The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-03-25
FOR the Peace of Euroue.

There is much Of significance In the
suggestion Of the London Spectator In
favor OF an alliance between Great
Britain and France as guarantee
agahSt general European war,
which, In the present disturbed condi.
ton. is not wholly improbable. 1t can.
not be doubted that the statesmen OF
Europe are deeply anxious over the
possibility Of war between two or more
of the leading powers growing out of
the conflict I'm the far east
The two powers regarded as most
imminently In danger are Great Brit.
ain and France. The latter has an nj.
lance with Russia. the exact terms OF
which have not formally been made
public, but which are understood To
require that each should help the other
under certain contingencies. Great
Britain has a similar alliance with ia
pan. The thing now feared Is II either
Japan or Russia should be badly hurt
In the war that some accident, some
outburst OF popular passion not contem.
plated by the treaty. might involve
Great Britain on the one hand or
France on the other, In which case war
between these two powers would be al
most inevitable.
The French premier has declared
that no action on the part OF China or
Korea would require France 10 inter
vene TO aid Russia. and IL IL not likely
that Russia will ask her aid II she can
reasonably avoid IL, because she has
more 10 fear from the hostility OF Great
Britain. with i,s powerful feet. than
she could gain from the succor France
could give. Japan. however. would have
no such restraining sentiment us To In
volving Great Britain. for the aid she
could get would be far greater than
the risk she ran from anything France
could do Indeed should Japan be serl
ously worstcd the help Of Great Britain
would be about all that could save her
from political destruction. Under these
circumstances II is suprcmely impor
tant for Great Britain that France
should II possible be kept from taking
part with Russia IN the present con
fiict In the far east, and the Spectator
submits the proposition that the only
way In which this can be done is sub
stantially for Great Britain 10 let II be
known To France that. thc case requir-
ing she is prepared To become the ally
of France In lieu OF Russia.
Such proposition may at first glance
appear fancful, but there are contin
gencics I'm which IL might be considered
seriously As the Spectator In effect
puts IL, the alliance with Russia was
IN the nature OF insurance TO France
that I'm case she should become involved
In war with Germany she would be
safe from any interference by third
power. IL was the answer OF Russia
and France TO the triple alliance. Tn.
doubtcdly such Insurance would be
oven more valuable To- France from
Great Britain than from Russia. and
such an alliance would be OF much
greater Importance I'm It's indirect In
nucnce. The trade relations OF Russia
and France are Of no great value. nor
have they been improved by the ALL
ancc. The trade OF France and Great
Britain with cach other IL OF greater
value than the trade OF either with
any other single country.
Nowhere In the world Is there neces-
sarily any conflict In the interests Of
Great Britain and France At no point
do they clnsh. They stnnd for sub
stantially the same things In ciyiliza-
ilon and largely against Russian aims
and ideals. An alliance between them
would not only promote pence with
each other but would go far toward
keeping the peace OF Europe and OF the
world.