New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-16
NO EUROPEAN INTERVENTION.

There Is no talk In this whole Spanish Amer-
can controversy less reasonable than that about
intervention by some Continental European
Power In behalf Of Spain Apart from the fact
that the American side Of the case commends
itself to the moral sense Of all the world, there
are the strongest physical reasons why all other
Powers should ut least not aid Spain in any
conflict which she may force upon this coun-
try Such intervention would be n radical de-
parture from established diplomatic principles,
the outcome Of which would be fraught with
serious peril to the Old World. The contro-
yersy between Spain and the United States Is
a purely American one, In which no Powers
outside of America have any legitimate con-
Germ. Germany, for example, is not in any
sense an American Power. She has no colonies
in this hemisphere. The same is true Of Rus
sls and Of ustria-Hungary. They have no
more right to NEEDLE with controversy or
with n between two American Powers,
such as Spain and the United States, than an
American Power, such as the United States,
would have had to intervene between France
and Germany in 1870
Should they do so the natural consequence
would be for the United States thenceforth TO
feel free to NEEDLE with European affairs and
with the dongs Of European Powers in ali parts
Of the world. It IS not to be supposed that they
would enjoy that. An alliance Of this country
with Japan, for. example, which would be an
entirely natural and congruous one, would prove
serious matter for Russia and Germany in
the Far East. This country has not threatened
them with any such action. IT has been will
ing to keep it's hands off and to trust to the
good faith and friendship Of the partitionng
Powers for the maintenance Of its great and
growing interests in China-nterests a hun
dred-fold greater than those Of Russia or Ger
many in Cuba 1t has the right to expect the
same treatment from them In this matter 1t
is acting upon the principle Of doing to others
as 1t would that they should do to It. But It
Is conceivable that it might be driven into
doing TO them as they do TO It.
It has already been pointed out that any Eu-
ropean Power save one would be at hope
less disadvantage In &agng a naval war with
this country, because Of the distance Of the
scene Of battle from their base Of supplies. 1t
Is further to be observed that Germany has a
navy scarcely equal in strength. even without
that handicap, to ours. 1t Is not to be sup
posed that she will care to risk its very exist
ence In n war in behalf of nation with which
she has not for long time been on cordial
terms. The AustrO Hungarian Navy Is moth
ing like n match for the American, and the do
nestle dissensons in that Empire are too formi-
dable to permit her TO be drawn lightly into n
war just for the sake OF protecting an Aus
TRAN princess from an exceedingly remote dan
ger. Russia has better navy than the United
States but with her great schemes In Asia and
with japan threatening her she can scarcely
spare much Of II for n wild goose chase In aid
Of nation in which she has only the smallest
interest.
How small the practical interests of those
Powers are In Spain may be seen In statistics.
Commerce between Austria-Hungary and Spain
Is practically Misc small, at any rate. as not
to command a separate entry In the tables. With
the United States II amounts to about $4,000
900 year Russa's commerce with Spain s
about the same as with the United States. saw
S9,0OO,0O0 year, but that with this country
Is growing far more rapidly. and has lmmeas.
urably greater future promise than that with
Spain. Germany has trade Of perhaps $6OOO,-
600 year with Span and Of Mt least $780,
100000 or thirty times as much, with the
United States. And even France. by far the
greatest trader with Spain, deals with that
country to the extent OF only $40, 900 year,
against S110OO0OOO with the United States
Seeing that these countries are bending every
energy toward extension OF their commerce in
every possible direction. It does not seem likely
that they Will turn against one Of their best
customers in favor Of one Of their poorest.
They have no political interests in the case.
Their commercial interests all lie on the side
OF keeping on terms Of peace and friendship
with the United States.