Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-01-20
me SITUATION CRITICAL.

cal situation In International sfiaits,
The danger OF n great war apptar'
more imminent than at any TINS this
century since tue allied powers
were called upon to iAoe the great
Napoleon. The key 10 the situation
lin the hands Of Great Britain, and
wiser countels may prevail and lead
that nation 10 pursue coneiliatory
policy toward the United states, In.
stead OF assuming = threatening all'
tude. The flying squadron has not yet
sailed from Portsmouth harbor, and
will not receive it, final orders un-
III tho departure from Bantry
Bay, which will not be until Friday at
the earliest. Up TO that tlmo the Brit.
lsh premier has opportunity TO send
his immense naval force 10 a quarter
whore ils presence will not DO regarded
NJ n direct menace 10 nation which
Britain should be- the last 10 threaten.
But II the royal squadron IL dssllnsd
TO the Bsrmudas, either for action
against the United States or In soiEing
upon Cuba In pursuance OF an agroe-
ment with Spain, the serious nature Of
such n movement hardly can 10 over.
estimated.
II ia scarcely TO be conceived that
Lord Salisbury and his astuio nephew
and political adviser, Arthur BAlfour,
really possess an idea that by q great
display Of naval force they can in,imi-
date the United States into acquies.
cenos TO English diota on the Monroo
doctrine. In tho frst place, the past
few weeks should have convinced them
that English public sentiment 10 not
demanding war with this nation.
When tho TrausvAal Incident occurred,
II was quickly discovered that all
Britain could be arrsyed against Ger
many. and tho latter had TO act
with discretion. But an anti.
American campaign shows no such
local support, for the simple reason
that the British public SEQ no jnstincA-
tlon for II. What they want Is closer
commercial relations with the United
States, and not war. In the second
place, II q war with this country were
to DO enthusiastically supported by the
British people, the United Kingdom
could not hope TO come out Of II with
lean damage than would accrue TO the
United States. The lobs to British
commerce alone would exceed In
value the creates. destruction which
hab been pointed out as possible TO IN.
flct on this country. Aud thirdly, II
Britain does not want war with the
United States, any "bulldoGlng"
procedure OF the British min.
istry would DO the worst pos.
sible step, for the present temper
OF this country, az shown upon the
Presidents Venezuelan message al.
really IL too much inclined 10 knock
tho chip oil John BULBS shoulder.
Taking all the circumstances into
confederation, We do not believe that
England wants war, and will ind
way to surmount tho present diiiicul.
ties. Queen Victoria, while exercising
only the powers Of a limited monarch,
hill has sufficient influence 20 prevent
ner people bving plunged into such a
disastrous conflict. for In Great Britain,
ministry anu all would have to 20
down before the queeu's popularity
should she appeal to tue nation IN
this respect. Tue way for this has
been opened by permitting her 10 take
an active part In the German affair.
Were the queen TO pass away--an event
not at all improbable-things might be
entirely different. But while she lives
there II strong reason to believe that
her ministry will be careful In It's war
policy where the United States is con-
corned.
The now question involved Ia OF far
more Importance than the Vcnezuvlau
boundary. Here IL the situation Of
n revolution in Cuba about to
prove successful, Spain, recognising
that her practical control u the islanl
Is about to pass away, Is said 10
have negotiated to transf. II 10
Britain. In this transaction there 10
virtual concession that spaulsh
power In Cuba Ia replaced by the re-
public there. The situation domanJs
recognition by the United States Of
belligerent rights for the Cuban rovo-
lutionists,and the Presidents procl ma.
ton to that effect II anticipated any
day. II Britain aooeptB the Spanish
transfer, she will bo virtually In
the position OF attempting to conquer
an American republic, This the
United States could not permit; and
here lies the danger OF selecting tho