The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-23
QUE aoTBRKHEEr AND rHE FlR
EIsTERE Var.

Are We Bot-s ss Rstweeu Chins s-s
Jspe.t-The Aueees E-te-te Resvves-
R-ssis ssa Great Hritain-Tbs Attituse
OF ItsIy Towsrs Rrssis s.s the Tripie
AIusseo TIA Fi.aseisi Combination
Unseriyius che s~e-t-e.t.i view. - the
Le.do- Pres. Touehi-e ths New Cssr
s.d His Pouey-whst A-srics, later
ests Resuire n Our Foreign Relations.
RIVIERA pI PoNENTE, Dec. 3.-we are look
ing forward here with much interest 10 the re-
ports which the French and English journals
may bring us during the next two OF three days
Of the message which President Cleveland Is to-
day TO submit 10 the moribund Congress Of 1892
at the opening Of this, It's last, and indeed, 10 all
intents and purposes, post-mortem session.
And this not so much because any recommends
tions for the future or explanations Of the past
touching American domestic politics which the
President may make are likely TO have any eff
feet on human affairs in general, as because
circumstances have clothed the possible course
OF the American Government in regard to the
war between China and Japan with serious i'm!
p%ortance. not for the United States alone nor
for the Asiatlc powers, but for European inter-
ests and European diplomacy.
The diplomatic conundrum Of the moment IL
the question whether the American Government
10 hCJink OH W own Dab ana from motives
either Of international philanthropy or Of sensi-
BILE and single-minded regard TO American inter-
ests in the far East, in the part which the Amer
lean Ministers at Pekin and Toxic are now play
ing; or whether It Is consciously or unconscious
ly engaged In the magnanimous but not very
remunerative business Of pulling British chest
nuts out of the far Eastern fret am sorry to
say that some Of my English Radical corre-
spondents betray a very strong disposition to
suspect their own Foreign Onlce Of using its re-
lations with the Government at Washington to
bring about, II possible, such a situation between
the victorious Government Of Toxic and the
vanquished Government at Pekin as may afford
a pretext, II not a Justification. for something
not easily distinguishable from an Anglo
Continental Intervention to prevent Japan from
carrying out the results of her victories TO their
legitimate consequences.
One Government at least in Europe, has been
tolerabiy explicit as TO its intention not TO allow
Great Britain TO carry matters with a high hand
in the far East This, OF course, il the Govern
ment at Berlin. The analogy between the posi-
ton to which China has been driven by the
victories of Japan and the position into which
France a quarter Of q century ago was driven by
the victories Of Germany, Is so striking and 30
close that no European Government has ven
tured openly to dwell upon It and indeed the
pANoo ~ kthCtoA mas Dttu un-
usually discreet on the subject. China may or
may not be on the point Of breaking up under
the stress OF her military and naval defeats. but
1t is quite certain that under the stress of the
German triumphs In 1901 France went prac-
tically to pieces. Tho Government was upset
by an extemporized revolution In Paris; the
work Of defending the nation fell into the incom-
petent hands Of political adventurers, who con-
stituted themselve the arbiters of the national
fate. Paris became the prey Of Q Socialist in
surrection, chiefly organized by irresponsible
foreigners, and was rescued from destruction
only by a civil war, conducted at the close with
. remorseless ~ferocity which cannot be excused
in the eyes Of history save by the abominable
brutality Of the Commune 1t suppressed. II Ia
impossible for Germans either TO forget all this,
or TO allow the other powers Of Europe TO forget
II, when germany Is asked to unite with other
powers In imposing upon japan such q foreign
Intervention between her and China, as most
assuredly Germany never would have tolerated
In 1901. The appeals Of the Chinese Gov
eminent to foreign powers have not yet taken
any such overt and authentic shape as the ex-
traordinary mission In which Theirs travelled
all over Europe soliciting. and soliciting in vain,
some Interpolation between PROSTATE France
and triumphant Germany.
1t Is 10 be hoped, I repeat, that the United
States may not have put themselves into the
position of an oficious cats paw between the
two Oriental antagonists at the solicitation NJ
some other Western power or powers. That the
desire TO bring pressure of some kind to bear
upon the victorious Japanese and IN intsrtar.
with, and. II possible, arrest the full DEVELOPMENT
Of the obviously well-considered and deliberate
policy with which Japan entered upon and is
conducting this great contest has had v.rv
much TO do with the absolutely undi,Quised
anxiety of the British Government and IN.
British press to propitiate. will not nav N
cajole, the new Gar sinoe his access,on IN
power, Is absolutely certain. II IA fat non,.ns.
to talk of the eulogies layished upon the memory
of Alexander iii. by public men and IN, nre.s IN
England as disinterested tributes to the character
and the career of a sovereign who neither en-
joyed nor cared to earn while he was living tho
confidence and the homage of the Bri,isb Gov.
eminent or the British people. Every publio
man In Great Britain who really knows anv-
thing of foreign affairs knows perfectly we'll
that the dread of an alliance between Rus.ia
and France has clouded the whole optlooL ~