The Anaconda standard., 1898-02-13
TOOK THE RIGHT COURSE
English Newspapers Comment
on the De LONE Incident.
SITUATION IN THE EAST
The Majority Is Satisfied With the State
ments of Lord Salisbury-Treaty
Ports Must Remain Open
Another Open Door.
Copyright 1895 by Associated Press.

Copyright 1895 by Associated Press.
London, Feb. 12.-The DE LONE Incl
dent excited little interest in England,
but the opinions expressed almost unan-
imously endorse the position of the
United States. The daily newspapers,
with the exception of the Morning Post,
have adopted the view that the admin
istration took the right course. The
Sackville West incident naturally has
been much quoted, but 1t must be added.
that 1t has always been on the most
friendly terms towards the United
States. What the Times calls well
informed correspondent which proba
bly, means some one in the foreign office.
writes to that newspaper to-day that
in response to the cable request of the
United States for Lord Sackville Vests
recall, Great Britain answered that mo
action could be taken until the receipt
of the language that it was charged
Sackville- West had used When this
answer was received. it appears Secre-
tary Bayard handed Lord Sackville
West his passports.
The weekly newspapers express the
opinion that President Mckinley could
have done better to ignore Dupuy de
LONE, and the Statist opines that a
man better qualified to conduct the for
eign affairs of the United States than
Mr.. Sherman would refuse TO notice De
LONE and every one participating In the
affair. Continuing. the Statist says it
does not see why President Mckinley.
who is accustomed to the rough as well
as the smooth side of politics." shows
susceptibility and objects to allow for
eigners the freedom he admits in the
case of his fellow citizens"
The Spectator thinks the practical
expulsion of De LONE will produce fresh
difficulties between Spain and America,
oil tol, ha ,,1at
change the situation in any way" Con-
tinuing, the Spectator says: IF Presi-
dent Mckinley We're wise, he would
have promptly declared that he would
not pay any attention whatever To the
purloined private letter, however genu-
inc. President Mckinley should have
publicly called on DE LONE and in
formed him that he does not need his
assurance that the letter was a forgery,
the bad taste and yulgarity of the Ian
guage being ample proof of the fact.
II he had had the nerve OF wisdom 10
do that he would have immensely raised
his prestige aboard and in his own coun-
try AT the time one cannot be sur
prised that the United States failed to
treat the letter with the contempt it
merited. We don't for a moment sug-
gest that the executive failed to ignore
it because he was ignorant of diplomatic
usage or because il was not sufficiently
good hammered to be seif-restrained un-
der provocation. The Americans are as
good hammered as most people and their
politicians and officials are perfectly
aware of how Lord Salisbury or NJ.
Hanotaux would have disposed of a
similar letter and can guess exactly
how President Lincoln would have
treated It, 1t is not lack of manners or
traditions which made the United States
government take the incident too seri-
ously but rather the want of firmness
and savoir faire which has been shown
by the present administration through
out its term of office"
The Spectator is not sorry the mo-
ment may be approaching when the
United States Will intervene to stop the
agonies of Cuba" adding. Their only
hope is in the United States sternly de-
claring that the Spanish troops must
leave. and the Cubans be allowed to set
tie their own fate. That the United
States would be justified in saying the
war must end and that Cuba be given
peace. there Is no doubt for moment"
Madrid advices show that the DE
LONE affair has created much surprised
excitement there. The public comments
of the diplomats and the correct press
were generally unobjectionable. but there
was an undercurrent of bitterness on
all sides. Even some days before the
incident became known there had been
a particularly nervous feeling in regard
to the relations with the United States.
as eyinced by the unusual precautiou
taken to guard the residence of the
United States minister, Gen. Stewart l..
Woodford. Any rumor. however abb
surd. was taken as gospel in the alarm
ist circles. even although a repetition of
news which was stale weeks ago. For
instance quite ferment was caused by
reference to the fact that 10 United
States warships We're off the Dry Tertu-
gas and 1t was taken as evidence that
the blockade Of Cuba had already be-
gun. The advent of the French cruiser
Dubourdeu at Havana was hailed with
delight by the Madrid press and mucn
was made Of the polite remarks ad-
dressed by the French admiral TO the
government officials upon the occasion
OF his complimentary visit.
These remarks are said To have been
most tlattering in regard to the estab-
lishment of a new regime and were. it
Is said, accompanied by hearty wishes
that peace would soon result from the
establishment of autonomy
Although the Chauvinists noisiIy per-
sist in distorting the situation in the
far east. the great majority are abun-
dantly satisfied With Lord Salisbury's
statement, and there is reason to be-
lieHe that they will be still more graft
fled in the not far distant future When
the government shall he in a position to
lay the papers on the subject before
duct of the affairs has been in strict
complied with the principles enun-
ciated by half dozen cabinet minis
tiers. OF course, the premier is not in a
position 10 reveal the whole story. as
there is much TO settle, but he will be
able TO relieve all anxiety with an ex-
plieit statement that he will allow no
power 10 interfere with British treaties
vita China which give freedom Of entry
10 every port which may become open
under authority or at the request of
any power whatsoever BY his attitude
IN regard 10 the kiao Chau bay, the
Marquis OF Salisbury has paved the
way for community of political ac-
tion between Great Britain and Ger
many. which viii not only produce ex-
ceilent results in the far east. but help
to assure the stability Of the great in
ternational situation. This is already
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