The evening times., 1900-01-05
FRIDAY. JANUARY ). 1900.



There is not the slightest doubt in the
world that the German public from the
Rhine 10 the last rock in Pomerania is
mad to the core on account of the seizures
Of German vessels by British cruisers. If
the popular sentiment of the hour could
control, We should expect to see diplomatic
relations between London and Berlin
promptly broken of if nothing worse
should happen, like the invasion Of the
British Isles which one enraged Teutonic
newspaper strongly advises.
But. while there is not any question
concerning the attitude Of the masses IN
the Empire of the Kaiser il is not quite
SO certain as ia how the sovereign and his
cabinet regard the situation Plainly. j. is
delicate one TO handle. but il must be
recognized that it covers some possibilities
that may not be without material value 10
Wilhelm and his ministers We notice
With considerable interest that the leading
German papers declare that England would
never thus insult their country if il had a
navy worthy Of attention. If the Reich
stag should haupen 10 take the same view
then the Emperor's naval programme Will
go through swimmingIy. and he at least
viii not have any particular reason to feel
badly over the. incidents that have pulled
his chestnuts on, of the parliamentary fire
for him.
How deep Diplomatic game may be
going or between Great Britain and he
Triple Alliance we have no means of know
thor. .--r COM. s--,--.-...-.-
connected with the immediate situation
that are north noting. Il viii not escape al
tention that the action Of the British Gov
ernmenJ in arresJinE steamers under the
German and other neutral flags. has been
taken with such apparent indifference to
complications supposedly likely to arise H.
consequence. as TO constitute a probability
that the whole matter had been arranged
in advance. For Lord Salisbury is far from
wishing to ignore The feelings Of The Euro
pean chanceIleries. It ii were Otherwise
he would have taken Lourenco Marques
and Delagoa Bay two weeks or more ago.
aud thus avoided al this marine bother
There is something cooking in the diplO-
matte pot that has not come tc the sur
LdAt- VI NNAl-ts 'Ft- many LAE l AAttl
States. and other states whose cargces or
bottoms have been captured on the high
seas. are making and viii continue 90
make, vigorous protests, and these viii be
Needed by the offender and fun indemnity
offered. But out Of the difficulty there
will grow. if We mistake not. very early
necessity TO remove the Dolag0a Bay dan
ger from the horizon Of international poll
tics. and it VIII be instructive TO watch the
modus operaHdi What may come We do
not even pretend to guess. Perhaps Portu-
gal. confessing physical inability to fulfill
her neutral obligations at Loureuco Mar
ques. might be asked to authorize Ger
many Austria, or Italy to assume the duty:
or Germany and England might conclude
10 take over the Portuguese colony in the
Interests Of peace and good morals; but
by hook or by crook it is not impossible
that all the present turmoil is designed as
a curtain raiser to the development Of a
world play of much more far reaching i'm
portance than the detention of few ships.
reasonably open to the suspicion of osrry-
ing military supplies to a state at war with
I he CaptOr,