Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-01
As TO COMBINATIONS.

rica are interesting studies. Viewed In
tany other light, they are little less than
amusing.
The only two Continental nations tina
could have any object in interfering with
Great Britain In this matter are France
and Russia. between whom there Is al
ready an understanding az against the
triple alliance. As the humiliation Of the
Boer power will mean another long step
IN the direction of a clear British terri
toral sweep from Cape to Cairo, as IL
will mean British hegemony. not only IN
South Africa, but on the African Conu-
nent at large, IL IA easy to understand
that a check to British designs in the
| Transvaal and the Orange Free State
would be entirely TO Frances liking. The
more distant result OF the contamination
Of these designs cannot but be 10 render
all the more worthless to France the
spells assigned to her in the division
made when the Fashoda incident was ad-
justed. IL cannot but put Great Britain
| in better position to squeeze some of
these spells from France if she so wishes
when the time comes for the partition Of
the Congo Free state.
That it would be TO Russia's interest to
see Great Britain weakened, lose pres
tige. and become involved in compica
lions is manifest. But Russia has her
hands too fun in the far East to admit
Of her engaging in any knight-errantry
demonstration in combination with
France against Great Britain. on the
score Of pure love and affection" for the
! former. The recent development of ac-
tive British military strength and evil
dence Of reserve force throughout the
British empire have proved that Russia
could not hope to gain any lore by
striking on the Indian border now than
heretofore. and any attempt Of Russia
and France to harass the British else
where would weaken both in the face Of
Germany. the dominating factor in the
Dreibund.
Years ago Bismarck declared that the
friendship of Great Britain was worth
more to Germany than the whole of the
lake region OF Africa. and notwithstand-
ing that since then there has been occa-
sional friction between the two great
Powers. a recognition of the truth of that
declaration has steadily grown at Berlin.
Moreover. the recent policy of Great Bri-
tain has been to cultivate German friend
shin. Save for the little object lesson
protest she made on the occasion of En-
peror Williams exuberant telegram to
Kruger. some time back, Great Britain
has treated German relations with Africa
quite tenderly. Moreover. she has given
Germany free hand in Asia Minor, and
has not sought to throw any serious OBJ
stacles in the way of German CONNER
cial development on the other side Of the
globe. Aside. therefore from Germany's
geographical position, it would be to her
advantage TO stand with the British on
the present issue. And as Germany
stands so will stand AustriaH Hungary
and Italy.
Therefore. while we do not anticipate
that combinations-in the minds eye Of
ingenious correspondents anu OtiIci W. I
cease to be made, and are even prepared
for startling predictions of a general war
the logic Of the situation would seem to
point to a continued Continental dead
lock. and to Great Britain's being left TO
cut the South African swath as she
chooses And as emphasizing this. it may
be remarked that the British have taken
no chances even on the most remote pos
sibilities of combinations. Nearly every
movement towards a combination that
has been suggested has developed coun-
GER precautionary movement. Indeed, the
fact seems to be that, although the An
clio .Boer death grapple-tho struggle for
practical British domination of the Con-
tinent Of Africa-was precipitated sooner
than Great Britain had expected or de-
sired. all the details of it. were though
! over. and all the cXigencies that Nigh
be involved, were discounted long ago.
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