Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-31
NO NEGOTIATIONS on FOOT.
Rumors of Possible Alliance With
Great Britain Denied.
washington Evening star-3Oth.)


Careful inquiry at the State Depart:
ment and at the British embassy fails to
develop any substantial basis for the
: suppostion that negotiations are afoot
looking to a close compact between the
United States and Great Britain covering
all possible subjects of future differences.
comforting special trade privileges on
both parties, providing for the joint use
of the Nicaragua canal, and embracing
what would amount TO an alliance, Of
fenslve and defensive, to the end that
Great Britain may enjoy in peace her
Asiatic possessions. while the United
States will have asshare Of the trade in
that quarter, and will also be secured in
the application Of the Monroe doctrine.
All of these subjects have been from
time to time in the past discussed in
the press of the United States and Eng
land and the probable basis for the COLA
ton at this time is to be found in Mr..
Chamberlin's recent speech, which has
aroused so much interest in both hem
is2heres.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
AS far as the Nicaragua canal is con-
cerned it is pointed out that If the
United States contemplated the joint use
of that means of communication, there
would be no necessity for including such
same result would be attained by a sim
pie affirmation that the ClaytonBulwer
treaty. under the terms of which both
nations-the United States and Great
Northumberland for joint control of any
waterway to be constructed in the flu
ture--is still In force.
The trade relations are even now being
adjusted on a new basis, through the
drafting Of an agreement between Sir
Julian Pauncefote for 0reat Britain,
and by Mr.. Kasson for the United
States, under the terms Of the reciprocity
sections Of the Dingley tariff act. This
has advanced almost TO completion, and
the result may be proclaimed within the
next week, unless some unforeseen de-
lays are encountered.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
The talk of a union on an interpreta-
ton OF the Monroe doctrine is rather
sentimental than practical at this stage,
and there is the best authority for the
statement that the subject has not been
preached in any manner i'm the diplo-
matte exchanges Of the two governments
since the celebrated passage between
Secretary Olney and the Marquis Of Sails
bury during the negotiations that led
up to the Venezuelan arbitration agree
ment.
1t may be recalled that in his last note,
while conceding the propriety Of arbitra-
ton, the British Premier nowhere admit
ted any application of the Monroe doctrine
to the boundary question, and. so far as
Is known there has been no change IN
British sentiment on that point up to this
time.
As to the relations Of the United States
and Great Britain in respect to Asiatic
trade, there is no reason to believe that
there has been any change In the policy
OF our own government, which, while am
mated by the kindliest feelings toward the
British, and approaching what has been
done by Great Britain TO liberalize Chi
nese trade, has confined its efforts 10
the single object of protecting American
trade from invidious discrimination, and
so far, IL is believed, with signal success.
IN BEITISH CIRCLES.
In British official circles here much
satisfaction Is felt In the conspicuous
growth of friendship between the Eng
people on both sides of the
water. But IL is the view i'm these cir
cles that II is a healthy and desirable
growth, which cannot find immediate
expression i'm formal treaties or conven- |
tons Such large results are hoped Tor |
I'm the course of time as the result OF pub !
lie opinion In the mean time there Is |
disposition TO adopt conservative view |
as to what should be attempted at the
present moment. The reports that far
reaching agreements are under considera-
ton, or are about TO be mcde are look
ed upon as very prejudicial TO the accom-
plshment OF any real result. AS stated |
by a leading diplomatic official to-day, |
radical criticism OF Great Britain has APP |
parently given way 10 radical sympathy |
and in both cases this radicalism misieads |
people in having false expectations ana
false fears. and serves 10 defeat those |
results which are secured |
only by patience and mature elaboration.