Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-01-21
ENGLISH DIPLOMACY.

Ehe Treaty of Arbitration May Mean Mach
TO EHG&and LA the Game OF EurDPeRe
Polities-There Is Evidentaly Something
Under the SurTase that Secretary OIney
Hasn't Seen But Which the Senate May
Unearth.
NEW YORK, Jan. 16.-A special ca BILE
dispatch to the Sun from London says:
1t Is important that the American peo-
pie should understand that there is
much more involved in the pending
treaty of arbitration between Great
Britain and the United States than
sweet aspirations toward the bless
ings of universal peace The mo-
tive of President Cleveland Secre-
tary Olney may be as pure and
guileless as the patriotism. but
those of the other parties TO the
proposed agreement are not. The ex-
igencies of European politics have
brought Lord Salisbury to consent TO
proposals which II months ago he re-
garded as political child's play. A
repetition of such Il disaster as the
Venezuelan message, which fell upon
England at the most critical moment
of modern English diplomacy, is al all
events provided against, and removal
of such danger is worth paying for in
the estimation in the British foreign
Office
Great Britain's greatest satisfaction
in making the treaty of arbitration
with America is in the effect it will
have in the vital struggle which
British interests and British prestige
are waging with the rival powers Of
the old world. Lord Salisbury has
succeeded in creating the impression
in the other European courts and
capitals that England's relations
with the United States are now
so close and friendly that she
could rely upon American support
in case her combined enemies should
push her too hard. There is no doubt
whatever that Russia, and perhaps
France and Germany, are inclined to
accept this view of the situation. 1t
will be of immense diplomatic advant-
age just now to Lord Salisbury if he
is able to strengthen and confirm this
impression. Indeed, the whole
political situation in Europe
might be changed by it.
1t is the cleverest attempt ever made
to place the trump card of American
influence in the great game of Eu-
ropean politics, and it is likely to sue
coed unless the sena tie makes it plain
that the United States is not even in
directly interested on the side of Great
Britain in European affairs.
1t is pointed out that Russia, which
is the traditional friend of the United
States in Europe, would have been
willing to make an arbitration or
other treaty which involved the &C.
ceptance of the Monroe doctrine, and
would have used her influence to
secure a similar acknowledgement from
the other continental powers. The
impression prevails that the admins
tration at Washington. for some rea-
son, preferred the English to the
larger continental Endorsement. There
are no means of learning whe theri it was
Russia that missed the political oppor-
tunity, or the Washington authorities
failed to offer it to her.
At all events it is felt at st. Peters,
burg that Lord Salisbury is making an
extraordinary use of the pending
arbitration treaty as factor in Eu-
ropean politics. If there does not come
from America n distinct disavowal in
some shape, Europe will be likely 70
accept the impertinent assumption,
which is widely held in this country,
that the ratification of the arbitration
treaty will be mere preliminary to
full offensive and defensive Anglo.
American alliance.