Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-11-02
What Would be Uncle Sans Attitude
In Case Of Foreign Interference in
South Africa.
NO 4YOWlL OF PURPOSE MADE.
But Foreign Powers Can Understand That
This Government is not Indifferent and
In Assuming Position of Neu-
trality Expects Them to
be Neutral Also.
FRIENDLY TO GREAT BRITAIN,

Washington, Oct. 2S--There is CON
siderable anxiety III diplomatic circles con
.cerniug the attitude Of the United States
in case Of any interference on the Tart Of
other powers with respect to the British
Transvaal war. The policy of this govern
ment is not such as to demand an avowal
of purpose in advance of developments re-
quiring action This government will not,
is said, make an ayowai on hyruthe-
tical case, but tie way is left plainly open
to the interf renee Of foreign powers,
Some diplomatic efforts are being made to
get closer down to what the intentions Of
of the United States are, AMI What course
would he followed should intervention on
the part of any Of the powers be attempt
ed. 1t is said that no direct response
has been made to such Inquiries, and
yet the representatives are not left any
excuses for misunderstanding our atti ude.
The attitude Of Great Britain toward lie
suggestions Of other powers i'll our war
with Spain mag he accepted rs having a
counterpart in our attitude should a simu-
lar move be made at this time with respect
to the Transvaal
1t is well understood that the fear Of
Great Britain and the danger Of all tie
powers becoming involved in a war pre-
vented intervention when Spain was in
distress. There would be no less danger
of serious international complications
should intervention be undertaken in the
Transvaal without the approval of the
United States. As Ear as known it was
not necessary for Great Britain to make
any threats nor to ayow her purpose in
advance in order TO convince other powers
that intervention was not wise. The mere
fact that she would not join in such a
movement was sufficient.
All the powers Of Europe know that the
United States will not join in any interfer-
ence in the Transvaal, nor follow any
course hostile to the interests and wishes
of Great Britain in matter not involving
injury to American citizens. 1t is well un-
derstood also Tn It our interests in tie af-
fairs of the civilized world preclude our
ignoring any movement of the combined
powers which might involve The wei! being
of all nations and disturb general CONNER
cial relations.
With this to 90 on, it is believed that
foreign powers will have no difficulty in
arriving at the conclusion that cur atti-
tude is not that of Indifference, and in
ourselves assuming Il position OF neutlality
we anticipate that all other powers will bc
reutral. The interests Of the United
States might be seriously threatened
by the general disturbance Of European
politics, which would follow an attempt
at intervention in the Transvaal. 1t is
regarded as hardly possible that Il conflict
Of the powers could be provoked which
would not spread so as to involve all the
questions of national supremacy, disturb
ing the balance of power and including
the Chinese question where the interests
of this government are important.
The attitude of the United States il
reference to the Transvaal matter is des
cribed as that ola preserver of peace il
the broader sense, and as neutcal power
it could not be Indifferent to departure
from strict neutrality on the part of Other
powers not directly involved i'll the Trans
; vaal war.