The record-union., 1898-03-08
SHOULD WAR OCCUR.
Speculation as to the Attitude Of
European Powers.

NEW YORK March Tn view of
the possibility of war between the Unit
ed States and Spain, there has been II
great deal of speculation in Washing
ton as To the attitude likely to be ds-
sumed by other European powers, and
especially by Great Britain, says the
"Herald's" Washington correspondent.
There has been no idea that Great Bri-
tain will be actively drawn into such
war in any way and ii is now general
ly believed the United States would
have her moral support and sympathy.
News Of the Maine disaster was re
ceived in Great Britain with almost as
much horror as in the United States.
1t was noted at the time that the first
expression of sympathy received at the
State Department was from Sir Julian
Pauncefote the British ambassador,
who, without waiting to learn whether
the Spanish Government was in any
way involved called in person at The
State Department This was followed
by messages from the Queen and the
Prince Of Wales and from many high
officials and officers of the army and
navy.
An American naval officer of high
rank who has just returned from a
cruise on which he associated great
deal with English persons and with Of
ficers of the British army and navy,
referring to the warm feeling the Eng
lish have for the United States in this
crisis, said to your correspondent: ITO
the observer of current events in this
country and in England, no more strik-
ing thought makes itself felt than the
good fellowship evinced by the average
intelligent Englishman for America and
most things American. Especially is
this the case in times of possible pub
lie danger for the institutions and pros
perity Of England. At such times the
feeling seems widespread that America
is but another section of the mother
country, to be counted on for mutual
defense in the same manner as a colo
ny Of larger growth. Not only is this
the case. but in addition there is
great and growing sentiment favorable
to our Institutions aside from those
which appeal to the English mind, on
the surface, as it were. To those VINO
travel abroad on Governmental duties
this becomes specially patent.
with naval officers there is a spirit
Of camaraderie which has never existed
before, but which has become domi-
nant factor in the conduct of affairs on
our various foreign stations The thing
is so evident nowadays that frequent
remark is passed on the great changes
the last few years have wrought in the
friendlineSs between the two services.
And not only is this sentimental mani
festation of the true kindliness felt by
individuals, but we are constantly re-
minded of this feeling in an unofficial
or, speaking more properly, in a semi
Governmental way
"In many of the inspired utterances
of the press of London this sentiment
has been dominant for the last few
years. Naval officers abroad frequent
ly hear such expressions as this. Oh
in time of any great national calamity
we could count on the assistance of
our American cousins Without
doubt there is more friendship felt and
expressed in England for America than
in America for England. For unfortu-
nately, il has become the fashion to de-
ride everything English and scoff al
England and the English from what
ever point of view the thought takes its
rise. But, seberly speaking, 1t would
seem, aside from any tinge of senti-
mentality, that the two English-speak-
ing nations of the world should stand
shoulder to shoulder in future contests
from military, commercial or a po-
litical point of view
Commercially. the two nations are
almost as one in their interests already
and 1t requires little stretching of the
ina gination to see the day when our
commercial laws shall be practically
alike for the interchange of manufac-
lures turned out from the mills and
looms of the two nations
From a military outlook the pros
pect is somewhat more dubious but it
can be foreseen that a time might
come, contingencies might arise. when
the existence of one nation might de-
pend upon the good will of the other.
This idea is based upon tise indisput-
able fact that the welfare of the civil
lied world is in the keeping of the Eng
lish federation Of people, and anything