New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-16
BRITISH Arbitration TREATIES,

A curious phase OF what we might call interna-
tional hyperesthesia IS to be perceived in some
OF the British disapproval OF the Anglo-German
arbitration treaty. short time ago similar
treaty was made with France and was received
with general reclamation. Others were made
with Spain and with Italy, and were approved.
Now, France has for centuries been EnGland's
traditional foe" with which England has prob
ably been at war more than with all other
countries put together. and there are, or were,
some highly important controversies 10 be set
tied between the two On the other hand. Eng
land and Germany have never been al war with
each other. but have more than once been allies
and there are now no important disputes pend
ing between them. These circumstances should,
apparently, make the British regard with sus-
picion and hesitation an arbitration treaty with
France, and one with Germany with unques-
tioning approval. Yet In fact. the British atti-
tude is in considera BILE measure exactly the re-
verse OF that.
The explanation OF the anomaly lies in the
ract that the British people. or many of them,
have in recent years developed certain nervous
ness or oversensltiYeness over all things in
which Germany Is concerned The made IN
Germany episodes of q few years ago the at
titude of Germany toward the Transvaal and
the BOer war, the passage at words between
Mr. Chamberlain and Count Won Bulow and
Otner incidents OF ike character nave so
strained some nerves that now the slightest
touch, even though it be a friendly one sets
them to vibrating painfully. Most of all, per-
haps, some Englishmen are just consider
ing the growth OF the German navy as d posi-
bic menace. Hitherto the allied navies of
France and Russia have indicated the standard
of strength which the British navy must not
only equal. but surpass. The Japanese war has
largely eliminated the Russian navy from pres
ent consideration wherefore the German navy
has taken its place in the problem. The British
navy. men say, must be kept stronger than the
French and German navies put together; but
the German Emperor has expressed an ambition
to make his navy alone strong as that OF
Great Britain, and IT is well known that the
German navy is growing and is able To grow
much more rapidly and formdably than that OF
Russia
There may or there may not be ground for
tbs British attitude toward Germany That Is
not for us to say. OF course, that attitude IS
not universal. 1t probably does not character
iZe the majority OF Englishmen. 1t is certainly
not taken by the British government What is
obvious IS that It is unfortunate such an atti-
tide should be taken and such feelings cher
lShed at all. There are those serious minded
men, too, in England, who declare that tho
Eaking Of such q treaty with Germany will af-
ford ground fOr doubling the good faith Of the
similar treaty with France. That is simply In
credible. As though It We're not possible for a
nation to make in good faith the same treaty
with more than one other power! 1t is true
that amid the ancient feuds and alliances of Eu-
rope there largely prevailed the principle of
Love me, love my dog" so that each nation
felt itself under at least a nominal commission
TO share the friendships and the hatreds Of its
friends. 1t is high time, however. for such
principles and practices to pass, with peoples
as well as with governments