The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-21
Suspicion or GERMANY GROWS
English Protests Against the Alliance With
the kai>er.
morning.
sp,ad cable Despatch 10 IRE SUN.

DoNp'1N, IS'. uiIlC uIltIt-t w tic
Venezuelan COM ,lcation is increasing in
Great Britain. owing chiefly to the fact
that the suspicion has become broadcast
that the British Government has been in
duced unwittingly TO lend itself to the exc
cution 81 German purposes. There is not
sufficient know ledge on which to base
such an assumption. but the situation. 50
far AZ it has been revealed, impresses
Engiishnnen Of all classes as highly sus-
picious.
Tho criticism of the Government in this
respect Is severest FROM its own supporters.
! Ii is 80 general that If it he assumed that
there is some basis in fact for il then il
can be taken for grants that ii will accom-
plish ample modification OF the British
policy as the situation develops.
WHY DIDN'T ENGLAND ACT ALONE?
II must be recognized, however, that
British opinion thoroughly supports the
! Government In its decision that the stu-
alton calls for the administration Of q sharp
lesson TO Venezuela. The only regret il
. that Great Britain did not undertake alone
TO bring the recalcitrant country to terms.
Public sentiment approves Prime Minister
Balfour's virtual declaration that the chief
motive Of the present measures is a punt
tive one and not a mere desire TO collect
+ just debts, public or private. II is neces-
sary also TO remember that in the pursu-
ance Of this policy and to render il effective
the Powers concerned believe the wisest
course will be to bring the Venezuelans
to a full realization Of the folly Of their
defiance by continuing the blockade until
every detail OF the settlement has been
arranged
This decision was clearly indicated this
week by Lord Lansdowne's reception Of a
committee OF Venezueans who visited
the Foreign Office. 1t was this incident
which gave rise to the report that Venezuela
had appointed a special commission to rep
resent her here. The delegation consisted
Of four self-appointed merchants and the
Venezuelan Consul at London The latter,
by the way. has had no communication
from his Government since the trouble
began. He has cabled frequently to
Caracas. but none of his dispatches has
been answered.
The Consul and his associates called
at the Foreign ONCE to ask what sum de-
posted in London would be sufficient to
bring the Anglo German operations against
Venezuela to an end. Lord Lansdowne
very properly declined TO make or receive
any offer from the committee. He said
Great Britain was dealing only with the
Venezuelan Government and could not
recognize any unauthorized representa-
uves
This reply would appear to be sur
ficiently decisive, but the committee, never
thelees. has gone to Berlin to try it's luck
with the German authorities. 1t is safe
to say that their rebuff there will be even
moro emphatic
NEGOTIATIONS FOR ARBITRATION.
Information in regard to the progress
OF the negotiations for arbitration is still
carefully concealed. and it is probable
that there will be no public announce
ment until a full settlement has been
reached. There is little doubt. however,
that this will take the form Of partial arbi-
tration. with full guarantees. These
guarantees, 1t is hoped. will be furnished
by J 4 ". Selgr,an 4 Co., as was indi-
Gated in yesterdays dispatches from
Washington. London and Berlin.
Nothing definite has as yet been arranged
in this regard. and neither England nor
Germany Is in any great haste. for the rea-
son that they desire that the moral effect Of
the blockade shall be fully appreciated. both
by Venexuela and certain other small States
which sometimes show a disposition to defy
the ordinary rules OF international inter-
course.
AN AMAZINGLY INDIschEEr ALLIANCE.
Meantime, English public feeling upon the
Anglo German relations Ia well expressed
in this language in to-day's Spectator:
The object Of the Kaisers recent visit to
this country was not merely to shoot pheas-
anita. for It resulted in the conclusion OF one
Of tho most amazingly indiscreet alliances
ever made with foreign Power. That
Germany has achieved a great diplomatic
success cannot be doubted. II Germany
thus scores heavily in an actual case. she
gains still more by being able to point to
the fact that in spite Of certain amount
Of newspaper grumblng, she can, when she
likes, call Great Britain to her side In friendly
cooperation, and this, too, in a part Of
the world where Great Britain has always
been supposed to be very sensitive and
chary Of committing herself because Of the
Monroe Doctrine.
Foreign statesmen who know how
strong is the British diplomatic tradition
In favor OF having our hands Free cannot
but b, Immensely struck by thus seeing
US tied hand and foot to Germany II
will seem to them strong proof that Ger
many In external matters is running Great
Britain. which is the vsry effect which
the Kaiser most desires to produce.
THE real and essential disadvantage
OF the alliance with &c rmany is that il binds
us to 60 on helping Germany to the ei Of
the chapter, and to enforce claims against
Vent siela, the nature Of which we appear to
be entirely ignorant Of We have idorsed
the German claims, but except in the vaguest
way We have no knowledge of their nature.
This u the most amazing point in tho whole
amazing story 1t was madness to enter
upon such an alliance without the most
distinct understanding as to the nature of
all claims put forward The strict and
imperative character of the non desertion
clause demanded equal strictness in the
definition Of the claims which were to be
jointly enforced
As 1t Ia we are bound to 60 on support
ing Germany in coercive action over claims
which may be as unreasonable as they are
vague"
PRAISE FROM FRANCE.
Our Declaration Against . Pacinc Blockade