The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-30
ENGLAND WON'T WAR ON u.s..
JAPAN WELL AWARE OF LIMIT
on RECENT ALLIANCE.
British Opinion sim severe on Dur Business
Methods Prosperity Much Overlooked
-Shaw's Proposal Co Play Universal
Financial Providence IL RidIcuIed.

-SnaWs PrOpOsai To RAY Universal
Financial Providence IL RidicuIed.
Special Cable Despatch TO TIE SUN.
LONDON, Dec. 29.--Whitelaw Reid in
reported 20 have said at a recent public
occasion in New York State that never was
the friendly feeling Of Englishmen toward
Americans 80 cordial as now. The Am
hassador undoubtedly made this declaration
in perfect sincerity. Everything in his
relations with British official and social
circles in the last eighteen months tends to
confirm him in this belief. In contrast TO
this view, IL was pointed out recently in these
dispatches that people best acquainted
with actual public opinion in this country
were aware Of a distinct cooling of British
sentiment toward America during the
period named.
Mr.. Reid is not TO he in any way criticised
for failing TO discover this significant
change. It is obvious that the American
Ambassador would be almost the last man
10 whom such an unpleasant DEVELOPMENT
would be made known In his intercourse
with Englishmen. His acknowledgements Ia
further explained by the fact that popular
sentiment by no g reflects the official
attitude. Good relations with the United
States form the conversions Of the British
foreign policy.
Mr.. Reid has lever asked embarrassing
questions at the Foreign Office respecting
what would be Great Britain's attitude
under her treaty obligations in case Of a
rupture between America and japan. II
he bad done so he would have received as
sursnoec that the possibility Of Great Britain
being dragged Into war with the United
States as an ally OF Japan was outside the
range OF practical vents. He would have
received also the frank admission that
the failure to provide against such a contin-
gency was a n oversight which the British
Government sincerely regrets. He would
probably receive also q quiet hint that the
Japanese Government is already fully aware
that under no circumstances could Great
Britain contemplate any such unforeseen
development OF the obligations which the
treaty Of 1906 imposes.
The real purposes Of the An~glo-Japanese
alliance are well understood by the CON-
tracing Powers and by the world at large.
II any Of tho contemplated crises arise both
allies VIII meet them with the utmost good
faith. Nevertheless the acute embarrass-
rnent Of the British position IL fully realized
and keenly felt In this country. II Is recog-
nized most significantly of all by the abso-
lutte silence Of the press on the subject.
The English editors are fully aware of the
attention which the matter Is receiving In
America, but not q word b said pub holy,
nor viii there be unless he difficulty be-
comes more acute or It is possible to an
nounoe some definite modification Of the
existing treaty.
Opinion in general m diplomatic circles
agrees In regarding q rupture between
Great Britain and tho United States under
the terms Of the Anglo-Japanese alliance
as outside the n Of practical politics.
No British Government, Il Il argued, would
he q~uixotic or mad enough 10 give Germany
such an opportunity 10 Join forces with
the United States n destroy tho British
Empire.
While silent on this sore subject, criticism
of things American continues 70 appear In
new places In the British press TIE Times
Intimates quite plainly to-day hat Amer1-
can business methods have become reckless
and hints At the danger Of a collapse Of
the overboomed American prosperity. The
American people more than all others, it
says, need to remember the proverb, Some
thing always happens TO prevent the tallest
trees from touching the sky The average
American hates 10 see q dollar doing moth
ing. says the Times, 30 he provides himself
With NO reserve. Few Americans believe
IN rainy days TIL they have been drenched
more than onoe.
Ono Of the most curious signs Of che
happy self-oonhdence which Americans feel
toward their country continues the Times, |
swas Afforded by Secretary Shaw In his
recens report b Congress. Mr.. Shaw ap-
10 havc become o impressed with
the importance Of the post he occupies not
only to the welfare Of the United States, but
TO the world at large, that he is ready TO
play the universal financial Providence.
are not sure how much OF this view Of
the functions Of the Secretary Of the Treas
ury is due 10 the personal equation OF It's
present occupant.
1T is, according to this remarkable re-
port, the duty Of the Government to protect
the people against financial panics and ap-
-parently also to save the foreign money
market from these evils by depositing
treasury balances In the United States
national banks on condition hat the banks
In turn promptly deposit an equal amount
abroad
This conception Of the United States
Government as a benevolent despot at home
N AONh AD Cp
financial disturbances In Europe In both
novel and humorous It is a paradox
which might have occurred to another
Shaw whose name is much before the public
Just now and who takes himself quite as
seriously as Mr.. Shaw, the Secretary Of the
Treasury
The report. after describing the method
by which the Secretary assisted. and indeed
obliged, the leading national banks to i'm
port a large amount Of gold, says this opera
ton has at least demonstrated that the
United States is in a position more e~ectu-
ally TO influence international conditions
than is any other country. II for influence
we substitute disturb in the sentence just
quoted most people would. we think. agree
with it: but any economically active country
can disturb international financial condi-
tons TO some extent and its doing so is
to be proud Of. The feat has been
performed by other countries of much less
force than the United States.
1T is indeed surprising that a man Of Mr..
shrewdness and experience should
ha wa hoan notalad into fhipLinn that tha