The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-07
BRITAlN'S GAIN BY ALLIANCE,
ONE WOULD BE ASSURANCE OF A
FOOD SUPPLY.

Whent Harvest of the United King
dom Equal to the Requirements of
Only Fourteen Weeks - During
Greater Part of Year Not Over six
Weeks supply of Wheat Is in
England at One Time-Impression
Said to Prevail in Some Quarters
That United States Has More to
Gain Than MISUNDERSTANDING OF
Territory Suggested.
New York June Gone of the cues
tons asked by Englishmen since Mr.
Chamberlain's unexpected advocacy of an
Anglo American alliance is a practical
one" says the London correspondent of
the Tribune
What have the Americans, they in
quire ito offer us in return for our moral
support and naval prestige? We can I'M
derstand how much they have to gain
from an alliance with a power having the
strongest navy a1oat, especially if they are
bent upon changing their foreign policy
and taking an active part in East Indian,
as well as West Indian waters But an
alliance must be based upon equivalent ad-
vantages.
What compensation will there be for
England in return for the tremendous
power of her navy?"
These are questions which are con-
stantly put to Americans living in Lon,
don."
"The best reply which can be made to
questions of this kind is that an alliance
with America will be the strongest safe
guard against the failure of England's
food supply in time of war. The statisti-
clans have shown that the wheat harvest
of the United Kingdom is only equal to
the requirements of fourteen weeks, and
during the remaining thirty-eight weeks
an imported supply is the only resource.
During the greater part of the year
there is never more than six weeks sup
ply of wheat in England. This is the
real source of danger in time of war. as
every Englishman knows The United
Kingdom will be sure against invasion.
but it would moi be protected against fam
inc No safeguard would be as valuable
to England as an understanding with
America for her food supply. Such an
understanding would be worth as much as
powerful auxiliary navy.
THE Ncrbourg committee on national
wheat stores has recently made an ex-
haustiYe report on the subject of the food
resources of the United Kingdom and rec
commended the purchase and storage by
the British government of 100000 quar-
tiers OF wheat as a reserve supply for the
emergency of war. This storage is advo-
Gated on the ground that fourteen weeks
supply Of food is an indispensable require
ment of national defense
There is another comment which Is fire.
quently made by Englishmen on the pro
posals for an Anslo-American alliance
This relates to the necessity Of imposing
upon the United States an obligation to in
crease its standing army and TO develop the
fighting resources OF its navy. The OBJ
lection is raised that an ally who could
not be depended upon to mobolize an army
OF 5000 men al short notice would be OF
little use in an emergency. Men who take
this view refer to the fact that the Arneri-
can squadron at the China station. while
sufficiently powerful to crush the Spanish
fleet in the Philippines. has been UNEQUAL
TO the naval forces of England France
Germany and Russia in those waters and
must be largely increased and supplied
with coai.ng stations and dry docks IL there
Is to be cooperation with Great Britain
on equal terms Otherwise an alliance
would be a one-sided bargain with the OBJ
legation saddled mainly upon England and
the advantages enjoyed by the United
states, at minimum cost and without an
adequate sense Of responsibility.
Another proposition for an effective al
lance between the two countries relates
to an exchange Of territories to be Effected
for mutual advantage. Engiishman. who
have accurate knowledge Of the condition
of their West Indian possessions. are in
despair over their future The sugar
Islands are doomed they assert, as depen-
denotes Of a country who's free trade
policy does not permit tariff discrim,na-
tons in their favor. The United States
on the other hand. with its tariff system
and its great market for sugar NAV be
able to develop their resources and re-
store their prosperity.
why should not Jamaica and other is
lands, ask these candid Englshmen be
added 10 the American union after Cuba
has been redeemed from misery and RUM
VIII IL not be possible 10 arrange a basis