New-York tribune., 1903-07-13
EUROPEAN ALLIANCES.
Shifting of the Wind in England
american Independent Action.
London. July 4.

Whether this object be accomplished or d.
ferred. the ends Of international peace Min
be promoted BY an exchange OF courtasias -
tween the two countries. It - nearly fftv vas-
since Napoleon III was received with po7,,l,
enthusiasm in London. when the French an,
British armies were fighting in the Criraea- s,4
it is twenty years or more since the King a.,
Prince OF Wales breakfasted with Leon Csr,-
BETA. then Minister at the Moulin Rouge ana
demonstrated that English royalty could adam.
itself in a cosmopolitan spirit to republican in
stitutions The French President is now To bs
received as a guest Of royalty and "A friend n,
the nation, and in the era OF good feeling be-
tween the two countries. long separated by tta
Egyptian complications and by resentrnents
over Fashoda and South Africa it IS not fvo-
probable that reconciliation may be sealed bv a
practical application Of the principles u IN.
Cars rescript and the tribunal OF The Hague
That will be a pledge that the two strongest
naval powers will not be pitted against each
other until the resources OF international arbl-
tration have been exhausted: and even vyithour
this instrument Of rational peace the good feel
ing resulting from the Kings visit in Paris and
from the Presidents welcome TO London viii
forestaH the contingency OF war which was
contemplated when the Anglo-Japanese alliance
was concluded
From the English point Of view the renewal ot
cordial relations with France is a great gatn.
No other country in Europe had q distinct
grievance against England It might not be
reasonable one. since the French Government
was invited TO cooperate with England IN the
suppression OF Arabrs revolt and IN the main
tenance Of the dual control; but the pledge given
by Mr.. Gladstone that evacuation should follow
the restoration of order had not been kept. and
there was a natural feeling OF resentment over
loss of prestige in the Nile Valley and the Brit
ish protectorate over ". de Lessepss canal.
Grievances are more serious than mercantile
teaIousies and Industrial rivaIries as Mr.. Glad
stone virtually admitted when he submitted the
Alabama claims to arbitration and opened the
way for period Of good feeling between The
United States and England. The French g-iev-
ances over Egypt and Fashoda are now for
gotten. and the bOuievards viii be ringing next
week with praises Of England, as when the
allied armies were encamped together IN the
Crimea. England. moreover. has become as COS
mopolitan and tolerant concerning republcs1-
ism as its present King was when he sought out
Gambetta and paid tribute 10 him as the master
spirit of the new order in France A generation
of self government and industrial progress has
attested the permanence and stability OF repub-
lican institutions. The face OF the republic
mirrored in history no longer has the stony look
OF a Medusa when Enslishmen recOied with
horror from memories of revolution and an
archy. with the vestments OF priests peddIed as
old clothes in front of N6tre Dame and with
Robespierre's hags knitting in front OF the gull
Iotine and keeping count of the falling heads.
The sOberest and most practical natiols IN
Europe now regards the republic as the only
possible government for France, and welcomes
cordial understanding with It as one Of the
strongest assurances OF European peace.
The Dual Alliance may have enabled France
to regain her influence in European councils,
but it has not restored her lost provinces on tbs
Rhine, nor her ascendency in Egypt It has
committed her to the support OF Russian pol
icies in the Levant and in Northern China,
which are not IN accord with her own interests.
French occupation OF Syria has never been a
possible sequel to Russian intrigues IN ths Bal
kans; and in the Far East the fair and rres
rivalry of all the forces of European and Amer
ican civilization was not guaranteed by the
Dual Alliance. although it was one OF the re-
quirements OF French maritime enterprise So
meagre have been the material compensatIons
for the financing of Russian loans in Paris and
for the diplomatic support OF the French Gov
eminent at every turn OF European and Eastern
affairs that 1t is not surprising that the alliance
has become unpopular. and that the friendly
overtures first OF Italy and now OF England
have been welcomed. Russia has pro9ted BY
the moral support OF her ally in protractsd
the control and occupation OF Manchuria have
been secured by means Of military guards
massed along the railways and. while France
has not gained any substantial advantage from
this policy. she has been exposed BY the Anglo
Japanese alliance to heavy penalties IN the con-
tingency Of cooperation in an aggressive cam
paign. From this point Of view the lOOsentus q
the bonds of the F'ranco-Russian coalition and
the creation OF a better understanding with
England may be a considerable gain for the in
terests OF the maritime world. The British Gov
ernment itself. which has shown signs OF weak
ness and vacilIation in supporting President
Roosevelt's championship OF the open door p-in-
ciple may now be enabled TO warn Russia that
self-respecting nations are not IN the habit of
allowing their conventional rights to be mini
mized by Interpretation and explained away as
matter of trivial Importance
The readjustment OF power IN the Far East
brought about by the Anglo-JapaneSe coalition
may be followed speedily by a redistribution ot
forces in Europe. The alliances are not yet dis
solved. but there is gradual regrouPins or
nations in progress. France. Italy and England
are drawn together by natural processes and
maritime interests. and IT viii be a combination
irresistible in sea power. Russia IS also attract
ing both Austria Hungary and Germany, and
that will be combination equally formidable
in military power. The dissolution OF the Triple
Alliance may be the ultimate result OF the pres
ent disposition of the French Government 70 act
Independently in making advantageous conven-
tions with Italy and in cultivatng close rsla-
tions and negotiating an arbitration treaty with
Great Britain: but this viii leave Russia free 10
make secret conventions with Austria Hungary
respecting the Balkans and Constantinople ana
with Germany respecting the absorption of Den