The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-06-05
ALLIANCE BETWEEN
ENGLAND AND SPAIN.
How it Could be Arranged and
What it Would Mean.
London sphere

table Spanish newspaper as to the
outcome Of the Kings Cartagena
visit is correct an international UNI
Outstanding of a very important
and. valuable character has been
carried through. 1t is stated that
Spain and Great Britain are agreed
to preserve the peace of the Medi-
terranean. which 10y the eeograph-
zeal position of Gibraltar and
Ceuta, facing each other across
the Straits, they are able to do by
closing the entrance at any time to
war vessels. 1t is also declared
that the reconstruction of the
Spanish Navy, which would have
been necessary in any case apart
from the American War by the
vessels of the fleet becoming obso-
lete, is to be carried out by Brit
ish architects and engineers, partly
in organized shipyards in Spain
and partly in England. Ferrol,
Cldiz and Cartagena are to be the
fortified basis of IL modern fleet of
six powerful blttleships and Us
many modern cruisers capable in
armament Of meeting the latest
type of war vessels. The proviS-
ions of the necessary funds is to be
made easier by British credit.
Such an arrangement may not
have been concluded in all its de-
tails, but there are several consid-
erations that tend to confirm the
statements of the Spanish press in
$ ome measure. Undoubtedly
British agents have been in Spain
yotiating for great scheme of
naval construction, and it seems IA
settled matter that they will be in
trusted with the creation of the
new Spanish Navy. If the credit
of England is applied to carrying
through the financial side of this
enterprise Spain may be spared a
good deal of difficulty and suspense
without any loss to ourselves.
Spain has made great progress in
prosperity since she was relieved of
the incubus of her revolted colo
MES, and her real resources are
probably in advance of her posi-
ton in the financial world, where
the memory of past losses may re-
main to impair Spanish credit Just
as the past scrupulousness of Rus
STA in paying interest has tended
to keep Russian bonds higher than
Il sound estimate might place them.
The rumors as to the other pro-
visions of the supposed agreement.
placing the combined land and sea
forces of the two nations at the
service of either. are probably ex-
aggerated. and it is a pity that
they have been put in circulation.
as they will only confirm the Ger
man press in its attitude of ner-
vOus and hostile suspicion. Even
if the widest assertions are true
about the Anglo-Spanish entente,
such an alliance could be no dan
ger to Germany. German aggres-
sion could not in any case have any
effect in the Mediterranean unless
France and England were unable
or unwilling to oppose it, and if
France could not face Germany,
still less could Spain. But the
most innocent agreement made by
England with any other nation is
a grievance to one important sec
ton of German politicians and
pressmen. There is every sign of
one of those campaigns of sus-
piciOn and hatred which have in
modern times preceded an attack
by Prussi, on a mel q h
Dor. The political maxim, odisse
QUEEN loesurus sis, has been prac-
ticed with much perfection since
the day when Frederick the Great
raked up musty pretexts for his
treacherous seizure of Silesia. The
real cause of his aggression then
the fact that Prussia's prestige and