The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-14
Mr.. McI<inIey,, Good Offices.

No one need have feared that the action
in rendering the good Offices of this Gov
eminent to promote peace in South At
RIGA, at least TO the extent of conveying
message from Mr.. Kruger to Lord Sails
burr, would be offensive to Great Britain.
On the contrary, since the United States
does not take the European view that the
war should be settled on the basis OF
Transyaal and Free State independence,
its offer of mediation is quite different
thing from the representations which
might be addressed to London from either
st. Petersburg or Paris.
An appeal from Washington, TO give the
Beers the best terms consistent with the
British policy, is naturally without incon-
venient addenda; while anything of the
same sort emanating from the Russian
or the French Cabinet would probably be
coupled with an enquiry as to what Great
Britain intended to do after conquering
the two little Republics. The British
Foreign Office, as far as We can see, is
doubly REINFORCED against impertinent
remarks from Europe of a diplomatic
character. In the first place, Lord Sails
bury is in a position to reply to any Con-
tinental note that the American Govern
meat has been charged with the mission
OF seeking peace and equitable terms for
the vanquished, and that, if this were not
So the direct application of Presidents
Kruger and Steyn would render it unnec-
essary for Her Majesty's ministers to
trouble their esteemed contemporaries in
the connection.
With such a diplomatic situation. we
have no cause TO quarrel. Much as we
have reason to regard the general policy
of Great Britain as unfriendly and menac-
ing to this country. it would be improper
and insincere for us not to remember that
when We We're engaged in war with
Spain It was the British Government
which alone prevented interference by the
Concert of Europe. Now. when England is
badly entangIed and exposed to grave
dangers Of aggression from her rivals or
enemies. it would be ungrateful in our
national authorities not to do anything
consistent with American dignity and
neutrality TO help her out.
Having done that however, 1t would be
equally ungrateful to the American people
not to take notice of their bitter griev-
ances against the British Empire involved
in the outrageous demand of that power
for a surrender of part OF our Alaskan
shore, and in the fertilization of EsquimaIt
and other places dominating our coasts.
We ought. as an honest nation, to recog-
nize and repay kindness or courtesy; but
We ought also to keep in sight the neces-
sity for our own protection from assault.
II cannot have been merely with the idea
of assuring Us of England's undying love
that she has constructed a Gibraltar at
the entrance TO Puget Sound! Such action
is quite unnecessary for the defence OF
her small territory on the Pacific Coast
1t is not reconcilable with any theory on
her part but that of an early Anglo-Ameri-
can war
Similarly, there is no good ground for
hesitation In notifying England that her
elaborate naval and military preparations
in The West Indies to control the eastern
end Of the Nicaragua Canal, taken in con-
junction with her demand that we shall
not fortiiy IL, is regarded by the American
Government and people as unfriendly. The
intimation might as well be conveyed now
as later. Possibly it might relieve Mr..
Mckinley from some OF the odium attach
ing to his Administration, arising from the
Hay Pauncefote blunder In any event, the
notice will be given some time; il not this
year. then early next year. He might save
the point and the credit for his Admins
tration rather than leave the matter to be
handled by his successor.
While attitudipizing as an intermediary
for the Beers. and so hoping to attract the
pro Boer, Irish, Dutch. and German vote,
fl would be well for the President to refec,
that there are more Americans whose first
sympathy is with their own country than
there are who sentimentally weep for the
Boer Republics because they dislike Eng