The evening times., 1899-12-01
The AngIo-American Understandin,

FRIDAY, DECEMBER i, 1879.
The Angio-American Understanding.
Whether the Rt. Hon. Joseph Cham
berlan has been able to acquire his unique
distinction in England as 4 shirt sleeve"
diplomatist in consequence of his remark
able AmericanizatiOn, through marriage
and frequent visits to this country, or for
whatever other reason, he has it beyond
question. and his fame in that particular
Will lcse nothing of its universally as
result of his speech at Leicester on Thurs
day.
What he had to say on the occasion has
startled almost as much as it has pleased
his countrymen. Such bold and significant
utterances, it is believed, even he. often
careless III the matter of official reticence.
would hardly venture to make if he were
not reliably sure of his ground and Of the
safety of the governments position rela-
lively to foreign complications. Mr..
Chamberlain's denuneiations of French an
imosity. manifested in scurrilous attacks
upon Queen Victoria which he coupled
with an almost open threat of future war.
must be taken as evidence that the alli-
ance between Great Britain and Germany
is a very close one. and. unless We assume
thar the Colonial Secretary is utterly
needless and lawless in his cabinet rela-
tions, that it was a deliberate notice to
inimical powers. prearranged with his COL
leagues
1t will be remembered that, during the
Kaiser's visit to England, neither Lord
Salisbury nor Mr.. Arthur Balfour were
able to take part in political discussions
with tAe Emperor and his foreign minis
ter. owing to the death of Lady Salisbury;
and that this sad event placed the Colonial
Secretary in the front in respect tc what
ever negotiations were conducted. He was
much in the company of Wilhelm ii. who
showed him marked attention, and seemed
TO accept him as the imperial mouthpiece
in the absence of the Foreign Office chiefs.
Today. England connects Mr.. Chamber
lain's sensational remarks at Leicester
with the conclusions reached in the course
of the imperial conferences, and is accord
ingly interested and as We have said,
startled.
Whatever may be said regarding the pro-
priety or expediency of Mr.. Chamberlain's
observations on French unfriendliness,
there cannot be two opinions as TO The i'm
portance Of his declarations concerning the
understanding between the United States
Great Britain. and Germany. AS he cor
sidered an alliance of deep import and
commanding influence, even if its terms
and understandings are not expressed in
written documents, but are crystallized
quite as satisfactorily in the common de-
scent. aims, and interests of the three
great peoples, and in the common views
and sentiments of their leading statesmen.
If We are not to disbelieve the British
Colonial Secretary entirely, the Dreibund
is an accomplished fact in the minds of
Her Majesty's Government and of the
Kaiser, and, if that be true it is one alb
solutely, because American sentiment is
overwhelmingly favorable to the under
standing. for the purposes of a concerted
policy in China and the Far East generally.
or wherever American commercial inter-
ests and necessities make it desirable for
us to act in harmony and conjunction with
our kinsmen oversee.
We do not forget the moral certainty
that "entangling alliances" especially of
military character, with foreign nations,
would be presently as unpopular in Ameri-
ca, as ever; but such an objection does
not lie against a good understanding. in
formal in character. like the rapproche-
ment which has come to be known as the
Anglo-Saxon Alliance. 1t does not bind
the United States to any departure from
principle or from the letter and spirit of
traditional policy. 1t only strengthens
our hands in a part OF the world where
isolation would be inconvenient, and i'm
poses no obligations oppugnant to our
imperial interests, or calculated to justify
doubt or suspicion on the part of friendly
powers not included in the arrangement. |
They have their formal alliances, dual