The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-18
CHECK FOR EUROPE.
England Would Not Agree for Is TO BE
Elected from Manila.

that the attention OF the United states
should be turned from tho daily events
of the Spanish-Amerlcan war to the vast
ly greater issues which involve the future
political history Of the entire world.
/ have repeatedly urged uIon Che read
ers OF these dispatches. i'm tho past few
weeks. the importance of the great crisis
I'm the affairs OF mankind Of which the
present war is only q single feature. II
will serve. perhaps. 10 demonstrate this
Importance IT. I mention single fact
knowledge OF which has been confined
until now TO diplomatic circles. It IS
this:
Had 80 not been for tho sharp veto OF
tho British government. the United States
would have been confronted. several days
ago with the difficult problem whether TO
withdraw Dewey ANONYMOUSLY from the
Philippines or eight combined Europe. ]
make this statement on the authority Of
two prominent members of the Salisbury
Cabinet and its accuracy Is beyond ques-
tiOn. Moreover, 10 falls FAR short OF con-
veying an adequate idea of the manifold
perils. plots and counterplots which the
situation contains.
Some OF these dangers were indicated
yesterday in Mr.. Chamberiains remark
able speech. which is the most pcsimstic
Of tho British Ministry in this genera
ton. His open charge OF bad faith against
Russia amounted 10 a challenge lie
spoke, Of course, from q strictly British
standpoint when he advocated abandon
ing the traditional policy against alliances
and when he said
"AH the powerful States OF Europe
have made alliances. and as long as vs.
keep outside these alliances AS long as We
are envied by AN and suspected by all.
and as long as we have interests which.
one time or another. will conflict with
the interests of ail we are liable 90 be
confronted at any moment with a combi-
nation Of the great Powers so powerful
that not even the most hot-headcd poll
tician viii be able TO contemplate 1t
without a cerain sense OF uneasiness.
'lt is impossible 90 oyerrate the gravity
OF the issue. IL Is not q question Of
single port OF China. 10 is not question
Of a single province. 10 IS question Of
the whole fate Of the Chinese Empire.
and our interests I'm China are 80 great,
our proportion of her trade is so enor-
nous. that / feel that no more vital
question has,ever been presented for the
decision Of a government and the deci-
sion OF a nation.
zone thing appears % me certain III
the policy of isolation which has hitherto
been the policy of this country is man.
tained I'm the future. then the fate Of the
Chinese Empire may be. and probably
will be hereafter. decided without re-
ference TO our wishes and in defiance
Of our interests ~. on the other
hand. we are determined to enforce the
policy of the open door then we must
not allow the tingoes TO drive us INTO
quarrel with all the world, ana must not
reject the idea Of an alliance WIN those
Powers whose interests most nearly APP
prOXimate our own
But the whole object and aim Of Mr.
Chamberlain's speech were to advocate
an alliance with the United states, ana
there is no doubt that he won the
heartiest APPROVAL OF Eis hearers. There
is no doubt. also. that 10 is because tine
British Government is earnestly DESTROYS
Of the contamination Of such an alliance
that the fact Is now permitted TO he
known that Great Britain alone has
averted the active interference of Con-
tinental Europe I'm the present campaign
between Spaein and America. The most
superficial observer now understands
that it was only the fear that the United
States and Great Britain would be driven
into an alliance which prevented the un-
friendly sentiments OF the Continental
Powers from finding an expression ere
this. II IS doubtful IL even this fear VIII
avail till the end Of the war.
The shock of surprise caused by MT
Chamberlain's announcement OF the radl-
cal change in British policy, a change
which marks a new epoch In polItical
history, has for the moment suenced
public coment both in England and on
the Continent. Next week when the fun
significance Of his momentous words is
realized IN Great Britain and Europe
the world will talk OF nothing else. me
plans OF the nations will be revised. vast
schemes Of ambition and aggrandlze-
ment will be abandoned or modined. me
policy OF every Emperor and every Caol-
net in Europe will be suspended to await
the response which America may make
to the British overtures.
Hence IL Is no exaggeration 20 say tnat
the political dcstnies OF the Cid Morla as
well az the New rest at the present mo-
men; IN American hands.
10 is premature, perhaps, TO discuss TO-
dsy the details and nature OF the alliance
which Great Britain desires 10 make with
the United States. The chief point which
It is desired to determine al this juncture
is whether the public sentiment Of Amer
lea will sanction any alliance. II II Will
l do not go too far in saying that the
terms can be arranged either now or at
some more suitable moment in the near
future.
The British Cabinet has definitely ana
M animously committed itself. ~ princi-
pie, to an Angio-American alliance IL X
can be made upon terms honorable ana
advantageous TO both countries The
British government having committed IL
self to this radical new departure mas
no disposition 10 drive sharp bargain.
IL is probably quite willing that the Unit
ed States should determine the scope OK
the proposed partnership. the general de-
sire being to make Il as close and inti-
mate as possible.
There Is little doubt that Great Britain