Arizona republican., 1898-05-21

of conveying an adequate Idea of the
 manifold perils, plots, and counter plots which the situation contains. Some of these dangers were indi-
 cated in MT. Chamberlain's remark
 able speech, which is the most pessi- mistic and alarming utterance from a member of the British ministry in this generation. His open charge of bad | faith against Russia amounted to a ! challenge. He spoke, of course from a strictly British standpoint when he I advocated abandoning the traditional policy against alliances.
 | The whole object and aim Of Mr. Chamberlain's speech were to advocate an alliance with the United States and there is no doubt that he won the | heartiest approval of his hearers
 There is no doubt, also, that it is be- cause the British government is earn esty desirOus of the consummation of such an alliance that the fact is now permitted to be known that Great Brit , ain alone has averted the active in- | reference of continental Europe in the present campaign between Spain and America The most superficial ob- server now understands that it was only the fear that the United States and Great Britain would be driven into an alliance which prevented the unfriendly sentiments of the conti- mental powers from finding an expres- sion ere this. It is doubtful if even this fear will avail till the end of the war.
 The shock of surprise caused by MT. ! G ho nh hnr loi in ant ,f c radical change in British policy, a change which marks a new epoch in political history, has for the moment 1 silenced public comment both in Eng | land and on the continent. When the full significance of his momentous words is realized in Great Britain and Europe, the world will talk of nothing 1else. The plans of the nations will | be revised. Vast schemes of ambition and aggrandizement will be abandoned or modified. The policy of every en- peror and every cabinet in Europe ] will be suspended to await the re- sponse which America may make to 1 the British overtures.
 Hence it is no eXagg8ration to say that the political destinies of the old | world as well as the new rest at the present moment in American hands. It is premature, perhaps, to discuss ! today the details and nature of the al | liance which Great Britain desires to make with the United States. The | chief point which it is desired to de- termine at this juncture is whether the public sentiment of America will sane tion any alliance. If it will. do not go too far in saying that the terms can be arranged either now or at some more suitable moment in the near 1 future.
 The British cabinet has definitely and unanimously committed itself, in principle, to an Anglo-American alli- ance if it can be made upon terms honorable and advantageous to both l countries. The British government having committed itself to this radi- cal new departure, has no disposition to drive a sharp bargain. It is prob ably quite willing that the United States should determine the scope cf the proposed partnership, the general desire being to make it as close and intimate as possible.
 There is little doubt that Great Britain will be glad to enter a full of fensive and defensive alliance On the other hand, if America preferred, she would negotiate partial or con tingent alliance for special purposes of defence and mutual interests
 The point which Great Britain would probably urge with the greatest emphasis upon America would be that she speedily equip herself as a first class naval power.
 The proposition to send demand to Washington to limit the campaign to the West Indies, and to enforce the demand with the combined fleets, came to the British government from three powers. I speak on the highest au- thority when I say that it was rejected by the unanimous voice of the British cabinet. Moreover, I violate no confi- dence in saying that the ministry was equally unanimous in favor of grant ing the United States the fullest Brit ish support in resisting any interfer- ence from neutral powers.
 CAPITOL BUILDING. TERRITORY OF ARIZONA