The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-06
England Against rhe World.

England Against the World.
Prince Ookhtowsky and Vladimer
Holmstrem are the authors of an essay
in the North American Review in
which they set forth the necessity,
| from their point Of view, Of a Cont
mental alliance against Great Britain.
| The tightening of the English grasp on
South Africa, following close upon the
conquest of the Soudan, gives Eng
land. liz is asserted, new strength on
| the Indian Ocean and brings the Eng
| lish nearer to India, to the Persian
| Gulf, to Arabia, to the far East. This,
1T is declared, is England's answer to
| Germany'S colOnial activity and to the
taking by the United States of the
Philippine Islands. The present dis
play of British force, it is maintained,
is bound to be followed by other dis
plays in various directions, and it is
charged that the English have started
or a career of military conquest. The
character and scope of Great Britain's
success in the Transvaal may, how
ever, depend on the attitude of the
worlds powers, two of which, Rus
STA and Francs, 1T is contend
ed, must and will act together for
the protection of their interests. The
opinion is expressed that Germany will
ultimately asst with these powers.
1t is argued that the question now
before European diplomats is practi-
cally the existence of France. In the
sphere of colonial interests the French
| republic blocks the way to the eXpan-
sion of the British empire, and is met
by the latter ait every point Of the
globe. Having to fight France"
Prince O~okhtowsky and Mr.. Holm
strem say, 1.-The English are bound to
| conciliate Germany. The existence of
| Franco iS now af stake tho moro Sn as
Madagascar lies on the way from
South Africa to the East. . = Eng
land realizes plainly that an assault or
France, bringing her within the sphere
OF English political combinations,
would give the English new vigor and
colonial possessions and restore to
Great Britain the political power
which, according to some, is shifting
to the West and East. Were this to be
allowed the power of resistance of the
European continent to England's en-
croachments would be diminished, and
in consequence Germany's power
would also be on the Wane."
This is a Russian view, and nat
urally it is hostile to Great Britain.
Germany, it now appears, will not, for
the present ait least, join any coalition
of European powers against England,
although the German people would, ac-
cording to German authority, rejoice
if the Emperor should consent to Join
a Continental alliance against the
British. But, as Professor Delbruck,
lecturer on history in the University of
Berlin, writes in the North American
Review, Emperor William believes hat
1.-The task for Germany is to preserve
the balance between all her neighbors
tic provide that the world shall never
become either entirely English or Rus
SIAN. A Continental alliance against
England would undoubtedly sooner or
later mean a general war against her.
This war the Emperor wants to avoid,
or alt any rate not to provoke. SO he
looks for ways and means to make
German policy run not against, but
rather with, England as long as pos
sible. German public opinion would
prefer a policy openly directed against
England by means of a Continental al
lance. This does not, indeed, mean to
embark in hoStilities against England.
Such a possibility is not ever contem-
plated. 1t is hoped 6 ID believed that
the mere conclusion of the great alli-
ance indicated would suffice to bring
about the desired result. The En-
peror, on the other hand, sees that
such an alliance would be Intellectual
unless it was an alliance for war. There
fore, he has chosen the other alterna-
tive, and wishes to go hand in hand
with England as long as this is pos
sible." In Germany, Professor Del
bruck explains. foreign policies are
shaped not by public opinion, but bv
the Emperor, who car do what he
likes, but certainly will not act perma-
nently against the sentiment of the
people. To continue his own policy he
must, from time to time, prove to the
country that he is moving in the right
direction, and must be in a position to
| show results. Probably the future will
| vindicaEe his judgment.
There appears to be an additional
reason why Germany should not ait
| present unite with France and Russia
to make war on England. 1t Is doubt
full whether the combined navies of
these three countries. although greater
on paper, are equal in efficiency to the
British navy. With England supreme
on the sea Germany might lose her
ocean m and her colonia ac-
QUESTIONS, while the probability is that
France would not fare much better in
respect to her commerce, while her
| possessions in the West Indies and her
coaling stations in other parts of the
world wou be in great danger. The
British might lose India and Egypt,
but if this should be the result of the
war France and Russia would prob
ably divide the spoils among them
selves and Germany would receive no
compensation commensurate with the
loss of her colonies and the d~eStruc-,
ton of her merchant marine. This is a
view that is held by not a few influen-
tial Germans.-Baptimore Sun.