The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1897-05-20
THE ISOLATION or ENGLAND.

Oregonian The London papers take
the rejection of the arbitration treaty in i'll
part. 1t is impossible to doubt that 1t Is
q disappointment to the British govern
ment and the thoughtful part OF the
British people. This is the only reason
for regretting that the treaty was not rati.
fed after it was made harmless by the
senate amendments, even il Great Brit
ain rejected it herself afterward. We
could afford to let England save her
dignity at our expense. There never was
a time when it became Americans so
little to seem gratutitously to humiliate
or insult Great Britain as now, when the
the diplomacy of Europe appears to have
left her without friend.
This isolation OF Great Britain in Eu-
rope is the only explanation OF her eager.
ness for the ratification Of the treaty. II
was OF no more practical value to her
than to US. 1t simply pledged both
nations to course of action they had
followed in the past, and can and proba.
bly, will follow in the future, without any
treaty obligation to do so. As far as the
United States is concerned, its congress
is about to accompany rejection of this
particular arbitration treaty with re-
affirmation of the general principle OF
settlement of disputes among all nations
by arbitration. The act Of the senate
does not stand in the way Of arbitration
of specific difference with Great Brit
ain tomorrow.
Great Britain desired to make the
treaty, not for purposes Of American ar
bitration, but for purposes OF European
diplomacy. Almost as complely isolated
in Europe as she was when the power OF
Napoleon was at its height, she desired &c
show herself in conspicuous friendly
agreement with the only power outside
OF Europe which Europe knows and re-
spects. 1t was intended that the Cont
nent should interpret the agreement At
sort OF Anglo Saxon Alliance, and b,
impressed with its formidable character
q
but we are rich and numerous people
and such an ally is better than none, es
pecially when it can be had at cheal
rate. England can get no ally in Europe
without making large and unweeom'
concessions, without letting 90 somt
of the vast plumber of lands anC
trade and influence, in grasping which
she has made the world her foe. Sh'
thought to get a sort of ally in Americ,
at the cheap price of piece of sentiment
British disappointment is great in pro
portion to the British need. The Cont
mental combination against British inter
ests has long been formidable. Now j
grows mensncing. The secret alliance 0
the three imperial powers has been Iaten
for several years. Now it becomes active
II has taken the settlement of the East
ern question out of England's hands. |
has imposed upon her humiiating neglec
OF the Armenians and Greeks. 1t ha
held Turkish assassins scathless an
trained British cannon on Cretans strug
Cling for liberty. 1t will dictate the peac
to be made in Greece, and will dominate
the conference to settle the results of tn
war. Finally it will part the lands OF tn
sultan among its members when the tim
shall come. and England will be lucky
she keeps Egypt,
The Continental concert menance
England in Africa. Germany has moth
ing to gain in the division of Turks
spoils. She will demand her compensa
ton in support of other powers for he
assistance to the British advancein Sout
Africa. The alliance of the three EN-
perors may come TO the rescue OF tn
Trsnsvsal, and England can make n
Counter-alliance without paying a bi
price. OF her only two possible allies
Italy is bankrupt in purse and reputation
and France would make the evacuation
of Egypt the condition of her aid. Ii
this position it is no wonder that Englan,
snatches at the shadow of an arbitration
treaty, which might be imposed upo
Europe as an Anglo-Saxon alliance.