The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-11
ENGLAND MUST HAVE ALLIANCES.
Secretary Chamberlain Keiterates What
He Said at Birmingham.

London, June 10. Sir William Vernon
Harcourt, the Liberal leader IN the House
of Commons, in asking information in the
House today as to the foreign policy of
the government criticized at length the
recent speech of MIR. Chamberlain, score.
tary of state for the colonies at Birming-
nam. He referred ironically to the pitt
iul spectacle of the Secretary of state for
the colonies standing, cap in hand before
tne powers and seeking an alliance" re-
marking: The Chinese question must
be settled in friendship and concert with
Russia He asked whether it would not
be better for Chamberlain to "Postpone
his insults to Russia until he talked of
alliance had been secured
MIR. Cham berlain, who on rising to re-
ply was received with government cheers
and Irish Nationalist Kisses, denied that
there was any discrepancy between him
self and other members of the cabinet.
~ believe" he said. THAT our interests
are much more closely allied to the Inter.
ests of Germany than to those OF Russia
The cabinet is not responsible for every
single word uttered by it's member but
1T is responsible for every declaration of
policy and every importadti statement of
fact. If there had been differenc Of
opinion between myself and Lord Sails
bury it would have been my duty to re-
sign. That is my answer to ali those
charges. l have not resigned and l have
not been rejected by the prime minister
Therefore there is solidarity"
Mr.. Chamberlain declared the object of
his Birmingham speech was ''Not to Law
down policy but to state facts to the
country as to what / conceive to be the
conditions and great problems we are
called upon to face"
The speech, he continued had been made
and there was not one word of it that he
intended to withdraw.
Great Britain could stand alone but in
that case she could not exercise the con-
| trolling influence she had hitherto exer.
cised in China.
$50 long as we are without alliances 4"
he said emphatically, it will be impos-
sible to preserve tn independence of China
| against inroads."
Repeating the leading features of his
Birmingham speech Mr.. Chamberlain
| declared:
off it became known that we were
willing to consider alliances it is not
likely that advances would be made to us.
A mutual understanding with one of
the great powers would save very large
| increase in the navy"
| In concluding he referred to the "Im-
portance of close understanding with
America" adding: I'm my opinion
on such matter the United States would
not listen to the Irish vote.
| But whether, England or America were
menaced he said he hoped that it would
be found that blood was thicker than
water. and without desiring to force eth
er nation into an alliance with which a
majority of the people did not thoroughly
| sympathize he would repeat his convic-
tion that the closer, the more defined and
the clearer the alliance between the Unit
ed States and England the better it would
be for both nations and for civilization.
Mr.. Chamberlain s speech ended amid
cheers from the government benches.
Mr.. John Dillon, the Irish Nationalist
leader, protested against Mr.. Chamber
lains insults to the Irish in America.
Sir Charles Dilke's motion for reduc-
ton in the foreign Office vote as rebuke
to the governments foreign policy was
then rejected by vote of 254 against 14S.