The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-11-29

Hel1cveO 10 tdeINte " OHcaSA &t"N
International Complications New
AIignmen of the Powers May Re-
suit From Frances Discipline of
the Porte.
ambassador Choate was at the state
department, says the Washington cor
respondent of the New York Press, and
conferred with Secretary Hay. Prior
to his appearance at the department
he called on the secretary in his home
and for two hours they talked about
this governments interests abroad. He
was in the company Of Secretary of
War Root, and after his conference
with Mr.. Hay rejoined Mr.. Root.
While there has been no admission
in any official quarters of anything OF
the sort the incident was construed by
some Of those who have been watching
the trend of affairs in the national
capital as an indication that Mr.. Root
was familiarizing himself with inter
national questions, with a view ulti-
mately to succeeding tie secretary of
state.
Those who were asked on the point
declared for publication that there
could be no such construction placed
on the intimacy Of the ambassador to
England and the secretary of war, but
that it grew solely out Of the long per-
sonal and professional friendship
which has existed between the two.
Ostensibly Mr.. Choate came to Wash
ington to pay his respects and talk
over the conditions which the new ca
nal treaty with Great Britain is ex-
pected to develop. However, the sec
rotary Of state and the ambassador
met in New England recently and ex-
hausted the subject in their discus
sions.
There are indications about the state
department hat much graver interna-
tional questions are under considera-
ton. The keenest interest is shown in
every cable which brings news having
even the remotest bearing upon the op-
erations of France against Turkey. 1T
would appear that the United States
could have no interest in the plans of
France in her attack on Turkey. A
much different viQ7 is taken by those
who are watching the drift Of inter
national affairs. While there have
been repeated sensational rumors of
the breaking of the concert of foreign
powers, it is realized that the actual
assembling of ships and the determine
ton to order a punitive expedition has
done more in the last few days to bring
about a crisis between foreign nations
than anything that has been observed
in the foreign warcloud.
1t is realized at the state department
that popular sentiment in the United
States is against any open or implied
alliance with Great Britain, but the
department appreciates what is not
realized in the country at large, the
| service to the United States in the war
with Spain by the moral support given
to us. TO this was attributed the fact
that NJ foreign nation interfered in
| our quarrel with Spain. 1t would ap-
| pear that France in sending an eXpedi-
ton to discipline Turkey is not actu-
| ated solely by a desire to collect a just
claim. Russian influence is thought to
| be behind the move. If this proves
| true, there may be a new alignment in
the old world.
Germany and Great Britain will prob
ably find their interests mutual If the
crisis now threatened comes Russia
and France will be arrayed side by
side. Some doubt exists as to the
k--a - h. A11~@- H- T<0I- o1n
ment of uncertainty develops because
Of Italy's desire to obtain concessions
on the north coast Of Africa. Great
Britain has furnished the money to
build the Italian navy. There are 9th
er close alliances between the two
countries. The United States has found
in Great Britain recently a buffer be.
tween it and other foreign powers.
Great Britain may not have openly
espoused the cause Of the United
States, but her moral influence has pre-
vented a crisis in more than one differ
ence which threatened us. The ques-
ton Is asked as to whether or not this
country will discover that she has in
terests in the Turkish question which
have not been brought out up to this
time.
A New Cotton Gin.
An invention of Thomas w. Prior
of Chicago that may have a farreach-
ing effect on cotton manufacturing