The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1895-04-11
WARLIKE TENDENCIES.

Diplomatic anxiety is now widespread,
and there is no assurance but what some
act OF injustice and aggression will kindle
the fires of war.
Dispatches indicate that Great Britain
has notified this administration that she
will not recognize the right Of the United
States to interfere in behalf OF Venezuela.
Having seized large extent OF Venezu-
elan territory in defiance of treaty obliga-
tions and the protests of that country,
England defiantly proclaims that she
will hold by force all that she has
gained, and makes no pledge that like
course OF rapacious aggression will not be
continued. Lord Kimberly's statement
to Ambassador Bayard is in effect a
downright denial of the validity of the
Monroe doctrine. which for three-quarters
OF century we have been upholding as
an integral principle Of American foreign
policy. The United States under several
administrations has exerted itself to sub
NIT the dispute regarding the boundary
line between British Guiana and Venezu-
ella to an impartial tribunal of arbitration;
but England has refused to arbitrate-
which, in effect, is an acknowledgement
that her pretensions are founded on in
justice. The gravest aspect of the case,
however, is Lerd Kimberly's declaration
that the circumstances of this govern
ment in behalf of a weak sister will not
be needed. This practically constitutes
a challenge to the United States, and the
emergency calls for firmness and states
manship at Washington. Surrender on
the part Of the administration would en-
tail the gravest consequences, for it
would vitiate the force of the Monroe
doctrine, make Great Britain the premier
power OF the Western hemisphere, and
bring about an endless succession OF
complications and difficulties for the
future.
Does England want war? Lord Rose
bery's government has been losing
strength ever since the ambitious Scotch
peer took the reins CT leadership from
Mr.. Gladstone's hands, and it is an old
British political trick for an unpopular
ministry to adopt violently aggressive
foreign policy and then appeal to parlia-
ment and the country for support, on the
ground that national honor is at stake.
1t may be that this purpose is behind the
recent display of British bluster, which
was shown again in the house of COM
mons when Sir Edward Grey emphatic
ally declared that Great Britain would
regard the dispatch of French expedi-
ton into the upper Niger valley as an I'M
friendly act. The fact that the words utter
ed were read from memoranda furnished
by the British secretary of state for the
foreign department gives them all the
weight of official authority, and demon
strates that this public ultimatum to the
French government was uttered after
careful consideration. 1t is evident that
diplomatic relations between England
and France are sadly strained, and this
public utterance will not tend 10 improve
them. Yet the probabilities are against
war between the two powers, unless the
excitsble French populace compels Pres
ident Faure and his cabinet to repay
with interest this latest affront offered by
Albion.
War between France and England
could hardly fail to set the continent
ablaze. The German emperor, waiting
restlessly at the head OF his helmeted le-
gions to gain territory and glory at the
expense of the fatherland's hereditary
enemy, would not be likely to resist the
temptation to assal France by land
while England assaulted her by sea.
Russia, whose Cossacks have already
ridden their hardy ponies up to the gates
of India, would find in war between
Great Britain and France an opportunity
to enlarge her Asiatic possessions on the
one hand, while making dash for the
coveted vantage ground of Constantine
pie on the other. Italy and Austria
would almost inevitably be drawn into
the conflict, and the calamity and suffer,
ing caused by such a stupendous con
fiict would be without a parallel since
the war in which all Europe was arrayed
against the sleepless ambition OF Ma
poleon.