The Tucson citizen., 1901-12-19

at the extinction OF the Boer Re-
publics. In 1898 when the United
States was on the eve OF the conflict
with Spain, European statesmen would
undoubtedly have been glad 20 avert
the impending war by the methods Of
diplomacy. Spain had issued bonds 20
q large amount, a considerable por-
ton being secured by the revenues
the Madrid Government derived from
Cuba. Many of these bonds were held
by French investors. while some
were owned in other European coun-
tries. Intelligent Europeans. who
realized the disparity between the re-
sources OF Spain and the United
States, knew that war between these
two countries could have only one re-
suit, the destruction of Spanish power
on this hemisphere and the loss to
the Kingdom of Spain Of Cuba and
Porto Rico. While for political rea-
sons Europe was not specially con-
cerned in maintaining Spanish domi-
MON over Cuba and Porto Rico 1t was
quite natural that European govern
nents should look with disfavor upon
a conflict which might entail heavy
financial losses upon the owners of
Spanish securities.
The beautiful statements relating to
Great Britains benevolent attitude
which has been made in magazine
articles. In after alnner speeches and
in profound whispers by people close
to our State Department, and
reiterated In the English press is
substantially to the effect that the
powers of Continental Europe had de-
cided upon concerted action to prevent
the United States from depriving
Spain OF her territorial possessions
In the West Indies. The success of the
movement depended upon the cooper
alton or neutrality OF Great Britain.
The British government so the story
representative of one OF the European
powers interested in the scheme as to
what its attitude would be In the event
that pressure was brought TO bear up
on the United States Great Britain's
reply. we are told, was a prompt and
unconditional refusal to take part in
the movement, coupled with an intim--
alton that If the United States was
attacked by the Euporean coalition
Great Britain would make common
cause with America.
That ls the pleasing fiction which,
since the close of our war with Spain.
has been magnihed into the dgni y
and proportions of historical fact.
1t has been proclaimed on authority
to be the solemn truth on both sides
of the Atlantic. In England the
United States Is regarded as owing a
debt OF gratitude . the mother coun-
try" for the alleged action of the Brit
ish Cabinet in preventing a dem
onstration by Continental Europe
against this country. In the United
States there are many people who be-
lieve that we are actually under obli-
ing us from the wrath of the Euro
pean concert
At last the real facts have come out,
and it turns out that it was our tradi
! tional and always loyal and true
friend Russia that prevented action
by the European concert. Gabriel
Iianotaux who was the French min
lister of Foreign Affairs during the
Spanish American war, denies that
the attitude Of Great Britain had any
bearing upon the collapse of the Euro
pean coalition in the interest of Spain.
1T seems to me impossible" writes
NJ HanotauX. that public opinion in
the United .,,ates should not now be
quite AZ we'll aware OF the real facts
in ,ais matter as is the United States
Department OF State What are the
real facts? NJ Hanotaux states that
the alleged European demonstration
aginst the United States was rendered
impossible not by Great Britain, but
by Russia, Count Mnra>lrE then
Russian Minister OF Foreign Affairs,
explains the French statesman CON
municated to the Spanish Ambassl-
dor at st Petersburg the absolute and
formal refusal OF Russia to mix her
self in any way with quarrel which
did not concern Russian interests.
This communication, = couched in the
most emphatic almost brutal. lang
uaet as NJ. ianotaux characterizes
it, made a European coalition against
the United States impossible -
1t now remains to be seen what our