The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-06-11
STICKS To IT.
Joseph Chamberlain, British
Colonial Secretary,
ReiterateS His Birmingham
Speech i'm Parliament.
BACKED UP BY VOTES
His Party Is Sustained by Two
to One Vote.
Advocacy of American Alliance
Is Loudly Cheered.
UP BY VOTES

London, June 11.-Sir Charles Dixie,
in the house Of commons today, moving
q reduction in the foreign office, at
tackled the Marquis OF Salisbury's for
eign policy of concession Referring to
the United States he said:
Our better relations with the United
States are mainly due to the good in
fuence Of her majesty's ambassador at
Washington. CSir Julian Pauncefote),
for the government's policy has been
rash and feeble Everyone will well
come an alliance of hearts with Amer
lea, but no alliance could be a war al
lance
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, the
liberal leader in the house Of commons.
asking Information as to the foreign
policy of the government. proceeded to
criticise at length the recent speech of
Mr. Chamberlain, secretary of state for
the colonies, at Birmingham He re-
ferred ironically 10 the -'pitiful spec
tacIe OF the secretary of state for the
colonies. standing cap in hand, before
the powers and seeking an alliance, re-
marking:
The Chinese question must be set
tied on friendship and concert with
Mr. Chamberlain. who. on rising TO
reply. was received with government
cheers and Irish National Kisses. de-
MED that there was any discrepancy
between himself and other mem ers of
the ca binet- I believe he said. that
our interests. are much more closely
allied to the interests OF Germany than
TO those OF Russia The ca biuet is not
responsible for every single word ut
tered by its man bers. but ii is respOn-
sibIe for every declaration of policy
and every important statement of fact.
If there had been a difference of Opin-
Ton hezr 7 @-lFF EFar
self, it would have been my duty to
resign That is my answer to all these
charges I have not resigned and I
have not been rejected by the prime
Mr.. Chamberlain declared that the
object of his Birmingham speech was
not to lay down a policy, but to state
facts to the country as to what I con-
ceive TO be the conditions and great
problems we are called to face" The
speech. he continued, had been made
and there was not one word OF it that
he intended TO withdraw Great Brit
ain could stand alone. but in that case.
she could not exercise the controlling
influence she had hitherto exercised in
China
SO long as We are without alliances
he said emphaucalIy. it will be i'm
possible 10 preserve the independence
Of China against inrOads-' Repeating
the leading features of his Birmingham
speech Mr.. Chamberlain declared
ing TO consider alliances. 1t is not IN
likely that advances will be made to
US \ mutual understanding with one
Of the great powers would save very
large addition TO the navy"
In concluding he referred to the i'm
p0rrance Of a close understanding with
America adding: In my opinion on
such a matter the United States would
not listen to the Irish vote But
whether England or America were
rneuaCed. he said. he hoped IT would
be found that blood is thicker than
water and. without desiring to force
either nation to enter into an alliance
with which a majority Of both peoples
did not thoroughly sympathize, he
would repeat his conviction that the
closer. the more defined and the clearer
the alliance between the United States
and England, the better it would be for
both nations and for civilization Mr.
ChamberIain's speech ended amid loud
cheers from the benches
Mr.. John Dillon. the Irish Nationalist
leader. protested against Mr. Chamber
Iain's insults to the Irish in America
Sir Charles bikes motion for re-
duction in the foreign office vote as
rebuke to the governments foreign
policy was rejected by the house by
vote Of "a against 12S-