The Irish standard., 1903-02-14
JOHN BULL IN HIS OLD ROLE.

There is one American diplomat
who has pulled the mask off John
Bulls benevolent face and revealed
him in the role of hypocrite. 1t is
needless to say that the American dip
lomat is not John Hay. He is no less
parsonage than Minister Bowen, who
is representing President Castro of
Venezuela at Washington in the nego-
tiations with the ambassadors of the
triple alliance. Minister Bowen is an
American Of no ordinary ability and
already he has won distinction as
diplomat. He is a keen, shrewd Yam
kee, and it did not take him long to
the Venezuelan question. The Anglo
American press has given out the news
that England was ready to come to
terms with the South American repub-
lie, but that Germany was anxious for
a fight. The pro-British organs in the
United States were doing their utmost
to place Germany in a false attitude
before the American people, though
England is an ally of Germany in the
war on Venezuela. The said organs
proclaimed that England had no desire
of participating in the blockade or of
giving any annoyance to the United
States. And vet Sir Michael Herbert.
the successor Of Julian Pauncefote at
Washington, strongly insisted that
England as n partner in the alliance
with Germany should become Il pre-
fcrrcd creditor of Venezuela before any
settlement could he reached. 1t was
then that Minister Bowen said to him:
at will be the source of the greatest
surprise and regret when it becomes
known here that Great Britain has
ever proposed continuing the alliance
with Germany and Italy a moment
ongcr than she must"
These simple words of our minister
10 Caracas deeply offended England
md she demanded through her repre-
sentative that they be withdrawn.
England is so sensitive, you know.
The British cabinet was insultcd. and
to please it the American secretary Of
state struck the words off the official
file. Minister Bowen, however, offered
no apology to Sir Michael or any one
else for the undiplomatic language
employed by him. OF course. he had
gone too far as the representative Of
Venezuela, but being an American he
blurted out what was in his mind.
Next time he will weigh his words
before addressing the British ambas-
sador in such a fippant manner.
1t is now understood by every one
that England was the first to suggest
the Venezuelan imbroglio, as she was
the first to propose European alliance
Of the powers against the United
States at the outbreak of the Spanish
war. The editor of the Empire Re-
view," a London publication, is candid
enough to say:
'"The public should be made aware
of the fact that it was our Cabinet
which asked the German government
to cooperate with this country in the
coercion of Venezuela. That decision
was not, however, taken ut Sandring-
ham. Indeed. think am correct in
saying the subject of Venezuela was
not mentioned by Emperor William
during his visit to the King. Anyhow.
it is in every sense n perversion of
things to assert that the alliance was
due to the cajolery of either the EN-
peror or his Chancellor. Germany did
not force her alliance upon us, nor did
she dupe us into conclusion of the
alliance"
The British Cabinet, Of course, con-
tradicts the above plain statement Of
facts. but the German foreign office
may have something to say about it If
the British cabinet goes too far. as it
did in 1902. Lord George Hamilton in
a recent speech on the Venezuelan
question emphatically denied that Eng.
land first suggested the alliance
against the little South American re-
nuhlic. He admits. however. that
England had resolved to establish the
blockade before Germany proposed the
alliance. The German foreign office
has threatened to publish the diplo-