Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-01-20

means of transit across the American
isthmus, whether on unfounded pretentior
or right in cases of alleged boundary dis
putes, or under other unfounded preten
sions, as a manifestation of an unfriendly
disposition toward the United States and
as an interposition which it would be i'm.
possible in any form for the United
States to regard with indifference.
The report went to the calendar.
Senator Gray announced that the re.
port was not unanimous.
OPINIONS DIFFER.
London.--The French newspaper La
Liberte prints an interview with NJ.
Berthout, the French minister of foreign
affairs, in which he was quoted as saying:
"The (Mekong) Siam convention does
not modify our external policy. The
English newspapers are wilfully mis-
taken in declaring that England has OBJ
tanned Frances cooperation in the set
tlement of English foreign difficulties
Yet, in the face of this, the newspapers
here look upon the Mekong agreement as
being a triumph of British diplomacy
and slap over the shoulder of France at
Emperor William.
The elation at Great Britain's appar-
emily successful issue from conflict with
France in Siam, combine with the con-
fidence aroused by the promptress with
which the naval preparations we're carried
ont, has given tone of cocksureness to a
portion of the press and a majority OF
the people.
The Standard is SO elated that it talks
about Great Britain's holding her own
against any five or six of the great pow
ers, and thinks it a matter of supreme in
difference as to how the powers may
group themselves.
GETTING TOO GAY.
The st. James Gazette, however, strong
ly reproves Englishmen for uttering such
an opinion, describes the Standards re-
marks as swagger and asks pertinently
if Great Britain is prepared to take on
France, Russia Germany, Austria and
the United States, and says: "Surely this
is making great deal too much of the
the fact that we built few ironclads and
cruisers rapidly during the last few
years."
Continuing, the st. James Gazette pro-
ceeds to enumerate the vulnerable points
of G1eat Britain's armor, namely, Insult
cient number of cruisers, lack of trained
sailors and officers to man the fleet, tiny
army, etc.
SOME WAR TALK.
In connection with the possibility of
war between Great Britain and one or
more of the powers, the newspapers give
much prominence to an article from the
pen of distinguished military strategist,
Capt. Baron Won Lutwitz of the Prussia
general staff, which has appeared in the
Militar Wochtenblatt.
Discussing the chances of an invasion
of Great Britain, Capt. Won Lutwitz
concludes with the remark that an inva-
sion of this country would be dangerous,
but is in no way impossible. The
English newspapers retort by recalling
the remark, attributed to Field Marshal
Won Moltke, namely, that he had nine
plans for getting into England, but none
for getting out again.
FLORIDA TROOPS NOT CALLED OUT.
Washington.-A fiat denial Is given at
the war department to-day of the report
from Florida that the secretary has re-
quested of the governor of the state to
put the Florida troops in readiness to
take the field at moments notice. Il is
said that the president has no constitu-
tional or lawful authority to make such
request and there is no emergency that
would justify the calling out of the Florida
militia.