Evening star., 1902-02-15
How Salisbury Suppressed the
Hostile British Press.
CRITICISM OF AMERICA
QUICK CHANGE OF SENTIMENT
FOR pOLICY's SAKE.
Negotiations Regarding the Philip
pines Still Going On in Euro
pean Chancellories.

LONDON, February 15-The dispute over
the attitude of the powers toward the
United States prior to the Spanish-Amer
can war continues to take up columns OF
the London dailies. Opinion Is much divfd-
ed as to the wisdom of Lord Cranborne
course in making his first statement on the
subject in the house of commons. ana since
the later developments the opposition 10
further disclosures by the British govern
| ment has been strengthened into a deter
mined protest against the revealment OF
secret documents relating to the negota-
tions of that period. Lord Cranborne
statement 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.
Irritation in Downing Street.
1t would be impossible. however, to over
rate the irritation expressed in Downing
street at the German publication OF docu-
ments relating to the incident, though I'M
plicit belief is expressed that the Ameri-
can public opinion Is not likely to be In
f1uenced thereby. Should Lord LansdoWne.
the foreign secretary. make more ex-
plicit statement regarding the dispute, 1t
would not bring matters much more Tor
ward. for the foreign office has no RECORD
of the deliberations at the diplomatic meet
ing held in Washington April IA 1898, ana
Great Brtains contentious would thus pc
only strengthened to the extent OF the re-
lance placed on Lord LansdowEe's word
as against the allegations OF tn: German
officials. Privately the foreign ONCE oHl-
cials declare that Lord Cranbocnes Two re-
plies. especially his answer to the frst note
effectually establish Great Britains attl-
tude even If Lord Pauncefose Is charged
hnI ~rst u
States which is Indignantly declared to
be an utterly absurd and false suggestion
Ill-Feeling Toward America.
Among the Americans resident in Lon
don during the month of May. 1898, it is
recalled, however. that an intense pro-
Spanish feeling existed on many sides. esq
pecially in society, where women connected
with government officials appeared wearing
the Spanish colors. In this and many other
ways London became at that period none
too comfortable dwelling place for Amer
leans, for the press teemed with anti
American editorials. The cessation OF the
latter was due to a remarkable occurrence,
which the Associated Press Is able to an
nounce for the first time. After Dewey S
victory Lord Salisbury took the almost
Unprecedented step Of communicating with
the editors of the leading conservative
daiiies, urging them to desist from criti-
clSm or the tn1teU OtdleS. oul
how vital it was to Great Britain's inter-
est that the side Of the United States. and
not that of Spain should be advocated In
the English press. AS a result public opfn'
ion was reversed, and the government was
thoroughly supported i'll it's subsequent and
undoubtedly genuine efforts to strain Its
neutrality to the point Of helping the United
States.
Relations With Germany Strained.
What the Saturday Review now terms
Lord Cranborne's ''indiscretlon" would
doubtless have brought upon the govern
ment severe criticism had not the Anglo
Japanese treaty diverted public attention,
and had not the alliance been generally re-
garded as great stroke of diplomacy. AS
1t is the dispute has served to strain to q
really serious point the relations between
Great Britain and Germany, which were
none too harmonious prior to the first ques-
tion on the subject asked by Henry Nor
man in the house of commons
| Among the diplomats in London the con-
! troversy is generally regarded as offsetting
| the benefits which had been privately
| termed "England's coup in China" An in
| fluent!al member Of the Spanish diplomatic
! service, who is now here, said to a repre-
sentative of the Associated Press:
I'VE view the squabble with considerable
ting in an oar. Should we say all we
know, our relations with several of the
| European powers, which are now quite
| satisfactory. might be seriously impaired
| Moreover, we are not in the habit of break
! ing the hard and fast laws of diplomatic
| secrecy. We are naturally pleased, how
/ ever 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 submission, on which the
| ambassadors deliberated April ii, 1885, was
! suppressed"
Agitation Regarding Philippines.
This allegation of the suppression Of
| Spain's submission is also discussed al
length in English official circles, where Il
| is declared that unless satisfactory ex
| planation is forthcoming the incident will
| be handed down to history as repetition
Of Prince Blsmarck's actions In regard t.
the Ems dispatch.
| There are indications that pour parlcr
have recently been exchanged between
| some of the European powers regardin,
the Philippines, exactly for what purpos
or with what prospect of materializin:
into definite action it is impossible at pres
ent to say. However, the Associated Pres
| is able to state that there has recentl!
| been a keen recrudescence of interest Ii
| Downing street and at other chancellerie
| in the conditions prevailing in the Philip
| pines and the attitude of the United State
| towards those islands Whether this ha
| any connection with the Anglo-Japanes
, treaty is only matter for surmse, bu
| that an important international undercur
| rent exists in regard tO the Droha hle Fl,