The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-13
LONDON VIEWS ON De LONE.
MOST OF THE OPINIONS FAVORA-
BILE TO THE UNITED STATES.

That President Mckinley Shouiu
Have Refused 10 Credit the Letter
as Genuine. and should Have
Called on the Minister to Express
His Policy in
the Orient.
Copyrighted. 1888, by the Associated Press.
London. Feb. 12.-The De LONE incident
has excited little interest in England nut
the opinions expressed almost unanimous
ly indorse the position of the United
States.
The daily newspapers, with the eXcep-
ton of the Morning Post, have adopted
the view that the administration took the
right course.
The Sackville-West incident naturally
has been much quoted. but it must lie
added that it has always been in the
most friendly terms towards the United
States.
What the Times calls a well informed
correspondent" which probably means
some one in the foreign Office, writes to that
newspaper to-day that in response to the
cabled request to the United States for
Lord Sackville- Vests recall, Great Bri-
tain answered that no action could be
taken until the receipt of the language
that it was charged Lord Sackville-West
had used. When this answer was receiv-
ed. it appears, Secretary Bayard handed
Lord Sackville-West his passports.
The weekly newspapers express the
opinion that President Mckinley would
have done better to ignore Dupuy De
LONE, and the Statist opines that man
better qualified to conduct the foreign af-
fairs OF the United States than Mr.. Sher-
man would refuse to notice De LONE"
and every one participating in the affair,
adding "a government based on popular
suffrage has to expect free criticism"
Continuing, the Statist says it does not
see why President Mckinley. who is ac-
customed to the rough as well as the
smooth of politics" shows susceptibility
and objects to allow foreigners the free
dom he admits in the case of his fellow
citizens"
The Spectator thinks the practical ex-
puIsion of De LONE will produce fresh
difficulties between Spain and America"
Continuing, the Spectator says, IF Pres
tdent Mckinley were wise he would have
promptly declared he would not pay any
attention whatever, TO the puTloined pri-
vate letter, however genuine. President
Mckinley should have publicly called on
de LONE and informed him that he did not
need his assurance that the letter was a
forgery, the bad taste and vulgarity of the
language being ample proof of the fact. If
he had had the nerve or wisdom TO do that
he would have immensely raised his pres
tge both abroad and in his own country.
AT the same time one cannot be sur
prised that the United States failed to
treat the letter with the contempt it mer-
w Al.
the executive failed to ignore because he
was ignorant of diplomatic usage, or be-
cause he was not sufficiently good man
nered to be self-restrained under proVoca-
ton. The Americans are as good-mannered
as other people and their politicians and Of
ficIals are perfectly aware of how Lord
Salisbury or NJ. Hanotaux would have dis
posed Of similar letter, and can guess ac-
curately how President Lincoln would have
treated it, 1t is not a lack of manners or
of traditions which made the United
States government take the incident too
seriously, but rather the want of firmness
and SAVIOR faire which has been shown by
the present administration throughout its
term of office"
The Spectator is not sorry the mo
ment may be approaching when the Unit
ed States will intervene to help the ag-
onies of cuba" adding, their only hope
is In the United States sternly declaring
spanish
that the Cubans be allowed to settle their
own fate. The United States will be
morally justified in saying the war must
end and that Cuba be given peace there
is no doubt"
Madrid advices show that the De LONE
affair created much suppressed excite
ment there The public comments of the
diplomats and the current press were gem
orally Objectionable, but there was an I'M
dercurrent of bitterness on all sides. Even
some days before the incident became
known there had been a particularly nerv-
Gus feeling in regard TO the relations with
the Uunited States, as evidenced by
the unusual precaution taken to guard the
residence of the United States minister,
Mr.. Woodford. Any rumor, however alb
surd, was taken as gospel In the alarmist
circles, even though a repetition of news
which was stale weeks ago. For instance,
quite a ferment was caused by refer
ence to the fact that sixteen United
States warships were off the Dry Tortu-
gas, and 1t was taken as evidence that the
blockade of Cuba had already begun. The
advent of the French cruiser Du Bourdieu
at Havana was hailed with delight by the
Madrid press, and much was made Of the
polite remarks addressed by the French
admiral TO the government officials. These
remarks are said to have been most fat
tering in regard to the establishment Of a
new regime, and were, it is said, accom-
panied by hearty wishes that peace would
soon return from the establishment of au-
tonomy.
Although the Chauvnists uoisily persist
in.distorting the situation in the far East,
the great majority are abundantly salts
fed with the Marquis of Sansburys state
ment and there is reason to believe that
they will be sim more gratihed in no far
distant future. When the government
shall be in a position to lay the papers
on the subject before parliament it win
be seen that the conduct Of affairs has been
in strict compliance with the principles
enunciated by half dozen cabinet min
listers. OF course, the premiers are not in
a position to reveal the whole story. as
there is much yet TO settle. but he win be
able to relieve all anxiety with am explicit
statement that he will allow no power 60
interfere with British treaties with China
which give freedom Of entry to every port
which may become oren under authority
or at the request Of any power whatso-
ever BY his attitude in regard to Kiao-
Chou bay, the Marquis of Salisbury has
paved the way for a community of ooliti-
cal action between Great Britain and Ger
many, which will not only produce excel
lent results in the far East but helm ia
assure the stability of the general inter-
national eff11affon r'bfc is .lr5,q,- a. 80.