seal ring,
which is really at the bottom of the
whole difficulty, and which thinks it
can maintain a monopoly by getting
the government of the United States to
take up its cause on such an issue, En-
gland will not go before the world if
America wishes to challenge her"
81 have not the slightest apprehen-
6AOh biCtS W dI Will VC the result o. the
Behring sea controversy" said a gem
tleman connected with the English ad-
Iniralty, but if such should unfor-
tunately be the case, England is ready
As for the Americans taking Canada.
tbev seem to forget that it
took them four years to conquer
the south, which had white
population about equal to that of
Canada and did not have an English
feet to assist it. Campaigning in Can
ada would be very different affair |
from campaigning in the southern
states of the American union, and the |
Canadians would be generally found |
loval to the British flag. | do not /
doubt that the Americans could con- |
quer Canada, but it would not be in |
year or two years or without the sacri- /
fee of many thousands of lives and the /
exUenditur. of hundreds of millions of /
dollars. Tqe talk about an easv con- /
quest of Canada is amusing TO military /
and naval men acquainted with the
situa'ioa
In other respects" added the /
speaker, England is in first rate con-
dition to defend her subjects against /
A American aggression. Russia is in a I
pit able coacition financially and phys
ic Ill. and a recent careful review of /
the military resources of our Indian
empire shows that India is well able
II take care # itself should Russia
move in that direction.
''In one important respect England
would gain b. a war with the
Uni'e ed States. 1t would put
an end to American encroachments
on English commerce with South
America and would tend to solidify all !
parts of the empire and to bind the
American coloEieS more solidlv to
Great Britain British commerce will
gain more than Ii would lose and Amer
lean commerce would cease to exist
But there is deep, underlying stratum
of common sense and sound judgment
in the American character that will. in
my opinion, prevent any step from be-
ing taken that would imperil the friend.
" relations now subsisting between
the two great English speaking coun-
tries"
a Boys >kuu Crushed.
ST JOSEPH Mo- March 14-Satur- |