New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-08
WHEAT AND DIPLOMACY.


II IS quite the fashion on the Continent Of
Europe 10 discuss the future foreign policy OF
tho United States on the assumption that the
world IN general belongs TO the Powers. and
that when the present war is over what France.
Germany and Russia say IS tho thing that Will
be done. We hear great deal about what
the Powers" will permit and VIII not permit
us 10 do IN the Philippines, In Porto Rico, In
the Canarics We hear solemn Talk about our
wicked thirst for conquest which must be
checked as II Their were no such thing rs
Madagascar. as Port Arthur. rs kiaoChau. no
such annexations as Schleswig iolste!n and Al
SAGE Lorraine no such occupation for the sake Of
humanity ~ that Of Egypt. We are told that we
cannot settle offhand what Will do with
territories which by The fortunes OF war may
fall into our hands The Concert Of Europe"
is 10 SIT on tn" Philippines. We hive no rights
in Asia The privilege Of conqucs. IS monop-
oily OF the nations OF Europe and they VIII
make II their business TO gee that our more I'M
mediate access across the Pacific TO Asia does
not deude us into thinking are anything
but an impairment small boy. who must do rs
he is told
Al that calm assumption Of mastery is high
" amusing In view Of the real heplessness Of
Europe, IN spite Of all lis military prowess in
any emergency which isolatcs II from America.
and. above all, in any emergency which cuts
off It's supplies from tie territory dominated by
the Anglo-Saxon race. Our London corrc-
spoEdcnt this morning points out how the mere
speculation in wheat, following the short crops
of last year and intensified by The present hos
tties. have, before single grain cargo has
been interfercd with. sent wheat 10 famine
prices and caused bread riots In both Italy
Jn1 Spain. To say that Our war with Spain
produced the high price of wheat would be 10
exargcratc But II Is true that now. and proba-
big hereafter. Europe must rely Oh MS 10 ward
off from her the menace Of starvation. The
almost universal failure Of European crops last
year depleted all the storchouscs Of the Old
World, and careful observers estimate that this
years production Will not so far exceed normal
immediate wants as to Icplcnlsli those stores.
The Indian and Argentine crops are reported
below the average again This year, while our
enormous yield o. 1891 promises 10 be succeed
ed with good If not an unusual crop In 1898.
SO, with the reserve wheat supply of the world
largely in American hands, with France under
normal conditions Just able 10 feed herself. and
the rest OF Western Europe Dependent for Its
daily bread on the New World-for Russia. in
spite of her vast wheat fields. Is often at the
mercy OF the inIportcr't is difficult 10 imagine
The "powers' courtng bread revolutions In
place Of bread riots FOR the sake Of playing dog
in-ihe-manCcr concerning territories as far
away from them as from us.
When England and America are coupled to
gether ms friends. for whom this "Concert''
wants 70 make trouble the situation becomes
a trnc ridiculous. England herself is II food
importer, so short Of reserve supplies that her
life depends on great navy to keep open traffic
10 her rood bases. Those bases, combined with
ours. also thc grnnaries OF the world. With
both nations united, the armies OF the Continent
would be helpless in short order. The extra
demand to feed troops would deplcte the store
houses and they could be replenishcd only
from Anclo-Saxon granares or from a few dis
tant points like Argentina. which might easily
be cut Off by naval power. Guns and ships
would be powcrless without wcll-fed men be-
hind them.
America has no notion OF inviting any such
contest She raises vast quantities of wheat
which she is glad to sell in Europe and she de-
sires European friendship. Neither Is she seek
ing to run amuck Of European interests in any