The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-11
OUR ENGLISH COUSINS

OUR ENGLlSH COlSlNS
Parliament Discusses Mr.. Cham
berlain's Birmingham's Speech.
he MAINTAINS HIS POSITION.
Declares That $50 Long as We Are
Without Alliances 1t viii Be Impos-
sible to Preserve the Independence
of China Against Inroads.o .s..
London, June 11.-Sir Charles Dixie,
in the house Of commons yesterday,
moved reduction In the foreign Of
flee vote and attacked the Marquis of
salisbury's foreign policy of conses-
Sion. Referring to the United States he
said:
'Our better relations with the United
States are mainly due to the good in
fuence of her majestys ambassador at
Washington (Sir Julian Pauncefote),
for the government policy has been
rash and feeble. Everyone will well
come an alliance of hearts with Ameri-
ca, but no alliance could be war alli.
ance."
Continuing Sir Charles said he did
not believe in the possibility, mooted by
the secretary of state for the colonies
(Mr. Chamberlaln), of an alliance with
Germany.
The parliamentary secretary for the
foreign office, Mr.. George N. Curzon,
gave credit to the good influence Of the
British ambassador at Washington.
But he asserted that credit was not due
merely to the ambassador or to the
exigencles Of the moment but to Lord
Salsbury's friendly, calm and dispas-
sonate attitude during the discussion
of difficult matters with America two
years ago An arbitration treaty will
some day be accepted"
This statement was greeted with
cheering.
Answering a question Mr.. Curzon said
the subjects to be referred to an arbitra-
ton commission all relate to questions
between Canada and the United States,
but, he added, some of them are Of Inn
perial interest. .,. >,
Mr.. Chamberlain declared that the
object of his Birmingham speech was
mot to lay down a policy, but to state
facts to this country as to what con.
ceive to be the conditions and great
problems we are called to face" The
speech, he continued, had been made,
and there was not one word of 1t that
he intended to withdraw. Great Brit
ain could stand alone, but in that case
she could not exercise the controlling
influence she had hitherto exercised In
China. 80 long as we are without al
liances," he said, emphatically, ut will
be impossible to preserve the indepen-
dence of China against inroads."
Repeating the leading features Of his
Birmingham speech, Mr.. Chamberlain
declared:
"lf 1t became known that we were
willing to consider alliances it Is not
unlikely that advances would be made
to US. A mutual understanding with
one of the great powers would save
a very large addition to the navy"
In concluding he referred to the lin.
portance of close understanding with
America" adding:
'In my opinion, on such a matter, ths
United States would not listen to the
Irish vote" But whether England or
America were menaced. he said, he
hoped it would be found that blood is
thicker than water, and, without desir-
ing to force either nation to enter into
all alliance with which q majority OF
both peoples did not thoroughly sympa-
l,n I, t, I,ttN
that the closer, the more defined and
the clearer the alliance between the
United States and England. the better
it would be for both nations and for
civilization.
Mr.. Chamberlains speech ended amid
loud cheers from the government
benches.
Mr.. John Di!isf the Irish Nationalist
leader, protes1kl against Mr.. Cham-
bcrlains insults to the Irish In Amer.
lea
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, tho
Liberal leader in the house of commons,
referred ironically to the "pitlful specs
tacle of the secretary of state for the
colonies standing, hand in hand before
the powers and seeking an alliance"
remarking: 1.-THE Chinese question
must be settled in friendship and con.
cert with Russia"
He asked whether it would not have
been better for Mr.. Chamberlain to
postpone his insults to Russia" until
the talked of alliance had been secured,
Mr.. Chamberlain. who on rising to
reply was received with government
cheers and Irish National hisses de-
MED that there was any discrepancy
between himself and other members of
the cabinet.
Il believe" he said. that our inter-
ests are much more closely allied to tho
interests of Germany than to those Of
Russia. The cabinet is not responsible
for every single word uttered by its
members, but it is responsible for every
declaration Of policy and every im-
pOrtant statement of fact.
Sir Charles bikes motion for q res
duction in the foreign office vote, as
rcbuke to the governments foreign pol
icy, was then rejected by the house W
a vote of 254 against 12S.