New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-27
THE NEWS OF TWO CAPITALS.
LONDON.
THE open DOOR" AND ENGLISH
FRIENDSHIP FOR AMERICA.
40 ESPECIAL CONCERN OVER THE WEST
INDIES If THE PRINCIPLE PREVAILS
IN THE PHILIPPINES
[BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE

IBT CABLE TO TRIBUNE
London. Nov. 26.-The English press assunee
with increasing confidence that Spain has been
convinced that no assistance can be expected
from the German Emperor from any Euro
pean Power. and that she will accept tho Amer
lean terms for permanent peace within week
or n fortnight. Premature or unauthorized
ports Of Secretary Hays definition of the Ameri-
can "open-door' policy have excited general
discussion which continues throughout the
United Kingdom. although official dcnials have
quickly followed them. This discussion is with
out exception friendly IN tone and serves A USE
ful purpose in revealing the policy which VIII
satisfy England and u a fresh bond or Anglo
American good fceling What tho English poo
pie really want Americans 10 do in their Philip
pines dependency Is TO make no distinction be-
tween cargoes sent from different parts OF the
world, but TO admit them on terms Of CONNER
cial equality. without regard to tho flag under
which thcy carried. This Will be regarded
as fun and complete recognition Of tho open
door" principle for which England has stood all
over the world. II will also he considered
pledge Of the active cooperation ~ America
and England in China. which will tend to draw
Germany and Japan into hearty support Of the
same policy.
Regarding Porto Rico little Is said since It's
annexation will be immediate and the truth Is
recognized at least by keer observers that the
Americans will be justified in applying - II
4, their tariff system and navigation laws.
That will be a practical illustration Of what
leaders like Mr. chamberlain mean when they
talk of imperial federation with Free Trade
within and a common tariff policy outside. The
same reasoning would apply to cuba. II there
were immediate annexation. but If tho island
he held under protectorate England VIII
naturally prefer to have an open door there
as well in the Philippines
While the case Of cuba Is regarded. "a The
Yorkshire POST asserts. as on all fours With
that Of the Philippines. there is little interest
in forcing parallel English commerce with
/ Cuba has not been large during recent years.
and no great mercantile interests are involved
/ in tho bearings Of American tariff policy or
| navigation laws in that quarter Moreover. the
| English people have failed so completely in their
treatment of their own Wes. Indian colonies.
which have been sacrificed - Free Trade
policy. that they will not question the Aneri-
can right to follow different lines Let the
door he opened at Manila. and there will be
10 complaint from England Of any action which
/ Americans may consider eXpedout in the West
/ Indies The Birmingham Post" perceiyes that
/ If the Philippine customs system he enforced 10
/ as to operate equally against all nations. in
/ Guiding the United States. il will be different
course from that now pursued in Canada. where
all nations do not pay the same duties. Eng
/ land being on a favored basis. II admits thar
! Canada has taken a line OF her and made
| an exception in favor Of British goods. but
| contends that this has been done on the ground
Of reciprocity. and that the same privilege II
open TO any country the same terms.
Apparently Americans at liberty under
this reading to apply the Canadian precedent
and. by arranging reciprocity with Cuba on the
basis Of lower duties on tobacco. to absorb the
entire trade Of the island without compromising
the principle Of the 'open door" II this can
be done under protectoratc in Cuba it may
also be repeated in the Philippine group. AL
though The Birmingham Post fails TO per-
ceive the trend Of the argument.
The English press. while not expert Wit
ness on questions Of American constitutional
law and while slow to understand the truth
that great questions cannot be settled onhand
| by an executive order or an act Of Congress, IS
just and tolerant in discussing all these mat
ters 1t comedies frankly that the United
| States must govern each new dependency from
| motives OF expe liency and experimentally at
the outset Many journals express hope that
the ultimate tendency Of the new policies may
be fatal to protectonism. but this is purely
academic phraslng. like the optimism OF LORD
Farrer in addressing the Golden Club Prac-
teal economists know better. for they assert
that Americas new work in the world viii
prove expensive and thereby involve the main
tenanco Of the present tariff system. rather than
= roversion TO the Democratic deficit tariffs.
Anti-anrexationsts in America identified
here promptly as natural allies Of Mr.. Labou-
chere and the dwindling band Of Little Eng
landers.
American questions have come to the front
when foreign affairs are stagnant Whoever
talks about Fashoda now is almost as hopeless
bore as the anxious inquirer respecting the Ind
ian currency question There is an innocent dis
cussion here over the new commercial treaty
between France and Italy which is regarded as
4 strong proof that the Paris Government con-
siders it expedient TO cultivate friendship in
nov quarter \ wiser comment would be that
France has offered fresh evidence that she is
assuming the headship Of the Latin races. con-
cuiatinC Italy as she has befriended Spain.
Another foreign question mildly discussed is
the Idppe- Detmod affair. 1t centres upon a
point Of dignity. There would have been bad
feeling among the minor German princes II the
Emperor had consulted them before directing
the Federal Council 10 settle the domestic ques
ton of the succession TO a small title. He did
not play with shadows Of titular dignity. and
hence there is a tempest in teapot.
"Reminiscences OF the annoyances Of Queen
Vlctora's early married lie are revived by the
questions Of title. rank and precedence raised IN
Holland by the coming marriage Of Queen VII
hemna with Prince William Of Wied. The
Dutch Ministers are trying 10 arrange mat
ters so that the Prince Consort may not be
snubbed in foreign capitals as person OF no
importance. whose place comes after real royal
ties in the sacred order Of precedence He may
escape the sights TO which Prince Albert was
subjected II the Dutch Parliament accords 10