The record-union., 1898-06-07
In Return for Its Moral Support and Naval
Prestige?
Questions Which Englishmen Con-
stantly Ask Of Americans When
the Subject Of an Ang1o-Ameri-
can Alliance is Discussed
Would be a Strong Safeguard
Against Failure Of England's
Food Supply In Time Of War.

NEW YORK, June Gone Of the
questions asked by Englishmen since
Mr. Chamberlain's unexpected advO
cacy of an Anglo-American alliance
is practical one says the London cor
respondent of the Tribune What
have the Americans" they inquire ito
offer US in return for our moral sup
port and naval prestige? We can un-
derstand how much they have to gain
from an alliance with the Power hav-
ing the strongest fleet afloat, especially
If they are bent upon changing their
foreign policy and taking active
part in East Indian as we'll as West
Indian affairs. But an alliance must
be based upon equivalent advantages.
What compensation will there be for
England in return for the tremendous
power of her navy?"
These are questions which are con-
stantly put to Americans living in Lon
don.
The best reply which can be made to
questions of this kind is that an alli-
Rnce with America will be the strongest
safeguard against the failure of Eng
lands food supply in time of war; The
statisticians have shown that the wheat
harvest of the United Kingdom is only
equal to the requirements of only four
teen weeks, and that during the re-
manning thirty-eight weeks an impor-
tant supply is the only source. During
the greater part of the year there is
never more than six weeks supply Of
wheat in England. If importations of
food were cut off, or partly interrupted,
the price of bread would rise and a
large portion of the population would
be exposed to starvation. This is the
real source of danger in time of war,
as every sober-minded Englishman
knows.
The United Kingdom, with its insular
position and its powerful fleet, would be
secure from invasion, but it would not
be protected against famine. No safe
guard would be SO invaluable to Eng
land as good understanding with
America, whence the largest share of
the imported food supply is drawn.
Such an understanding would be worth
much as a powerful auxiliary navy
The Yerburgh Commission national
wheat stores has recently made an ex-
haustive report on the subject OF the
food resources of the United Kingdom,
and recommended the purchase and
storage by the British Government of
S,O0O,OO0 quarters of wheat as a reserve
supply for the emergency of war. This
storage scheme is advocated on the
ground that a fourteen weeks supply
of food is an indispensable require
ment of national defense. 1t is not
likely that any action will be taken by
Parliament upon this report. With the
relations between England and Amer
lea constantly improving, there is GER
tainly no urgency for this storage pro-
of no
fact that such a report, with its unim-
peachabe proofs, of the dependence of
England upon imported food has not
been without significance. The report
is a storehouse of practical arguments
for EngliShmen who are seeking for
treaty with the United States.
There is another comment which is
made frequently by Englshmen on the
proposals for an Anglo American alli-
ance This relates to the necessity of
imposing upon the United States an
obligation to increase it's standing army
and to develop the fighting resources of
its navy. The objection is raised that
an ally who could not be depended
upon to mobilize an army of oO.OOO
men at short notice would be of little
use in an emergency. Men who take
this view refer to the fact that the
tion, while sufficiently powerful to
crush the Spanish fleet in the Philip
pines, has been unequal to the naval
forces of England France, Germany
and Russia in these waters. and must
be largely increased and supplied with
coal from the stations and dry docks,
If there is to be cooperation with
Great Britain on equal terms. Other
wise an alliance would be one-sided
bargain, with the obligations saddled
mainly upon England and the advan-
tages enjoyed by the United States at
a minimum cost, and without an ade-
Quate sense of responsibility.
ANY proposition for an effective alli-
ance between the two countries relates
TO an exchange of territories 10 be ef-
fected for mutual advantage. English
men who have accurate knowledge of
the condition of their West Indian pes
sessions are in despair over their fu-
ture The sugar islands are doomed.
they assert as dependencies of "A coun-
try whose free trade policy does not
permit tariff determinations in Great
Britain's favor The United States. on
the other hand, with its tariff system
and with its great market for sugar.
may be added To develop their re-
sources and restore their prosperity.
Why should not Jamaica ana Qtner ISL
ands ask these candid Englishmen. be
added to the American Union, after
Cuba has been redeemed from misery
and RUM, VIII ii not be possible to
arrange basis of exchange by which
islands like the Philippines can be
transferred to England where super
ior facilities for governing them in
connection with other remote estates OF
the Empire. and some of the West In