New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-11
THE ATTITUDE or GREAT BRITAIN.

The withdrawal of Mr. DuncOmbe's question
in the British House Of Commons yesterday
was doubtless judiciOuS. Whatever answer
might have been made TO Il could scarcely nave
served any good purpose. That Is not because
OF the facts in the case, but because the an
swpr given would almost certainly not set
forth all the facts. The British Government
does not proclaim its diplomatic dealings from
the housetops The incoherent clamOr Of would
be Anglophil papers In this country for more
light" and their maudln demands 10 know
what the President is doing and Is going to do
provoke nothing but amusement and amazement
among British statesmen. Now end then ques-
tons concerning foreign policy are answered
in Parliament with some degree Of fulness and
explcltness But Ministers always reserve the
richt-as our own Government does in sending
correspondence to Congress-to withhold any
thing which in their judgment the public well
fare needs TO have withheld. In the present
case Great Britain can lind n better way than
through Parliamentary exploitation to make her
sentiments and her intentions known to both
the United States and Spain.
But no such exploitation could make her
sentiments at least, better known TO the world
than they already are For the last two years
nothing has been more evident than that the
Government party in Great Britain, and to n
considerable extent the Opposition party, TOO
are in hearty sympathy with the United States
in the latter's attitude toward Cuba and tow
ard Spain. AS we have frequently pointed out,
the authoritative organs of British opinion,
popular and official. have pictured the evils OF
Spanish rule in Cuba in even darker cOlOrS
than has the press Of this country. They have
such papers as THE Special tor" THE Times
and "rhe Standard'-eXpressed unqualified ap
proval of the conduct Of this Government; or If
they have criticised it ut all 1t has been for
its too great patience, forbearance and tolera-
ton. over and over again they have argued
that this country would be fully justified in
forcibly intervening in Cuba for the restoration
Of peace and the correction Of Spanish misgov-
eminent. They have, some of them, gone fur
Their, and urged that it was morally incumbent
upon this country to do so. These were unof-
fetal utterances But there can be not
shadow Of doubt that they faithfully expressed
the overwhelming public sentiment in nation
where public sentiment is more directly inluen-
ta than in any other in the world.
TO what extent this Nation. in the remote
contingency of war with Spain, would receive,
might receive. material support from its
mighty knsman oversee needs not 10 be con-
sidered No one supposes this country would
require any such assistance What is most
pertinent TO the present purpose IL that the
United States enjoys the moral approval and
support OF Great Britain That is clear, beyond
all question. Nor does It appear. indeed that
any other European nation condemns the con-
duct of this country. Oflcialdom In Austria
has Of course regard for the Austrian Princess
who Is Queen Regent Of Spain; and OficialdOm
In Germany must perforce support n divine
right monarchy against n republic There Is
no Indication that intelligent public opinion
even In those countries Is against us. Assured
~ II Is not, nor Is official sentiment. either I'm
France or Italy or Russia. Not one OF them
would strike one blow or speak one command
ing word for Spain should she force n quarrel
upon us. To the general court Of the nations
tho United States could commit its cause with
confidence I'm a favorable verdict