The age-herald., 1898-03-10
THE SYMPATHY
 OF OLD ENGLAND Expressed by Queen Victoria in the Present
 Crisis.

Washington, March 1O.-Much conjecture has been fnduIged in touching the visit paid to the white house by the British ambassa- dor. The Washington Post this lrhurs. day) morning says on this point:
 Queen Victoria has, through Sir Julian Pauneefete, conveyed to President McKin- ley her qualification at the wise and con- servative course which he has thus far pursued in relation to the .,aban and Span ish situation. She also expressed to him her thorough sympathy with the efforts put forth by the United States to relieve suffering humanity in Cuba with the hope that these endeavors may be conducted to a successful conclusion without war.
 These expressions were not sent in off, cial form. They would have been commu- nicated through MT. Hay, the United States ambassador to Great Britain, but for the fact that he Is absent on a voyage on the Nile. They were therefore com municated directly to Sir Julian with the request that he present them in person to the president. There has been no corre- spondence with this country on the subject so the queens sentiment do not appear record.
 "The desire of the queen that war should be avoided was emphasized for several req sons. It was pointed out that the com mercial relations of Great Britain with the United States were too extensive to be jeopardized by a war between this country and Spain. The blockade of the port of New York, for instance, 1t was pointed out, would be of irreparable damage to British shipping, while the cessation of the ship ment of food supplies to England would be exceedingly serious.
 "The reply of the president expressed his pleasure at the utterance of the queen, with the additional statement that he also hoped war would be avoided. Public an nouncement of the real purpose of the am- basSador's visit has been avoided and de- nial of the fact that it had relation to the present crisis has been made because 1t was feared that the friendly utterance might be misconstrued. It was thought that the approval given by the queen of the presi- dents course might be distasteful in cer- tain quarters and might be regarded as un- duly influencing the presidents actions in the future.
 "There was another reason, however, which had its weight in the decision of secrecy. The attitude of Great Britain goes further in this matter than a mere express sion of good wishes. There is a desire, which has yet only reached the stage Nf tentative suggestion that alliance may be formed between Great Britain and the United States. It has been shown that the interests of England and this country are not only identical in a general sense, but are especially identical in the great question of finding in China and the east a market for manufactures. This sugges- ton has considerable weight with the American. Great Britain is finding her supremacy in China greatly threatened. France has already established herself on the south and Russia is aggressive on the north, while Germany has secured strong foothod If England proposes to hold her own she must fight for it. This explained why she is forbddding her ship owners to part with the vessels they are constructing and accounts for the large increases she is making in her navy.
 'It was the suggestion that if the United States could afford to offer Great Britain her moral support in case of trouble in tho east she would offer us her sympathy and practical aid in amy trouble that threat ened with Spain that resulted in a decis- ion of the eastern question in the cabinet meeting Tuesday. The administration ap- preciates the value of this friendly aItt- tude. Although it is we'll understood that in this country it will be impossible for the navy to be placed alt the disposal of Great Britain in uphoiding British supremacy in the east, there are many ways in which our influence could be exerted with effect in British behalf"