The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-02-20
WARCL0UD H0VERS
IN FOREIGN LANDS.
France and Great Britain on the
Verge of a Collision.
The Fuse Has Been Lighted and an ExpIo-
sion Liable TO Follow.
The Spanish Press Seriously Dis
cussing the Possibility of Con-
decorating the Latin Republics
OF South America With Spain
Against the United States.

LONDON, Feb. 10 copyrighted 1891,
by the Associated Press The danger
of leaving explosives about in the shape
of armed bands roaming in disputed
spheres with youthful officers has been
amply Illustrated in West Africa, where
the intermingling of French and British
troops has already caused incidents
that threaten most grave complications.
Happily, the positive Instructions Of
both Governments have thus far been
obeyed, and an actual collision has been
averted. But the fuse is alighted, and
unless France withdraws from her pro-
vocative attitude, or Great Britain con-
tinues the graceful concession policy she
has hitherto observed toward the
French claims, an explosion is bound to
follow.
Some explanation of the attitude Of
France may be found in the desire of it's
Government to turn French minds from
the inquisition that Zola has provoked
while it must not be forgotten that the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, NJ. Hano
tauX, bears upon his shoulders the bur-
den of elections close at hand, and has
to face the threatenings of the Colonial
party to swamp the Government if it
shows the faintest sign of yielding.
There is a curious discussion in the
Spanish press as to the possibility Of
confederating the Latin republics of
South America with Spain against the
United States.
lei Paris" contends that the Spanish
Republics are weak through isolation,
and that if united in a military and dip
lomatic alliance they would be the first
Power in the world in territory, the sec
end in population, and that their armies
would have sufficient power to insure
respect.
The papers point out that the jealous
les of the republics prevent them from
taking the initiative, but Spain, it is
claimed, ought to urge her lazy diplo-
mats to approach the republics with the
view of combining for the defense of
Latin interests, endangered by the in
trusion of the Anglo-Saxons.'
"El Paris" thinks Spain's advice
would not be discarded if she warned
the Latin America against the United
States, adding: For it is we'll known
that the greedy Yankees, once the Pan
anna Canal is opened to the worlds COM
merce, will do all which their perfdy can
suggest to wrest it from the Latin coun-
tries of Central America, even as Eng
land seized the Suez Canal Tending in
this direction is the desire of the Ameri-
cans 10 secure Cuba.
In conclusion, lei Paris says: 1.-THE
advances of the United States in the Sea
OF Antilles are preliminary steps in the
blockade and occupation of the future
canal"
Referring to Latin alliances, the
Spectator" in a long article. points
cut that there is no doubt of the exist
ence of special relations between France
and Spain, which have lately been
strengthened, and says: There are well
in the autumn the United States and
found there was stiffness in the Span
ish attitude which could only be ac-
counted for by the fact that Spain knew
she could appeal to Power which could
not neglect her demands for help"
The Saturday Review expresses the
belief that France allowed the United
States to understand indirectly that
considerations of Importance to her
would not allow her to see Spain treated
in an unfriendly manner, and that
spanish appear 70 france must result III
the latter's intervention. The "Satur-
day Review" believes this accounts for
1.-The way the United States shrunk from
putting in practice the treatment Of
Spain suggested in the original protests
of the Washington Government"
The Spectator" explains that if
France had not helped Spain, the latter
would have applied for admission to the
Dreibund, with almost certainty of sue
cess.