Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-17
ARE STILL DEBATING N
London Press Devotins c lumns
to Attitude OF Europe in Span
ish.American War.
Dewey's Victory Said TO Have
Been the Turning Point OF
Britain's Favor.
Salisbury Took Unusual Course
OF a Personal Appeal to
the Press.

United States prior to the Spanish
American war continues to take up col
umns of the London dailies. Opinion is
much divided as to the wisdom OF LORD
Cranborne's course in making his first
statement on the subject in the house
of commons, and since the later deVel-
opments the opposition to further dis
closures by the British government mas
been strengthened into determined
protest against the revealment of secret
documents relating to the negotiations
of that period Lord Cranbornes state
ment of Friday, which was the result OF
cable dispatches exchanged between
Lord Pauncefote and the foreign office,
is probably the last word Great Britain
will have to say on the subject. 1t would
be possible, however, to overrate the
irritation expressed in Downing street
at the German publication of documents
relating to the incident, tho implicit
belief is expressed that American opin-
ion is not to be influenced thereby.
Should Lord Lansdowne, the foreign
secretary, make more explicit state
ment regarding the dispute, 1T would
not bring matters much more forward.
for the foreign office has no records of
the deliberations at the diplomatic
meeting held in Washington, April IA.
1898, and Great Britain's contentious
would thus be only strengthened to the
extent of the reliance placed on Lord
Lansdowne's words as against the alle-
cations of the German officials. Pri-
vately the foreign officials declare that
Lord Cranbornes two replies, especially
his answer to the first note, effectualiy
establish Great Britains attitude, even
il Lord Pauncefote is charged with Sc
cretly combining against the United
States, which is Indignantly declared to
be an utterly absurd ard false sugges-
ton.
Among the Americans resident in
London. during the month of May, 1898,
it Is recalled, however, that an intense
pro- Spanish feeling existed on many
sides, especially in society, where wom-
en- connected with government officials
appeared wearing the Spanish colors.
In this and many other ways London
became at that period none too COM
Portable dwelling place for Americans,
for the press teemed with -Ameri-
can editorials. The cessation of the lat
ter was due to a remarkable occurrence,
which the Associated Press is able to
announce for the first time. After Dew
ey's victory Lord Salisbury took the al
most unprecedented step of commune
eating with the editors of the leading
conservative dailies, urging them TO de-
sist from criticism of the United States,
pointing out how vital 1t was to Great
Britain's interest that the side of the
United States, and not that of Spain,
should be advocated in the English
press. AS result, public opinion was
reversed. and the government was thor
oughly supported in its subsequent and
undoubtedly genuine efforts to strain its
neutrality to the point of helping the
United States.
What the Saturday Review now
terms Lord Cranborne's "indiscretion'
would doubtless have brought upon the
government severe criticism had not the
Anglo Japanese treaty diverted public
attention, and had not the alliance been
generally regarded as great stroke of
diplomacy AS it is, the dispute has
served to strain to really serious point
the relations between Great Britain and
Germany which We're none too harno-
NOUS prior TO the first question on the
subject asked by Mr.. Henry Norman in
the house of commons.
Among the diplomats in London the
controversy is generally regarded as
offsetting the benefits which had been
privately termed "England's coup in
China" An influential member of the
Spanish diplomatic service who is now
here said to representative of the As
ISOLATED Press: 1--WE view the squabble
with considerable amusement, but have
no intention of putting in an oar.
Should we say all we know, our rela-
tions with several of the European
powers, which are now quite satisfac-
tory. might be seriously impaired.
Moreover, we are not in the habit of
breaking the hard and fast laws of dip
lomatic secrecy. We are naturally
pleased, however. that the affair has
brought out the fact that we practically
gave in to all the conditions demanded
by the United States, and that our sub
mission, on which the ambassadors de-
! liberated April IA, 1898, was sup
pressed"
This allegation of the suppression of
SPANS submission is also discussed at
length in official English circles, where
| it is declared that unless a satisfactory
explanation is Forthcoming the incident
will be handed down to history as a
repetition of Prince Bismarck's action
In regard to the emperors dispatch.
| There are indications that pour par
lours have recently been exchanged be-
tween some of the European powers re-
garding the Philippines, exactly for
what purpose or with what prospect of
naturalization into definite action it
is impossible at present to say. How
ever, the Associated Press is able to
state that there has recently been a
keen recrudscence of interest in Down
ing street and at other chancellories in
the conditions prevailing in the Philip
pines and the attitude of the United
States toward those islands. Whether
this has any connection with the An
glo-Japanese treaty is only a matter of
surmise, but that an important interna-
tional undercurrent exists in regard to
the probable future status of those is
lands is undeniable.
TWO DIE IN A WRECK.