Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-18
CHAMBERLAIN'S SPEECH NOW GEN.
,ERALLY SO REGARDED.
AN EXPLANATION DEMANDED
RUSSIA WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THE
SECRETARY MEANT.
Chief object of the Speech Was to
Frishten France Out of Dispute
ed African TerritOry-EK-
Premier Crixpf's Opin,
-.,- ion ms to Motive.
NEW. YORK. May ia dispatch to the

NEW. YORK, May ia dispatch to the
World from London says:
1.-THE Russian ambassador has been d.
rected to demand from Lord Salisbury. 1T
is reported. an explanation of Mr.. Cham
berlain,s assertion that Russia is ineligible
for an alliance because of her perfidy.--s--
''The prevailing opinion now Is that Mr.. :
Chamberlain's speech, in which he advo-
Gated an Anglo-Saxon alliance, was
grievous indiscretion. It has excited jeal-.
ousies and resentment throughout Europe
without promising to attain any 'compen-.
satory advantage. -
His Indirect calling the gar the devil
is sure. it is believed. to give nndsing Of
ferse in st. Petersburg. sn-y.=5s.
I'm the city of London (the financial dis
trict) to-day. great depression prevailed.
Rumors were flying about that the govern
ment proposes to offer large issue of ex-
cheQuer bills to form a war chest. A fur
tter rise in the bank rate was freely pre-
dicted. 's..--s..----;s ; Z. -
"Mr. Chamberlain's main ana immediate
object is known to be to force France to
evacuate Broussa, West Africa. even at
the risk of war d------S------ ----.----.. - /.
''It has leaked out that, in his private
talk to bankers last Thursday, Lord Sails
bury said that the West African question
Is the most serious matter the cabinet has
now to deal with, and that its satisfactory
solution seems well nigh impossible.
This "anticipatory declaration by the
prime minister gives gravity to Mr.. Cham
berfain's speech which, It otherwise might
have lacked because Of the universal sus-
picion that he was playing simply his own
hand. -.-f-s.
"A further element, Of seriousness is i'm
parted 20 the situation by the remark Of
the Duke of Cambridge at the volunteer
. banquet on Friday night. that France has
been given z month to clear out of Brous-
sa, the disputed district in West Africa
The duke to-day denies having said this.
but volunteer officers present declare that
his words were taken down at the time
and passed around the table to all the
; guests. on slip Of paper, marked 'Copti-
- dential.' - l--s- -.
"a variety of circumstances, in short,
tend to cause great anxiety here concern.
ing the outlook, which now is affected by
the inspired statement from French agen-
cies that the West African negotiations
are progressing satisfactorily.
Everything seems to prove the truth OF
the words of an editorial published broad
cast here that Mr.. Chamberlain's propos-
ing an Anglo-American alliance springs
from a desire to drag the United States INTO
a war over a miasmatic swamp In West
Africa. Among even the limited sections
OF politicians in parliament; favorable to
such an alliance, the idea of Mr.. Cham
berlain's declaration is treated as absurdly
in advance of events, while the bulk Of
the members of parliament. who would
either be Indifferent or hostile to ii, are
affrouted that minister should hawk Of
fers Of a British alliance in the market
place. ys......sss.y ysys5,...5,.ss;.s
Mr.. Chamberlain himself is delighted
over the sensation he has created. though
Ills jubilation obviously Is not shared by
his colleagues. Several members of par
Lament pressed him privately tonight for
more explicit statement concerning the
danger ahead. He merely replied oracular-
ly, Events will justify so. 81
The Liberal leaders intend to have a de-
8 bate on his speech at the earliest possible
moment, which cannot upw be until Fri
: day. after the 'whitsuntide recess.
"A drift of opinion regarding the Anglo
American alliance may be gathered from
afticles in the principal papers except tho
Mail. which has champio1ed none but lost
causes during its short existence. No news
paper has received the suggestion with en-
--thusiasm. The News fears that, whatever
chance there is of realizing an alliance,
-gush and jingoism' are likely to destroy
Mr.. Chamberlain. 1t says: He was guilty
of jingoism in figuring Anglo-American al
lance as an engine OF aggressive and
threatening action.
The Globe observes: We would be glad
to live in the likelihood of q permanent
union of all the Englsh-siyeaking nations,
but in the case of the United States their
foreign policy undergoes such quick and
violent changes that friend OF to-day
becomes an enemy tomorrow. As long
as our naval supremacy endures We have
no need for help, on the ocean, while the
United States could give no help on land
THE Star, strongly pro-Arnerican.- says:
Let us not fan fnto The error of forcing
. sentiment In a hothouse Of selfishness.
That is Mr.. Chamberlains mistake. In this
business of an Anglo-American alliance
pushfulness is likely to do more harm than
good
THE St. James Gazette remarks: The
good people who fancy that all is Eow
completed but signing formal treaty Of
offense and defense are going much too
fast and are likely to do only mischief.
The United States have yet to realize their
own isolation and actual danger but for
British support in Europe
'.The gush referred TO by the News is
supplied by editorials from certain New
York papers which may have been easily
.tQ
effusiyeness,'
Il morning says:
'The contrast between the speechs OF
Lord Salisbury. and Mr.. Chamberlain has
led to fresh rumors of cabinet dissensions
but it appears probable that, IL any such
. differences existed, they had reference no,
to the general position of foreign affairs
but to the situation in West Africa and to
the extent OF the concessions It was advis.
able to make in order to establish friend.
ly understanding with France.
There is reason to- believe that Anglo
. French relations have Hnproyed; and The
prospects of n settlement are more hopefu
than they had been for some time. 1t i:
rumored that the foreign Office has agreed
to concessions in West Africa in return fol
French concessions elsewhere. not impos
- sible in connection with the development.
OF English trade in China" ~
The Daily News says it hears that "whil,
Mr.. Chamberlains intention to take til,
line he did in his Birmingham speech wa
not communicated to the cabinet. 1t wa
fully made known to Lord Salisbury an,
met with his approval
The Times. commenting editorially thi