The herald., 1898-02-20
HOTHEADS IN AFRICA
NAY PRECIPITATE A WAR IN
EUROPE
SPAIN SEEKING FEDERATION
A Latin Alliance Needed to Check the
Greedy Yankees Progress-Pol-
itics in England
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
LONDON, Feb. 19.-(Copyright, 1s9S)
The danger of leaving explosives
about, in the shape of armed
bands. led by youthful officers,
roaming in disputed spheres, has
been amply illustrated. in West Af-
rica, where the intermingling of French
and British troops has already caused
incidents which threaten the most grave
complications. Happily, the positive
instructions of both governments have
thus far been obeyed. and an actual COL
lsion has been averted. But the fuse
is lighted, and unless France withdraws
from her provocative attitude, or Great
Britain continues the graceful conces-
sion policy she has hitherto observed to-
wards the French claims, an explosion
is bound to follow.
Some explanation of the attitude of
France may be found in the desire of its
government to turn French minds from
the inquisition that Zola has provoked,
while 1t must not be forgotten that the
minister for foreign affairs, M Hano-
taux, bears upon his shoulders the bur-
den of elections close at hand, and has
to face the threatenings of the Colonial
party to swamp the government If it
shows the faintest sign Of yielding.
There is curious discussion in the
Spanish press as to the possibility of con-
federating the Latin republics Of South
taJ
States. Ell Pals contends. that the
Spanish republics are weak through iso-
lation, and that If united in military
and diplomatic alliance they would be
the first power in the world in territory,
the second in population, and that their
armies and navies would have sufficient
power to insure respect.
The papers point out that the jeal-
ousies of the republics prevent them
from taking the initiative, but Spain, it
is claimed, ought to urge her lazy diplo-
mats to approach the republics with the
view of combining to approach the re-
publics with the view of combining for
the defense of Latin interests "endan-
gered by the intrusion of the Anglo
Saxons."
FL Pals thinks Spains advice would
not be diSregarded If she warned Latin
America against the United States, add
Ing: For it is we'll known that the
greedy Yankees, once the pan-America
canal Is opened to the worlds COM
merce, will do all which their perfidy
can suggest to wrest it from the Latin
countries of Central America, even as
England seized the Suez canal. Tending
In this direction is the desire of the
Americans to secure Cuba"
In conclusion Ell Pals says: 1.-THE ad-
vances of the United States in the Sea
of Antilles are preliminary steps in the
blockade and occupation of the future
canal"
A LATIN ALLIANCE
Referring to Latin alliances, the Spec
tator,- in a long article. points out that
there Is no doubt Of the existence of
special relations between France and
Spain, which have lately been strength
ened, and says:
There are we'll informed people who
believe that when, in the autumn, the
United States and Spain almost collided,
the United States found there was a
stiffness in the Spanish attitude which
could only be accounted for by the fact
that Spain knew she could appeal to a
power which could not neglect her de-
mands for help"
The Saturday Review expresses the
belief that France allowed the United
States to understand indirectly that con-
slderations of Importance to her would
not allow her to see Spain treated in an
unfriendly manner, and that a Spanish
appeal to France must result in the lat
ter's Intervention.
The Saturday Review believes this ac-
counts for 1.-The way the United States
shrunk from putting in practice the
treatment of Spain suggested the
original protests of the Washington gov
ernment."
The Spectator explains that If France
had not helped Spain, the latter would
have applied for admission to the drie-
bund, with almost certainty of success.
THE MAINE DISASTER