The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-20
Serious Danger of Collision Be-
tween French and British.
THE ATTITUDE OF FRANCE
FOREIGN WAR WOULD DIVERT
FRENCH MINDS.
At Present Frenchmen Would Over
turn the Government If It Gave
Signs of Yielding to England
British People Anxious to Be Put
On a War Footing.

London, Feb. copyrighted, 1898,
by the Associated Press. 1.-The danger
of leaving explosives about in the
shape of armed bands roaming in dis
puted spheres under doubtful officers,
has been amply illustrated in West At
RIGA, where the intermingling of British
and French troops have experienced in
cidentS which threaten complications
Happily, the positive instructions of
both governments have thus far been
obeyed and an actual collision has been
averted. But the fuse is alight, and
unless France withdrawS from her pro-
vocative attitude or Great Britain con-
tinues the graceful concession policy
she has hitherto observed towards the
French claims, an explosion is bound
to follow.
ATTITUDE OF FRANCE.
Some explanation of the attitude of
France may be found in the desire of
its government TO turn French minds
from the inquiSition that Zola has pro-
voked, while it must not be forgotten
that the minister of foreign affairs, M.
Hanotaux, bears upon his shoulders
the burden of elections close at hand,
and has to face the tbreatenings OF the
Colonial party to swamp the govern
ment if it shows the faintest sign of
yielding.
Nextweek the supplementary estimate
of e15OOOO for the West African ex-
penses will be presented to the house
of commons, and an interesting debate
may be expected. Probably the most
vital point is not the possession of ter
ritory, but the freedom of commerce.
Where the French have occupied the
Hinterland of British coast colonies,
the latter have been shut out from in
II, I,a ms
the control of the Niger and the free
navigation of that great waterway as
an avenue of trade for the world is at
stake.
Another batch of Sc British officers
and On-commissiOned officers sailed
today for West Africa, accompanied by
immense quantities of war munitions.
PUBLIC IMPATIENT.
This critical situation, on top of nu-
merous pending serious questions. has
re-aroused apprehensions as to wheth-
er the Marquis of Salisbury is inclined
to undUly sacrifice the interests OF the
empire. The debate on the address in
reply to the speech from the throne has
finally been closed, ana when the
house meets again on Monday it will
be to learn the provisions of the great
measure of the session, the Irish local
government bill. The regular business
will then begin. The public is impa-
tient that something practical should
be accomplished to reform and
strengthen the navy, and to provide
additions for the navy. The army es-
Inmates for the current year, issued to-
day, total up $50, GOO (S104. 900 000), !
and ought to satisfy the demands for
increased expenditure.
SILLY DISCUSSION.
There is a curious discussion in the
Spanish press as to the possibility of
&C nfederating the Latin republics of
South America with Spain, against the
United States.
El Pals contends that the Spanish re-
publics are weak through isolation, and |
that if united in a military and diolo- |
matte alliance they would be the rirst
power IL the world in territory, the
second in population, and that their !
armies and navieS would have sufficient /
power to ensure respect.
The papers point out that the jeal
ousies of the republics prevent them |
from taking the initiative, but Spain, 1t /
is claimed, ought to urge her lazy dip |
lomats TO approach the republics with |
the view of combining for the defense |
of Latin interests, endangered by the |
intrusion of the Anglo-SaXOns.'
FL Pals thinks SPANS advice would |
not be disregarded if she warned Latin
America against the United States, adj
ding: For it is well known that the
greedy Yankees, once the Panama ca
Ial is opened to the worlds commerce,
will do all which their perfidy can sug-
gest to wrest il from the Latin coun-
tries of South America, even as Eng
land seized the Suez canal. Tending in
this direction is the desire of the Amer
leans to secure Cuba"
In conclusion, Ell Pals says: 1.-The adj
vaaces of the United States in the sea
Of Antilles are preliminary steps in the
blockade and occupation of the future
ra@a.."
Referring to Latin alliances, the Spec
Iator, in d long article, points out that
there is no doubt of the existence of
special relations between France and
Spain, which have lately been strength
aned, and says: There are well in
formed people who believe that when,
n the autumn, the United States and
Spain almost collided, the United States
ioUnd there was a stiffness in the
Spanish attitude which could only be
accounted for by the fact that Spain
knew she could appeal to power
which could not neglect her demands
or help"
Vice Admiral Makarow leaves st.
today for England, on his
way to America, where he proposes to
PASS some time on board ce-breaking
)oats, in order to gather the latest
American wrinkles for use in the
,zar's frozen harbors.
A confirmation of Queen Victoria's
excellent state of health is found in the
,flicial announcement that it is her
intention to personally re-
GIVE the Dresentees at the first draw
ng room of the season, on Feb. &c, Sat