The Washington herald., 1907-10-03

Special Cable to The Washington Herald
London. oct. Europe has begun to
take keen interest in the sending of the
American battle-ship fleet TO the Pacific.
The general public here, as elsewhere,
loves theatrical politics, and they look TO
Kaiser Wilhelm and President Roosevelt
as the worlds chief entertainers in this
feature of the game.
They see nothing in the proposed
American naval demonstration but a
provocative move against Japan, and
they will await its outcome with lively
Impotence. The situation appears 70
them to involve nothing beyond a quar-
rel between the United States and Japan.
and it cannot be said to-day that Euro
pean public sentiment incIlnes 10 either
side
Very different, indeed, is the view
, taken by the chanCelleries Of Europe
and especially by Downing street Euro
: pean statesmen regard the matter with
greater anxiety than any international
. crisis OF recent years. 1t is. in their
eyes, by no means the simple problem il
appears to the public
Think PrOvOcntiOn Intended.
Opinions agree that the sending of the
fleet, no matter with what peaceful pro-
testations, is distinctly provocative
move, and that the danger of untoward
incidents, which. Intentionally or uuln-
tentionally, might lead To war. is i'm
mense, In a word if the American ar
mazda goes TO the far East, Europe will
expect war 10 follow.
There are two divergent views Of the
genesis and real purpose Of President
Roosevelts political plans, which may be
briefly indicated. Those who believe in
F the existence Of the yellow peril" ap-
plaud Mr.. Roosevelts policy. while they
marvel AZ his audacity in assuming the
risk Of having an enormous task thrust
upon America for the benefit OF the white
race at large.
BOOseveIt's "GrenteSt Mistake"
Moreover. they are puzzled by his pres
ent attitude, when they remember that
he was chiefly responsible for the. peace
OF Portsmouth. II is the general opinion
Of the diplomatic world that the prema-
ture settlement of the Russo-Japanese
war was the greatest mistake in Mir.
Roosevelt's career. Another years cam
paign would have brought freedom within
the grasp Of the Russian people and so
exhausted Japan that the yellow peril"
would have been postponed 10 the distant
future.
Those who believe that It is now iumi-
neut share Mr.. ROOsevelts reported con-
victiOn that the next crisis In human his
mill r1
they hope that he viii force the issue be-
fore Japan RECEIVERS from her last war.
This view is widely held in Berlin. Rus
STA shares it, while she expects the vim
dicatiOn Of her military reputation in the
enormous difficulties any power will en-
counter which becomes embroHed with
her late enemy.
suspect Alliance with Kaiser.
Another section Of the diplomatic cir
Gle puts quite a different Interpretation
upon the American policy. They suspect
that there lies behind it a deep scheme TO
upset the recently readjusted European
situation
They find it easy to believe the current
report that there is a tacit or definite I'M
Outstanding that the German fleet will be
held ready to protect American interests
in the Atlantic This would signify MANY
things. tt would be Kaiser Wilhelm's re
ply % an Of King Edwards great diplo-
matte work of the last three years for
Safeguarding the peace of Europe II
might easily result in arraying the United
States and Germany against England and
Japan. The Kaiser would bv no means
shrink from such an adventure, nor would
he be hopeless of other European assist
auce.
Wilhelm Real InstigatOr!
The point is seriously discussed in Lon
don whether. indeed. the German EN-
peror IS not the real instigator of Presi-
dent RoOsevelt's move The main oucs-
ton which puzzles English official circles
as much as those Of the Continent. is
How is. it possible that the American peo-
pie can permit themselves to be exposed
70 the risk Of becoming involved in a
great war. in which nothing Is To be
gained and terrific losses are certain2
There IS one prevailing opinion -rnonc
competent authorities regarding the naval
and military features Of the possible war.
IT IS estimated that the American naval
superiority is offset by the distance from
its base The first struggle would result
in stalemate. Then there would be an
interval of nominal war for two or three
years, while America built a fresh fleet
American dollars would finally win. hui
II would be the most disastrous and most
expensive victory of modern times