Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-16
NOALLlANCE WITH ENGLAND
But Lord Rosebery Says Such an Offer Was
Made Us.
His Statement, However, Cannot Be
Substantiated at the State
Department..

made an important statement in the house
of lords yesterday, which sheds a great
light on the diplomacy of the war. The Earl
Of Dunraven had raised a question on the
governments military proposals and ex-
pressed a doubt as to whether these were
sufficient, whereupon Lord Rosebery said
he fully recognized the gravity of the sit
uaton and agreed with the previous speak
er in thinking that the measures adopted
were Inadequate in the circumstances. He
also doubted whether the paper force of
10000 men in Great Britain" to which
the secretary of state for war had referred,
would stand analysis. For the volunteers
Lord Rosebery said he had the highest re-
srect, but by no stretch of the Imagination
could they be called soldiers, it was ad-
mitted that they needed months of training
annually to render them efficient
THE suspicious news of the morning
from South Africa" said Lord Rosebery,
lied to the hope that there might be better
news to come. but when fighting on our
own territory We have been unable before
to advance an inch and if another $4,000
men should be wanted for South Africa
do not know where they would be got 1t
may be said that it is unwise to lay bare
the weaknesses of the country, but, depend
upon it, other nations know our position
as Well as, If not better than, ourselves.
The Crisis is Urgent.
"ouiu Inc " dSh " HellleE lIe meet
is to be strengthened or modified. 1t is
not a time when we can leisurely discuss
what We are going to do fortnight or a
month hence. The crisis is urgent. The dam
ger is upon you, and at such a time you
come to this house with proposals that in
the month of May, when the weather per-
mits, you will put volunteers under cam
vas, and that then this island and empire
will be safe tCheers)
THE crisis in South Africa is urgent"
continued Lord Rosebery, but we must
not keep our eyes upon South Africa alone.
Last December the government made urs-
ent overtureS to two great powers, Ger
many and the United States for an alli-
ance but those overtures We're not received
with such cordially as to encourage the
government to pursue them. 1t does not
appear that the friendship of France would
bear any great strain, and as to Russia
events have been recently witnessed in
Persia about which England formerly would
have had something to say, but which now
She passes unnoticed.
1t becomes the government to take a
large grasp of the situation and to make
adequate proposals.
Time is of the essence of the situation
Inc government never realized it, but the
burshers have, and the present situation in
South Africa has arisen from this fact.
Reference to Our Civil War
Lord Blythswood has referred to the
armies of the northern states of the Ameri-
can Union in the civil war and to the vast
forces raised there within a year Some
one might reply that in the United States
at that time it was a matter of life and
death, and I would tell her majesty's gov
eminent now that 1t is for US a matter of
life and death.
"If Great Britain were to lose South
Africa she would lose the most important
base outside of the united kingdom, and she
would lose that colonial support which has
hpnlISa "a hoy n
lfeved that they were asSociating them
selves with powerful empire, and thus
the empire would break away from US If
know what is
The Earl of Kimberley, the liberal leader,
said he felt the danger of the situation
equally with Lord Rosebery. Although he
would not ascribe direct hostile intention
to Russia at the present moment he said
that he could not overlook the facts that
there was movemen of troops in progress
which, if not menacing, showed that posi-
bilities Of the future We're not absent from
the Russian mind.
Lord Salisbury Replies.
The Marquis of Salisbury, the premier, in
the course of his reply for the government,
said: Il cannot enter upon the springs that
guide the Russian government or the course
it Is likely to take, nor can L discuss the
health of the Amer of Afghanistan. AS to
whether our forces are adequate for the
work in South Africa or whether it is true
that the government has always been too
late and has neglected opportunities, |
would gladly accept a challenge, provided
the words would not go beyond this cham
Der. The present troubles not due to
the expansion of the empire, but to miscal-
cuiations made in 1881 and 1854 Our fore
fathers We're not discouraged by bad be-
ginnings, and we should follow their ex-
ample, and not be cast down. The govern
ment is convinced now, as it always has
been, that the issue will be brought to a
successful conclusion. 1 do not think any
advantage is to be obtained from taking a
gloomy view"
The statement of Earl Rosebery that in
December overtures were made to the
United States for an alliance is not sub
Stimulated here. Officials of the admins
tration are at loss to understand the re-
port, and express the opinion that some
mistake has occurred. So far as the United
States is concerned, they declare no offer
of an alliance has been made, but they
could not say anything about Germany. to
which country, according to the London
dispatch, overtures for an alliance also
were made at the same time.
Beers Report Minor Victory.
BOER LAGER, NEAR LADYSMITH,
Tuesday. February 13-Yesterday General
Botha, with small force, crossed the Tu-
sela to q deserted British camp, where he