New-York tribune., 1903-01-29
ORIGIN OF THE ALLIANCE
SOME BRITISH VIEWS.
The White Star Liner Cedric Pre-
pdr7ng for Her Maiden Voyage.

ospscisi New-york Tribune by French CEhle)
ocopyrEht: lsoe: BY TIE Tribune Assocsatien,)
London. Jan %, 1 a. m.-The Venezuela set
uenent having become a matter OF minor de-
tail rather than OF principle, apologists for the
government sre striving to create the impression
that the initiative in the naval demonstration
was not taken by Germany. but by England
Various dates assigned for the first pro-
posal for Joint action. and there are strenuous
denials OF the generally accepted opinion that
the German Emperor entrapped the court and
ministers on his Sandringham visit. The truth
IS that the German Government was the first 10
approach the State Department at Washington
with reference to the claims against Venezuela,
and this done in December, 1901 sim
3lar consultation occurred not long after with
reference TO the British claims. Both Germany
and England were informed that the Washing
ton government was not prepared TO offer OBJ
lection for the collection Of just for
eign debts provided adequate assurances were
offered that neither territorial acquisitions nor
permanent occupation of the ports was in
tended. The suggestion for joint action did not
come from Washington. The State Department
did not prearrange the affair, but contenteo
:tself with imposing restrictions in consonance
with the Monroe Doctrine. 1t is immaterial
whether the first suggestion for joint action
came from England in July or even in FEB
xuary, 1902. What cannot be denied by 'ae
sposogists of the Balfour Ministry is that an
sronclad alliance made by which England
was deprived of independence Of action and
committed agai1ct viii ~s-ai .-f7ti' t'-a German
claims Were s1... q. is I..cIedible that the
precise form OF this alliance was not made in
Germany Wherever the first proposal for joint
action originated, whether the British ministers
forged their own chains accepted the Ger
man patent, they tied their hands and exposed
themselves TO the serious risk Of anrontlng the
United States f C Gould hits off the situa-
ton in a clever cartoon representing John Bull
SIS explaining to Brother Jonathan that the
German Emperor is too "naailyfsty, but that
they have gone into the business together and
he cannot drop his partner. The English idea
ss shown st every stage OF the Venezuelan affair
IS that the only partnership should be between
the mother country and the colonies LORD
fslfour Of Burleigh. speaking ct Glasgow, de-
ecribed the German alliance as mere casual CO
operation for a specific purpose and for a lin
tted time. This is the government view MI
Asquith, addressing Liberal meeting at HUH
last night, expressed the opinion of the average
Fnglishman when he declared that the Ven
ezuelan adventure was a partnership, underlined
largely in purpose in which Great Britain com
1oined unlimited liability with strictly limited
power Of control
The Cedric, the latest addition to the "hlle
Star feet and the largest steamer in the world
SIS practically completed, and will leave bel1ast
tomorrow for Liverpool, to prepare for her
maiden VOYAGE to New-York early next month
This hinge vessel seven hundred feet long, is the
second steamer to exceed twenty thousand
tons. her sister ship the Celtic, being the hrsI
The Cedric will have accommodations for three
Thousand passengers, but as she has not oeeh
built for speed she will not attempt to lower the
Atlantic record.
Lord .Claud Hamilton, presiding at the Great
Eastern Railway meeting yesterday. rebuked
Mr. Hanbury, president Of the Board of Agrl-
ruIture for saying that English railways We're
managed by ornamental directors. Referring to
American railway methods, he maintained that
they were in a general sense totally inapplicable
10 this country, but he admitted that some feat
sres Of American railway management were de-