The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-04
CABINET NOT HARMONIOUS
COLONIAL OFFICE AT LOGGERHEADS
WITH THE FOREIGN OFFICE.
Salisbury's View OF Politics I'm This
COuntry-Chamberla Efforts
to Please Canadians.

cluSiCn and now new and more curious
and, to Americans. more interesting phase
comes over the fascinating web of inter-
national relations as portrayed through
the press. This consists of suppositions
regarding the attitude of the American
Congress toward Great Britain, the posi-
bility of it's recommending Intervention.
voting sympathy with the Beers, refusing
to ratify the Nicaragua treaty. and. lastly
but chiefly, refusing to consider the Cana
dian contentious in a spirit of friendliness
The great public interest in all this is
mainly the result of many special cable
dispatches from English correspondents
stating that the administration, being
severely attacked for alleged friendliness
towards Great Britain and in view of the
coming election, might be forced to make
some sort of an anti-British demonstration
in order to Offset such accusations as that
of forming an alliance. To cap this cli-
max comes an appeal in the Times to-day
that Lord Pauncefote, the British am
bassador at Washington, should be
tanned, at any rate until the election is
over. While an utterly incorrect New
York special AYERS that communications
are passing between London and Wash
ington towards this end vivid pictures are
drawn of possible complications which
might ensue were the anti-British senti-
ment to become ascendant either in the
present Congress in the next election.
Both in the cable dispatches and in the
comments made here it is inferred that
Lord Salisbury is or should be taking
lively interest in this contingency and an
active part in assisting those persons in
the United States who exhibit friendliness
towards Great Britain.
Inquiries made by the Associated Press
in regard to this situation reveal the fact
that the governments attitude, which is
the only one worth anything at present,
must be considered from two points of
view-that of the Foreign Office and that
of the Colonial Office Between these
there is a great gulf, daily widening, not
so much personally between Lord Sails
bury and Joseph Chamberlain. the secre-
tary of state for the colonies, as between
their departments. For weeks the fric-
ton has been growing until the Colonial
Office is almost at loggerheads not only
with the Foreign Office, but with almost
every other department.. To such an ex-
tent has this gone that any minor detail
of business submitted to the Colonial Office
by outsiders, but requiring the sanction.
say, of the War Office, is almost certain
to fail to go through owing to Mr.. Cham
berlain's unwilingness to cooperate with
other heads. Even should it be accom-
plished 1t is at degree of distant formal
ity as deadly to effective co-oDeration &C
unmasked hostility.
SAIISBURY'S VIEWS.
10 fha
once which may be said to be chiefly con-
cerned in the relations with the United
States. The former meets all the situations
broadly as it would in dealing with any
continental power. The latter looks at all
United States matters through the eye of
Canada. Hence, between the two depart
ments there are differences of opinion and
sometimes friction. Regarding Lord Sails
bury's point of view, the Associated Press
Is able To say that for some time past he
has been taking little interest in Ameri-
can politics and that he is averse to any
form of an Anglo-American alliance be-
lieving that the Constitution of the United
States is unsuited to such a bond. To use
the words of one who is in the closest con-
fidence of the premier, 1.-The politics of the
United States have such an influence on
foreign policy and render the duration of
supreme power so uncertain that any
one could kill it," He feels under no obi
cations to foster pro-English sentiment in
the United States. In fact, for the most
part he remains in profound ignorance as
to the trend of American public opinion.
His idea, as represented by the speaker just
quoted, is to trade fairly and squarely
without embroiling himself with any ex-
caneouS matters, nor does he desire to
sacrifice the good of the whole empire for
the sake of Canada alone.
In the case of Lord Pauncefote, the tangi-
BILE instance which has brought ZIP so
prominently the question of the relations
with the United States, Lord Salisbury has
taken no steps and at present does not con-
template doing anything to prevent Lord
.Pauncefote from retiring April l, in accord
ance with the age limit of the diplomatic
service. Already the ambassador has had
an extra year, and this, the Associated
Press learns, was not solely due. as gener-
ally understood, to diplomatic reasons. but
chiefly on account of financial considcra-
tions which personally affected Lord
Pauncefote. 1t is not understood that Lord
Pauncefote desires to stay in Washington.
There are others in the service where pro-
motion is unusually slow, waiting to take
his shoes and 1t would be a bad precedent
to extend the term still longer. That is the
official view, yet it is possible, though
scarcely probable, that If Lord Salisbury
is convinced that British interests, which
now include SO many unsettled contro-
versies with the United States, would suf-
Ter ne might dSh Loru duuScioic w tc-
main. But. to say that such a step is
prompted by the political conditions in the
United States would be giving Lord Sails
bury credit for understanding something of
which he is apparently almost as ignorant
as the average Britisher. In fact, 1t was
only through inquiries made by corre-
spondent at the Foreign Office that the at
tention of the officials of that department
was drawn to the many articles dealing
with the subject
THE COLONIAL OFFICE.
But while Lord Salisbury and the FIR
eign Office confine themselves to the broad
issues at stake and marvel at the ac-
counts attributing to them desire to form
an American alliance. when the private
opinion of the whole department inclines
to the idea that sentiment has a very
doubtful value in International relations.
the Colonial Office busies itself with mi
mute considerations and. apparently. con-
forms its opinions and actions to meeting.
| I'm behalf of Canada. the political feeling In
the United States, as cabled by the Eng
| lish correspondents. Thus. Mr.. Chamber
| lain several times has protested against
| projected agreements with the United
| States and has sometimes prevailed. AT
present there pervades the Colonial Office
| an Overwhelming dread OF American COM
| plications. Fenian raid into Canada and
| what-not, while there are hopes OF get
| ting the Alaskan and other disputes
| settled The low ebb OF this feeling is not
shared in the slightest by the Foreign Of
| flee.
Mr.. Chamberlain also exhibits almost
painful anxiety to keep In touch with the