The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-10-08
THAT EUROPEAN CONCERT.
Nothing Hut Deliberate Alliance
Promotion Fiction.

following interesting communication
from Michael Davitt, NJ P. on the atti-
tude of European nations toward the
United States during the Spanish Ameri-
can war:
TO the Editor of the Sun-Sir:' A dis
patch to a London daily, paper credits
the Sun with giving renewed circulation
to the story about a concert of European
powers having been thwarted in it's pro-
Spanish purposes by the efforts of Mr.. A.
J. Balfour, Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain and
the British ambassador at Washington.
So strong, it appears, is your faith in
this allegation that you are reported as
declaring that Cuba would have been a
Crete, by this time, if these three rep
resentattves of England's guardianship
of the United States had not confronted
a hostile Europe in their behalf. Will
you, in the interests of truth,
kindly condescend to some particulars?
Either this story is founded upon fact
or on fiction. If true, it will show
most friendly and praiseworthy inter-
vention at a critical moment. ON the
part Of British statesmen on the Ameri-
can side. A publication of corroborat-
ing evidence, or of testimony of some
kind, can only establish an English
claim to American gratitude. Why, then.
are the facts withheld?
Who were the hostile powers? Count
Cassini has declared officially, in Wash
ington that Russia never changed in her
traditional friendship toward the United
States. The tone of the Russian press
has borne out this declaration from the
commencement of the late war. For one
Russian paper that has shown any SYM
pathy for Spain dozen British journals
could be counted Clearly, then, if the
Russian ambassador at Washington is to
be credited, Russia was no party to the
alleged hostile concert.
What about Germany? Your minister
at Berlin has settled that point. We have
his emphatic assurance that the Ger
man empire has never been unfriendly to
the American side since the trouble with
Spain over Cuba began. If, therefore.
your own accredited representative to
Germany is to be relied upon, Germany
was no party to the proposed coercion Of
America.
France remains to be considered. But
clearly, France is not Europe 1t is ri
diculous to imagine the republic of
France, with its own internal troubles
and the comparative smallness of it's
transatlantic possessions, eager to Or
ganize European concert of monarclies
which would include Germany-against
the United States! Why should it?
What could be gained by France in any
such undertaking? But, apart from these
considerations, we have had the assur-
ances Of President Faure of the unalter-
ed friendship of his country toward
yours, backed up by the services of the
French minister at Washington, which
were SO warmly recognized by President
McKfnley-services which have tended
to bring hostilities to q close, and have
thereby placed America. as we'll as Spain,
under great obligation to France. These
services are published and acknowledged.
Why, then, not publish the facts about
the alleged achievement of Messrs. Bal
four. Chamberlain and Pauncefote?
Surely grateful America will not hesf-
tate to acknowledge her obligations to
these able men If the claim can be made
good in the production of single scrap
of evidence to show that such a hostile
concert ever existed except in the fertile
and interested inventiveness of section
of the London press.
Similar fictions were cabled across. and
gullibly accepted on your side, about the
"unfriendly designs" of Germany upon
the Philippines. They are all traced to
the same source; and now, when it suits
England's purpose to come to a friendly
understanding on some small matters
with one of the European powers which
was said to be wishful to turn Cuba into
an American Crete never word is
spoken by the same London papers
against German plans" about the Phil
ippines or of want of German friendli-
ness toward the United States! That
game is played out.
There was one concert, and one only,
suggested or organized when war be-
tween America and Spain was about to
be declared. That was the ambassador
ial concert at Washington, but it was
the British ambassador who introduced
this body to President Mckinley! Eng
land took part in the proceedings what
ever they amounted to. If this action Of
the representatives of the European
powers was unfriendly to America, Eng
lang participated in it. If, on the other
hand, the visit of the ambassadors to
the White House was prompted by de-
sire to prevent war by promoting some
pacific means of settlement, England
shares with the other powers concerned
whatever credit may be due to collective
efforts in the cause of peace
If this somewhat stale London chestnut
about two members of a ministry of sew
enteen in London, aided by an ambassa-