New-York tribune., 1902-02-21
ENGLAND AND THE WAR WITH SPAIN
MR. FREWEN THINKS MR. CHAMBERLAIN
SHOULD HAVE LARGE CREDIT FOR THE
FRIENDLY ATTITUDE OF THE BRITISH.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In the Associated Press cables from London
published here yesterday there is a reference to
the attitude of public opinion in England the
time OF your war. The dispatch states that in
May 1898. Lord Salisbury took the almost
precedented step of communicating with the ed
itors OF the leading Conservative dailies. urging
them to deslst from criticism OF the United States,
pointing how vital it to Great Brtan's
interest the side Of the United States should
be advocated in the English press. As result
public opinion reversed
think that in this dispatch The Associated Press
is throughout wholly misinformed l in Lon
don during those months Public opinion, I be-
leve. never for moment. wavered and II the
editors were tutored I think 1t very unlikely that
it was Lord Salisbury who approached them. But
II is fair Mr.. Chamberlain to say that he. at
least, did all his energies and great oppor-
tunites 10 instruct and thus influence public opin
ion as to your attitude Just two years since, at
time when American sentiment was less well in
formed than to-day as to the causes Of our de-
plorable in South Africa. l met Mr.. Cham
berlain and remarked how very similar the
two situations in Cuba and in the Transvaal. that
In both countries great majority OF the com
munity, deprived Of the franchise, was being taxed
to the hilt, while also the oppressors in both
cases reactionary. perhaps decadent, States, pow
erIess in the grasp of two nations whose
sources, when they decided TO put forth their full
powers, must be irresistible. I had remarked TO
Mr. Chamberlain with little interest that in
very promptly, while in America, the republic,
sentiment was ranging itself with reluctance
against corrurt and tyrannous oligarchy. Mr..
Chamberlain suggested number of reasons why
public opinion might form moro rapidly on right
lines in England and he also said that Immediately
on the outbreak Of your he had himself in
vited by one, the editors of the London daily
papers visit him, and had pointed these
gentlemen the propriety of the war from the
American point of view: that in Cuba the consent
of the governed withheld by the government;
that Spatn's rule in cuba had long since become a
nuisance; that President Grant over a quarter or
a century ago had determined either TO mend or
TO end it, and that, viewing government as Amer
leans view it. ii not possible that the situa-
ton in cuba could have been indefinitely prolonged.
The new diplomacy was Immediately known
by its fruits, people in England who had
heard Of Thomas jefferson began TO discuss In
our drawing rooms the theory of the consent or
the governed and Mr. Chamberlain had initiated
historic precedent Now your correspondents
spoil a very moral episode by referring TO Lord
Salisbury, and to a mere desire on his part that
England should back the winning horse.
| am influenced TO mention this episode also
cause of the really preposterous attack recently
made upon our Ambassador at Washington. Lord
Pauncefote has been long at Washington TOO
long his Westminster critics think that his home
leanincs toward Spain. the Germans
clare I we'll believe that also those
OF Captain Chichester and OF our sailors Manila
MORETON FREWEN.
New-Yorl. Feb. II, 1902.