The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-30
CALM PERIOD FOR EUROPE.
CHICKERING'S To EAs WHILE THE
PEACE CONGRESS rs Nv SESSION.

FhdOb OONuHENo ~ Nv SEooAONs
Great Britain Sounds Americans on what
support Could Be Expected from This
Country In the Event Of Trouble Over
China-Our Attitude Affects English Pol
icy-Reyulsion In France Against Russia.
Special cable De,pd'ch 10 TIM suS.
LONDON. April 2a.-Thero Is a comfortable
feeling Of serenity and security among the men
who are charged with the duty Of keeping
peace In the family Of nations. They look for
ward confidently to AT least two months of re-
spite from alarms. II is felt that the sense OF
the fitness OF things is sufficiently strong
even In the game Of international poll
tics to suspend all belligerent talk and
action. at least during the session Of
the Peace Congress. The gathering at The
Hague may be n sham. from a practical point
Of view. but the urincip Pile II eSempIlfes is en-
titled TO the amount Of re,o .nition involved in
the suspension o. puarreIs and ageressions.
Any contentious which may arise during the
interval will nor. therefore. he OF any ones
seeking. and this. in the affairs OF nations as OF
individuals. is the best augury Of peace.
The domestic situation in each country. eX-
cept France, is also singularly calm. There
nobody knows what even tomorrow may
have In store. The writer has been most
Of the week in Paris. and the Il encouragement
OF the better class of people over the seemingly
endless con Implications OF the Dreyfus affair is
almost pitiful. asked a Frcnchman who Ia in
close touch with the best sentiment OF the
country what was going {" happen.
We'll" he said. IL don't know whether we
will have an exhibition next year or not. Lean
assure you Of one thing. however. The new
bridge over tie Seine viii not he called after
Alexander III"
His answer surprised me in one respect only.
Ididn't look for a rcrulsion Of feeling against
Russia So soon. and / believe he exaggerated
the speed whcrcwith enlightenment will come
10 the minds 81 the masses of his countrymen.
It is true that tn" more intelligent Frcnchmen
now see what was patent outside OF
the country. from the outset. that Rus
sia was gaining all and France none Of the
advantages " their partnership. Further
more. there Is reason to suspect that ltussia
has not much further use for France. She has
MIXED her dry financially and has had her
support in the execution Of her bold in
the Far East. There are many signs that Rus
STA desires to maintain the present status quo in
China for a considerable time to come. She has
virtually annexed Manchuria. but she is not
ready to take Pekin. for that would mean the
immediate partition OF China among the pow
.rs. 1t suits Russia's purpose to preserve the
integrity Of the remainder OF China for the
present. because II she waits and manruvres for
afew years she will. perhaps, getthe lions share
OF the heart OF the country, which she could
not expect in an immediate division.
, 1t is this fact which explains the British
change Of policy during tho past few months.
Lord Salisbury has not openly avowed his
abandonment OF the open door policy and
the substitution OF the spheres Of influence.
but 1t is a secret freely confessed by members
of the Government and in the Hobbies OF the
House of Commons. So 1t happens that
KuSSia lie now tbp cham pinn Of tha in
tegrity OF China. and Great Britain is really
manPuvring for the dismemberment OF the
country. This reversal Of things is rather be-
wildering. and perhaps it Is slightly premature
TO say that it is the settled policy Of the re-
spective countries.
The uncertain quantity. and this is adj
mitted on all sides. is the American attitude.
IL the United States say that the integ-
rity OF China must be maintained and the
markets kept open to the trade Of the world
that will settle the question. There was a pri-
yate conference OF the leading Conservative
mombers OF Parliament during the week, at
. which one or two prominent Americans were
invited to give expression to their opinion as
to the amount OF support the United States
will give England / In the Far East. An explicit
answer was asked especially to this question:
Would America support Great Britain TO
the extent OF war II necessary In declaring that
the integrity OF emma must be preserved and
the markets kept open to the trade OF the
world?
The answer given was: mo. In the present
state Of public opinion in the United States no
Administration would dare to involve the coun-
try In a war over any Eastern question"
Whether that answer Is correct Is not for me
to say. but 1t Is the answer that will probably
be accepted in oficial quarters In this country,
and 1t has an almost decisive influence upon
the English policy.