The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-07-21
The Rock Of Gibraltar
by Ex- Afsache in ST Louis Gobe-DemOcratl
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foreign press about the diminished /
value o. Gibraltar as stronghold
and the policy Of its exchange for
some colony OF greater importance.
both from 8 strategic and commercial
point % view. that the article contain
cd In the current number Of the Eng /
Hsh Nineteenth Century Review. plzc
ing on record the six definite offers /
that have been made By England 70 /
surrender the rock. Is exceedingly /
timely The last proposition OF this /
kind vas made Just lis years ago. In /
connection With the negotiation OF the |
treaty 81 Versailles. when Lord Shell /
hurue suggested 70 the Spanish crown |
the exchange Of Gibraltar for Porto |
Rico. which nov belongs to the United |
States Anxious as we're the Hiial-
COS 90 recover possession OF what has
been 50 often described as the back
bone o. their kingdom. and to put an
END 10 the presence OF the foreigner
on Spanish soil court influences at
Madrid proved too strong 10 admit of
the pronered trade Members Of the
royal encourage. favorites of the SOW
erelgn. and what may be described as
the parasites with which the Bourbon
dynasty was infested. In most cases
derived the pensions and annuIties OBJ
tanned by means OF charges on the
revenues 81 Porto Rico and Cuba.
They realized that the loss Of the for
mer 81 these two Islands would entail
the disappearance OF the incomes they
had derived therefrom. since GIbral-
FAR 90 rTrf~aa hae - $1,000 .. -
OF. and accordingly they brought every
Kind 81 pressure TO bear upon the
government 20 prevent the conclusion
81 the treaty Of exchange. Even IL
they had not done this. and IL they
had supported instead OF opposed the
project. Il Is doubtful whether Il
would ever have been carried through.
owing TO its intense unpopularity
among the masses in England. In
deed. the article in the Nineteenth
Century Review. 10 which | have re-
ferred above and which is entitled
Our Offers to Surrender Gibraltar"
goes 10 show thaat on each OF the
six occasions. when the English gov
eminent OF the day. with the consent
of the House Of Lords and the sover-
eign offered to surrender Gibraltar to
Spain In exchange for one or smother
81 the latter's colonies. regarding its
possession as mere source of embar-
rassment 20 Great Britain's foreign
policy. and at the best useful as an
offensive outpost in case OF war. the
English people that is to say. the
masses. offered such strenuous oppo-
sition 20 the idea that neither cabinet
nor monarch. not even the great prime
minister. Pitt. dared to incur the
odium involved by the surrender. The
historians OF the time were at a loss
TO account for this public feeling in
England. and in default OF a more sat
isfaCtory explanation. ascribed il to
the enthusiasm excited by the gallant
defense OF the rock" during its mem.
orable siege. One contemporary writ
or. however. seems TO have an inkling
that there was something more than
this. For he talks of the violent and
superstitious zeal Of the people.
which. with more prescience than
either crown or ministers. perhaps
foresaw the day when the route to
India would lie through the Mediter-
ranean and Red Sea. instead of by
way OF the Cape OF Good Hope.
And the people were right For
just what Gibraltar means to them to-
day may be seen by the annual report
OF the Saez Canal Company. which
has just been published. II shows
that during the year 1900 no less than
1885 British ships passed through the
Suez Canal Germany coming in bad
second in the list with only 462 yes
sells. Now every one OF these English
ships had 20 pass through the Straits
OF Gibraltar. and from there through
out the whole length of the Mediter-
ranean 10 Port Said AT the northern
entrance OF the canal. along mari
time highway guarded every mile OF ii
by England with the finest and strong
est naval force that there is in the
world. There are three English sta
tions along this marine high road.
namely Gibraltar. at its western ex-
tremity. commanding the entrance:
Malta. which is situated half way.
while Cyprus may be looked upon as
constituting a sort OF warden's lodge
az the eastern end. But the value
OF Malta and OF Cyrus, nay. even Of
the occupation OF Egypt. would be dim
inished by 20 and even so per cent If
England did not hold Gibraltar. and
thus command the western gateway OF
the Mediterranean.
That much OF England's greatness.
and most OF her prosperity. are de-
rived from her possession OF India.
Is widely known and generally ac-
knowledged. Any interruption Of her
lines OF communication with her
great Oriental dependencies. would be
OF incalcnlable injury. not only econo-
mioally. but likewise politically. Yet
this maritime high road running from
one end Of the Mediterranean to the
other. trsyersed by her ships. ex-
tends for a considerable portion OF
its length. often IN sight. and always
within striking distance Of coast towns
and naval stFongholdS belonging 60
powers which may or may not side
against her in the event Of her be-
coming embroileG in European
war. For more than half OF the
route. the latter stretches along the
French coast Of Northern Africa. ships
passing in sight OF Bizerta. one Of the
most powerful bases OF the French
feet. while = few hours by steam
10 the north Is Frances chief naval
arsenal. Toulon- Now France is so
certain 10 side against England in any
European conflict. that people on both