The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-02-10
BRITAIN'S DEFIANCE.
HER WARNING TO GRABBERS OF
CHINESE LAND.

international D~nger In the Words Of Sir |
Michael Hrks-Beach-Treaty Rights to
he Enforced Though Hostiiities Ensue. |
Upheld by the United States.
BY far the most important news of the !
day. In the view of our state department
and the diplomatic corps, is the announce
ment made by Sir Michael Hicks Beach.
chancellor of the exchequer, that Great
Britain Is determined, even at the cost OF
war, to keep the door of Chinese commerce
open 70 England. The United States will
support Great Britain in this contention,
not at the cost of war, but automatically.
The United States will throw the weight
of its influence upon the side of England
In her contention that the commerce of
China shall be held open to the world, that
treaty rig hts shall be respected and that
the continental powers, II they will gobble
up territory. must leave ports open to the
trade of the world British statesmen have
been shrewd enough TO place their whole
case upon this, and in 1t they have expect
ed the support of the United States, and
they will not be disappointed.
BY taking this stand England has at
last, II opinion in Washington Is correct,
| placed herself upon solid ground. She Is
| willing to merge her interest in those of
| all the other countries which are not d.
rectly concerned in the grab Of territory,
and she will have the sympathetic support
| at least OF more than one power.
There Is general qualification here that
| Great Britain has finally emerged from the
| cloud of inaction and apparent timidity
which has so long enveloped her policy
II ma or NJ
hand in the politics of the old world, aided
and allotted by Germany and France, have
been aimed more at England than at any
other power. They have together sought
to isolate Great Britain, politically and
commercially.
ASH pointed out few weeks ago, the
question In the minds of diplomats here,
who are familiar with every part Of the
game, was whether or not England had
the nerve to make stand. They predict
ed that she would be compelled to assume
a bold policy of defense against further
aggressions or suffer loss both Of prestige
and commerce The stand has been taken
and there Is now the most intense desire
to discover the first signs Of how the allie;
will receive it.
EVEN at the cost of war" In the mouth
| of an important member of the British
cabinet is regarded as ominous. England
has staked everything upon this one throw
of the dice. She has virtually issued {
note of defiance. She has told the allie
that they will not be permitted to go |
step further. If Salisbury has the courag
of his coadjutors In the cabinet, England
will make her word good at the first over
stepping of the line.
If Russia and Germany and France re
L 49, tot - Ev,nl and
actions accordingly, the victory will b
Salisbury's. But If they choose to pursu
their bent-if, for instance, Russia insist
upon adherence to her plans to Gust Eng
land from Korea-war may be the result.
The situation is here regarded as crit
ical one. The allies, defied before tn
world, may decide that their prestige RI
| quires an onward movement. II they dc
| the world will tremble for the outcome.
Solar as the United States is concerned
, | our support of England is not TO be pei
, mitted to draw us into any oriental con
plications We shall, instead of formal
supporting England's demands, stan
) upon the letter of our own rights. III
: representations which our diplomatic rel
resentatives will be instructed to maxi
r will make simply for protection of our ow
commerce and treaty rights. They WI
. be made independently OF England, put ]
sympathy with the attitude assumed 3
r the London government.
Y There is nothing involved in the ea
< about which the United States wishes
1 90 to the extreme of war. The scope
3 our positive and aggressive policy is not
: the east, but in the western hemispher
o If protection of the worlds commerci
{ rights in the east demands fighting, we al
r quite content to leave that to Great Bri
y ain or any other power which has mo-
d | direct concern than ourselves. -Walt
s Wellman in Chicago TimesHerald.