Evening journal., 1896-04-06
BRITONS and SPANIARDS
1t Is Reported That They Have
Formed an Alliance.
TIE POWERS SOON TO BE NOTIFIED.

English Warships To BE Permitted to Har-
bor and Rent In the Meditcrranean-In
Return 60 Render Aid to Spain In the
Cuban Conflict.
NEW YORK, April 0.-Ballard Smith,
The Worlds London correspondent, cables
the following:
The positive statomept camo 90 mo from
a leading ilnunoier of the city tho mon.
oymaking part Of Iondonl that England
has concluded treaty Of alliance with
Spain His final message TO me was:
"Within ten days Europe will be startled
by the official announcement of this fact E"
give this statement with the reserve
which it's International importance war
rants pointing out only that the sensitive
money interests of tho city are often bet
ter informed on such matters than is any
other part of the community except the
highest official authority, and that my in
formant Is now and for many years has
been associated with the leading financial
enterprises. conspicuously the interna-
tional ones, of London bankers. His
namo, If / could mention it, would be rec
ognized as very authoritative by every
New York banker as we'll as every Lon
don banker.
Such a treaty would have vastly i'm
portant bearing upon the continental sit
uation. 1t would have q commensuratoly
important bearing upon the Cuban ques-
ton in the United States.
quoted Co my informant the statement
in the New York newspapers that tho
Washington government had received a
semiofioial intimatioD from the British
ministry that Great Britain would ap-
prove Of the recognition by the United
States Of Cuban helligcrency
His reply was that exactly the contrary
Is the case, thatin the first place the sal
isbury ministry is disposed to do anything
it can with safety and IN reason 20 check
the pretensions of the American govern
ment to interfere In either West Indian or
South American ailairs-particularly in
the West Indies, whore Great Britain her
self has most important interests-and
that, secondly, Spain by this treaty has
made important concessions TO England
in return for the latter's moro or less
active support of Spain in her conflict
with the Cuban rebels.
England to Get Rights In Mediterranean.
] can furnish no further details Of this
alleged treaty than that. according 70 my
informant, it will include giving TO Great
Britain the right 60 harbor and roft hei
fleets in the Mediterranean ports Of Spain.
The harbor of Cartagena IS one Of the
finest on the Mediterranean and would
/ shelter tho entire British navy
The Salisbury ministry has openly and
officially stated one Of its chief reasons foi
that extraordinary movement the advanr,
on the Sudan, accepted as hostile by
| France and Russia, was to make friend
/ ly diversion IN bohalf OF Italy. All Flu
rope has in turn accepted this assurance
as proof Of Engands sympathy with thl
triple alliance. and even Germany showei
| appreciation Of this fact by voting will
l Italy and Austria TO assist Enaland's wal
with the caliph France and Russia. on
| the contrary, are ablaze with hostile in
1 dignation against England because Of thii
movement.
From all this the Importance Of an An.
/ glo-Spanish alliance 70 Great Britain Is
obvious. Neither Gibraltar nor Malta
England s only two ports on the Mediter-
ranean-is capable Of either harboring on
rehtting feet, but with both the italian
and Spanish ports thrown open to the
British navy the French fleet at Toulon
would be at England's mercy, and Russia
could hardly make junction from tn,
Black sea with the ships of her French
ally.
Such are the apparent reasons why Great
Britain should wish to make such an ALI
ance as above indicated. It would, more
over, leave her in safe possession Of Gi
braltar.
Time alono my informant says less thar
a fortnightl can show II the statement
above is founded on actual fact l would
not cable it had ] not very great confidence
/ in my authority and in his unquostionec
opportunity to know the facts If they have
extended beyond the foreign Office TO th'
money center OF the British empire.