Evening journal., 1898-08-25
INTERNATIONAL TROUBLE.
AngIo-American Rapprochement Likely
to Cause Complications.

l
to Cause Complications.
LONDON, Aug. PA dispatch to The
Standard from Madrid by way of
France says
"A very unfavorable impression has
been caused in Madrid by kilograms at
trbutlng to President Mckinley the in
tention OF instructing the peace COM
missioners TO insist upon the cession OF
Luzon, that American commerce should
have the same footing as Spanish in the
Philippines and that Spain should
pledge itself that none OF the Spanish
colonies should be ceded to European
powers If such are the intentions of
the United States government the nego-
tiations are sure 10 be laborlous even If
an understanding is ever arrived at.
The Spaniards consider the cession of
Luzon. their best and most important
island, TO be a death blow to their pres
tige and sovereignty in those regions
and that this would be irretrevably
weakened and crippled by the presence
Of Americans in the heart of their colo
MES"
The Times Madrid correspondent
says:
The recent articles In The Times rec
lommending the annexation of the Phil
/ lppines by America are attracting much
attention here. They are regarded as
confirming current rumors about Sc
cret agreement between the cabinets at
London and Washington for joint action
In the far east.
In any case 1t is feared that the rap
prochement which unquestionably eX-
lists contains the germs OF great inter-
national complications. Three months
nern xrrhnf, Cpaft, ettFIa,,ftr F,,,,,1 I,o-a.ff
alone face to face with powerful an
tagonist, such a prospect would have
been hailed with delight because it was
believed that in general imbroglo she
would be sure to find allies. Now the
political situation is better understood
and fears are expressed that In a gem
eral conflict of the great powers what
ever the result. Spain would have to
pay les pots casses.
''El Liberal publishes a significant ar
ticle in this sense Trying 60 forecast
the immediate future. ii says Two con-
tingencies are possible-either the great
powers viii come TO an agreement about
their respective spheres OF influence, or
there viii be a great war, in which
England Will play a leading partagainst
Russia and France. In the former case
spain would lcse the Philippines, be-
cause they would be included in the
partition. In the latter case England
D would begin by an attempt TO get pos
session OF the keys to the Mediterra-
| mean, including Ceuta and the Balearic
, isles, which may be regarded as the
keyhole.
This possibility of a struggle for
- naval supremacy I'm the Mediterranean
: at some time In the near future gives
certain Importance to reports OF new
forts In the vicinity of Gibraltar and
, diplomatic correspondence there anent.
Neither Spain nor England. however.
p can be supposed 10 have any aggressive
designs, and if we read between the
lines OF certain very guarded semiofIi-
! cial statements we must conclude that
, the Spanish government has recently
received from London some positive as.
surances on this point. Spain must. IL
: Is said maintain her elementary rights
4 TO national self defense, but she has al
= present sufficient diplomatic dificultie,
on hand to prevent her creating addl.
. tional complications