Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-04
WOULD EUROPE sUpPoRT SPAIN,

WOULD EUROPE SUPPORT SPATNf
In the event Of war between Spain
and the United States, would Spain
get any support from other European
countries? A leading Spanish Journal,
in discussing the action of the United
States senate, declared that "Spain is
not isolated in Europe" and dispatches
from Berlin report that the opinion Is
generally held by well-informed politi.
clans there that the Spanish govern
ment will find an ally against the
United States in Europe. should she
find herself compelled to 80 to war with
this country. The press utterances i'll
other continental countries, while in
some cases showing sympathy with
Spain. do not indicate a disposition to
support that country in the event Of
war. and in the discussion of the mat
ter by the British newspapers there has
been no serious suggestion of European
support of Spain.
Undoubtedly the Spanish government
would make very earnest appeal for
European help, but in view of the fact
liliI II IL uiIthuI bihhINpt anu mas
been unable to obtain in the financial
centers of Europe such sums of money
rs 1t has sought to borrow since the
outbreak of the Cuban insurrcction,
there seems little reason to believe that
it would be able to effect an alliance
with any European power for carrying
on n costly war with the United States.
What European country could afford
to sever friendly relations with the
United States and make enormous ex-
penditures of money in order that Spain
might retain possession of Cubap What
Spanish control of Cuba that it would
be willing to sacrifice the friendship of
the United States to perpetuate that
control? 1t Is not Great Britain, which
would have nothing to lose by the in
dependence of Cuba or the further
weakening of the Spanish nation by
being deprived of that island. Possibly
Great Britain would prefer that Cuba
remain Spanish colony, but she
would do nothing to that end which
would impair her relations with the
United States. AS to Germany, France
or Italy, why should any of them sup
port Spain in Il war against the United
States? What possible advantage or
benefit could any of them derive from
such an alliance that would begin to
compensate for the loss of American
friendship and American trade? The
retention of Cuba by Spain. even if
their assistance could insure this, which
do them no good. They could expect
absolutely no return for the eXpendi-
ture of life and treasure which support
of Spain would involve. Moreover. all
of these powers have quite enough to
do in safeguarding their own interests,
without assuming any additional re-
sponsibilities in behalf of Spain. None
Of them has any war ships to spare for
service against the United States, be-
cause there is plenty of occupation for
them elsewhere, and certainly none of
them would weaken it's military estab-
lishment in order to reinforce the
armies of Spain. Doubtless the Eu-
IOltiI powers tllll llitNe lDbSStSSlOllS III
this hemisphere regard with disfavor
the somewhat aggressive assertion Of
American policy, but the Spanish gov
ernment will not find in this fact any
encouragement for efforts to effect Il
European alliance.
We do not believe there will be war
between Spain and the United States.
There certainly will not be unless
Spain wants war; and when that coun-
try is convinced that it would have to
fight the United States single-handed
that as matter of fact it is isolated in
Europe the warlike spirit that has been
manifested will subside and perhaps
an effort be made to placate anti-Span-
ish sentiment in this country by insti-
tuting a different policy in Cuba.