The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-01
BRITISH

In speaking the other day on the
subject Of the powers Of Europe put
ting their armies and navies on a real
peace footing some one said il Was
not necessary for Great Britain 70
have a large army for she generally
got some one TO do her fighting for
her.
It might have been said also that
she could get out of any kind of a
tight place by her shrewd diplomacy.
She can get ahead Of most any other
nation in forming close alliances. Only
a few years ago she made herself solid
with the triple alliance then formed
and so Unanswered as 10 get all The
benefits of a member, though she would
not join in with the three continental
powers in the stipuiations. She was
not bound oy any Of the agreements
made, but put herself in a position
TO profit by them.
More recently, when Germany 5
growl became alarmingly angry in
tone, Great Britain astonished the
world by making a close alliance with
her 1nveterate enemy just across the
English channel.
Still later, when Japan vas about
to enter into a war with Russia, which,
if it terminated in the latter's favor,
would expose Great Britain's Indian
possessions to Russian invasion, she
made an alliance with Japan, which
virtually stipulated that if the Japs
alone could not whip the Russians,
then she would come to their aid. ia
pan was to check the Russian owe
ment toward India if she could, but
if she found herself unable to do so
Great Britain was to come to her as
sistance. Japan, We all know, sur
prised the world by the ann in
which she carried out her part OF the
compact and forced a halt in the Rus
sian advance.
Japan has now become a mighty
power in the Pacific. Great Britain,
evidently, is becoming uneasy because
of this, and, in order to be ready at
any time to check any hostile advance
the other may make, she is trying 10
form an alliance with Russia for mu-
tual protection against Japan's en-
~croachments in the east. In other
words she says to Japan: "If Russia
tries to get out of bounds and YOU
can't keep her back l will help you"
To Russia she says the same thing
about Japan.
In the mean time she is talking to
Uncle Sam about how exposed to at
tack are his Philippine possessions and
telling him all the while how she
loves him and how important it is
THAT kinfolks should always be on
friendly terms and ready to spill their
blood for each other. She knows b
has nothing to fear from this side Of
the Atlantic in any combination that
may be made against her, but she
wants to make it appear to the pow
ers of Europe that these two nations,
so closely allied by blood, while hav-
ing made no treaty offensive and de-
fensive, have ar understanding, grow
ing out of their close friendship, that
an injury done to ~ will be taken
as an affront by the other. She would
like for the Americans to believe the
same, but they are not going to be
fooled into putting themselves in dan
ger ON Great Britain's account, think
ing that she would do the same for
them. She can continue to pat Uncle
Sam on the back and say sweet things
to him, but he is going to be careful
not to make any rash promises, though
he may be willing for her to fool Eu-
rope by appearances if she can.