The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-16

New York, July 15.-The London cor
respondent of the Tribune, writing
under date Of July ?, says;
There is a solid basis of self-interest
underneath the good feeling existing
between England and America. Each
country. while indirectly helping the
other, promotes directly its own inter
ests and policies. This is the elemen-
tary fact which explains the rapid de-
velopment of friendly relations between
the two countries since the settling of
the war cloud over Cuba They have
been acting together in an amiable
spirit, and at every turn of affairs eX-
perience has proved that close aSsocia-
ton was mutually advantageous. Good
feeling steadily increased when on
each side the practical benefits of
mutual good will were perceived
The first great service which England
rendered TO America was that of
/ thwarting a European combination for
! friendly mediation between Spain and
the United States. The real object of
] the continental powers was to establish
/ a European concert respecting Cuba,
| by which the Monroe doctrine would
have been upset.
Austria Hungary initiated the in
/ trigue; France supported it. carrying
Russia with her; Germany aSsented TO
it, with the proviso that the Corpora
ton of England should be secured. and
Italy would not have remained outside
| the concert if it had been formed. The
plot failed because Great Britain, ow-
ing largely to the good judgment of
Mr.. Arthur Balfour and Sir Julian
Pauncefote, declined to take part in
coalition which might be embarrassing
to the Washington government.
AS Mr.. 7. j. MaXse sums up in the
National Review this interesting
chapter of diplomacy, it became toll
erably apparent that the British dis
sented from the continental view that
the American desire to suppress a hell
in Cuba was piece of wanton ag-
gressiOn.
England had done America a good
turn, but her own prestige was greatly
| increased by it. There had been
European concerts over the American,
Cretan and Greek questions. and Eng
land had been paralyzed and humili-
ated by continental combinations. Her
day of reckoning came when an
European concert was proposed against
the Monroe doctrine and she brought
it to naught.
HELPED Us AT MANILA.
The second service which England
was enabled to perform for America
was that of ordering Admiral Dewey's
fleet out of HOngkong, under strict
construction of neutrality obligations.
The fleet being without a naval base
or coaling station, made a descent
upon Manila, destroyed the Spanish
squadron and held the Philippines as
q security for the payment of a war
indemnity after the close of hoStilitieS.
England had put the Americans in the
way of winning a great victory by a
bold stroke; but in doing this she was
also working out the ends of her own
naval policy. AS the strongest naval
power, with a chain of coaling stations
and supply depots encircling the world,
it was for her interest that a precedent
should be established for closing
neutral ports against belligerent fleets
This was done at Hongkong. Whenever
England is drawn into a naval war
that precedent will be of great utility
to her government and it will be a
source of embarrassment to any power
whom she may be fighting on the high
seas.
POLICY IN WEST INDIES.
The enforcement of neutral obliga-
lions at British West India ports has
deprived the Spanish navy of any
available base of supplies and crippled
ii in its operations. This has been a
great advantage Tor the United States,
but indirectly the British government
has been promoting its own policies and
strengthening its position as a naval
power. Its own fleets in a naval war
will never be far removed from q trust
worthy coal supply under the British
flag and q hostile squadron Will be ar
serious disadvantage in a campaign
from lack of ccdling facilities. England
actually desires 20 have the coal sup
ply to belligerent ships in neutral ports
restricted as far as possible and also
to have coal classed as war material
and consequently contraband. She has
set the precedent of neutrality in these
respects during the West Indian war
and while her practice has been IA
vorable TO the immediate policy of the
United States. it has also been directed
by self-interest. Whenever England is
herself at war. il Will be for her in
terest as a naval power. with a circuit
of coaling stations in all seas, to have I
neutral ports closed against belliger- /
ent ships.