The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-18
DID EUROPE MISUNDERSTAND?
Has It saved Great BriiaIn from Contlnen.
tai Intervention In south Africa,
From the Cleveland Leader

From the Cleveland Leader
One sentence in Lord Charles Rares.
ford's article on "The Future of the An
glo-Saxon Race" which Is a feature NJ
the December number Of the North Amer.
lean Review, shows that famous Eng.
llshman who stands close TO the highest
authorities in the British government be.
ieveS that the continental powers o.
part OF them, misunderstood the position
or the United States in a matter Of yast
importance 10 Great Britain about a
year ago. He plainly asserts that Cont.
mental Europe expected the American re.
public to become an active ally of Eng
land In case of interference by other ma
tions in behalf of the Boers The state.
ment OF this remarkable fact, II Ii is
fact, is as follows;
II British sympathy preserved the United States
from foreign interference during the var With
Spain, 1t is none the less true that the reason
why continental rage against the British people
has not been converted into action during Tie
troubles in South Africa is the fear that an Angle
American combination might result, and that such
a combination would not be wholesome for the
ether sspirsnts after military glory.
This is the most direct admission By
the highest authority which We have seen
that Great Britain counted on continental
belief In an Angi0-American alliance to
prevent any concrete and fJrmiddbe
manifestation of the worthwhile sympa.
thy felt for the Beers. IL II Is the official
British view of the matter, as Il Sc ms {.
be. then the feeling OF the English gov.
ernment must be one OF deep gratitude te
the United States. 1t IL hardly possible. II
Admiral Beresford is right, 10 oyeresti.
mate the Importance TO Great Britain OF
the mistaken notion OF continental states
men that the American republic would
have gone to war TO save England from
coercion in behalf of the Beers. The Brit.
ish empire could scarcely have survived
such Intervention. Its military resources
were SO fully employed In Africa that az.
tacks on British possessions la ether
parts Of the world could hardly have been
resisted successfully
But IL is remarkable, indeed, that the
continental powers should have supposed
that the American people would have
dreamed Of plunging into a great war iCr
the sake Of giving England a free hand in
South Africa. The evidence was at all
times overwhelming that the sympathy
OF the great majority Of the people OF the
United States Wss on the side Of the
Beers. Even the Washington and New
York correspondents OF London papers
saw and admitted the unpopularity of tho
British cause. There was never a chance
that the United States would intervene 10
save the British lion from the humiliation
OF having the Boer republics snatcheI
from his grasp by continental coalition
too strong TO resist.
so 1t seems that In this case events OF
worldwide importance which may decfd.
the fate OF continents and the course Of
centuries OF history probably hinged Oh
gross misconceptions IN the cOuncij cham
bers OF great European powers OF the
probable attitude OF the United States il
case OF continental intervention IN behalf
OF the Beers. II is one Of the fateful er-
rOrs which have shaped the course VI hl.
maG history.