The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-01
ENGLAND'S NEW POLICY.
TT Will HAVE A WIDE EFFEcr
UPON THE WORLDS COMMERCE.

IN III wi NJ AWs
p,re-GermanS Regards 70 ns Oncial un.
rrepaIncss and England Doesnr Care
had Feeling Between These Two Pouers.
Special Cable DsspotcA to THE Sun.
LONDON, July Silt 10 dificult 10 oxaggerato
the Importance OF the action Of the British
Government in denouncing the existing COM
mercial treaties with Germany and Belgium. It
is the first official act toward the execution Of
the radically now policy of the so-called con-
solidation of the British Empire. As such IL
marks a new departure. which will not fail to
have far.reaching effects on the worlds COM
merce.
Germany secs In II also an official expression
OF the unfriendliness which has been growing
moro and more marked between the two nations
for nearly two years. That there will DO re-
prisals and still further embittering Anglo-Ger-
man relations is almost q foregone conclusion.
and IL 10 impossible to estimate the ultimate
effects of Lord Salisbury's action in this direc-
ton.
Germany 10 already attempting to couple the
notice of tho abrogation of the treaty with Mr..
Goschen's announcement of the laying down of
four new battleships. It Ii assumed in Berlin
that the British Government has deliberately
adopted an offensive policy against Germany,
and 1t is resented accordingly.
The chief practical effect of cancelling tho
treaty will DO tho lnpsing Of tho most favored
nation clause in all the agreements between tho
two countries. Germany il thus at liberty to
engage in an open tariff war against Great
Britain II she chooses. The London press argues
that little win DO done In this direction because
the consequences would DO worse to the Germans
than to tho Englishmen. The newspapers Of
both parties arc practically unanimous on this
point and also in approval of the denunciation of
the treaty. Unfriendly sentiments nave been
most openly expressed In tho German press re-
Gently, but now London is reciprocating with
interest "Our release from Germany" is q
typical caption over the London comments to-
day.
1t in interesting to note in all the comments
hero the tacit acceptance of tho fact of Great
Britain's political and threatened commercial
isolation. Englishmen have denied or blinked
the situation az long as possible. but now sud
denly admit that the imperial consolidation
policy IL the resort to which tho country has
been forced by its abandonment OF the old policy.
1t is thus confessed in the 81. James's Gazette:
The denunciation of the treaty is rather IN
teresting as q species of farewell to two genera
tions of what we now know to have been
mistaken policy in obedience to sentiment mas
Querading as common sense. We have tried to
make all our neighbors friendly. We have
pressed our good offices upon them. We have
tried, with tears in our eyes, to convince them
that we should be 30 much happier If we only
did more business. To keep them in good humor
we Gave restrained our hands from what we
might perfectly we'll have taken. and have even
hurried to make gratuitous promises not to ac-
cept good things II they were offered to us. The
and Of 1t is that the much-courted foreigner is
less in love with US than ever.
No wonder, then, that we hear, undisturbed,
Of the denunciations OF the treaties. Sir Michael
Hicks Beach, with q way he has of going to the
root of the matter, stated tho prevailing opin-
ion among us when he dismissed Mr.. Courtney's
appeal to the foreigner the other night as
absurd. since the judge il always sure to find us
guilty. But 1t Is q change when the Chancellor
Of the Exchcquer can say these things and
nobody disapproves except Mr.. Courtney, who
has lived into wicked times when men are fall
ing away from virtue on all Sides"
The chorus OF appreciation Of the Imperial
Federation policy Is, as 1 have said, q unanimous
denial of an intention to form an Imperial Zoll-
verein. The fact, however, il rather amusing
that while the ~eulogies of Premier Laurier and
loyal Canada are without stint. the Times to-
day is most condescending in its announcement
OF the consent of Great Britain to q sealing con-
ference in October. 1t is truly English in its
observation that 1.-The only obstacle to the sue
cess of the negotiations has been the despatch
OF May 10, signed by Secretary Sherman. which
was inspired, it is believed. by Mr.. Foster.
Tho United States have. however. so far
modified their views as to be content
with q conference. Nothing beyond that has
been proposed Dy the American Ambassador.
Apart from the tone of Mr.. Sherman's despatch.
there never was any real difficulty in the mat
ter, both Governments being desirous to protect,
as far as possible. q legitimate industry. and
differing only as to the facts and the methods to
be pursued" 1t added: ut is thought that
Russia and Japan may take part In the confer
ence."
There could not possibly have boon o more de-
liberate and malignant Misrepresentation of the
situation than this. Russia and Japan consented
promptly to send delegates. Great Britain vir-
tually refused until Secretary Sherman's de-
spatch, which the Times describes as an obsta-
Gle. really proved to be the necessary rebuke
which won unwilling consent from Lord Sails
bury.
CANADA REJOICES.