Evening star., 1907-10-20
Foreign Press Comment Gives
No Other Interpretation.
SINCERITY OF ROOSEVELT
Seems to Be Almost Wholly Doubt
ed Abroad.
RUSSIANS OPENLY E
ELATED
Believe Everything Settled Except
the Date for Opening Hostilities.
No Censorship on This.

European press opinion sees
nothing but deliberate provoca-
tion to Japan in sending our bat
tleship squadron to the Pacific.
All the peaceful assurances of
President Roosevelt and Secre-
tary Taft are taken abroad as
diplomatic assurances to mask
the real purpose of the move till
the convenient time for revealing
it. England is alarmed and panied
at what she considers the gloomy
outlook; Germany and Russia, on
the other hand, are openly elated.
Russia has gone so far as to as
sure the world that Vladivostok
is at our service whenever we
shall want to use it.
Special Cablegram to The Star.
LONDON, October 1e.-Even the crisis
threatened in Europe by the Austrian en-
peror commands less attention in the
sending of American battleships on
cruise in the Pacific. What most puzzles
European commentators is what may be
described as the provincialism of the
American policy They have read with
iu-concealed impatience President Roose-
velt's innocent explanation that the gov
S; rs
doubted right to send its ships from one
American coast to another. They see in
this nothing but an appeal to American
prejudice for an nsularity. VIII ch they
point out, can no longer exist however
much America may desire to cling to the
idea of politically ignoring the rest of the
world. 1t is significantly pointed out that
the world today is only one-third the size
1t was fifty years ago, and that no nation
can longer ignore its neightors, even If
the estates are separated by brooks as
wide as the Atlantic and Pacific.
Danger of Offense.
Acts which at one time signify nothing
become obviously threatening at another.
No observer in all Europe. however
friendly to America, has attempted to
deny that President Roosevelt's policy
regarding the fleet Is at the present mo-
ment full of provocative meaning. On
the other hand, the idea that Japan has
any bellicose intention Is unanimously
repudiated. Trouble, if it comes. VIII be
snl.ly to some wound to the amour propre
of high-spirited entail peope. The
danger of such an offense will inevitably
be increased by the sending of the Amer
lean battleship fleet. and President hoe Sc
velts policy may be applauded or con-
demned, as the critic desires war or
peace.
This gives the current comment great
significance and interest. 1t is important
to note. therefore, that all public utter
ances in Germany contain no criticism
of the strenuous American President
and Russia is enthusiastic in his praise.
Refer to History.
The Stars London correspondent has
received several letters from st. Peters
burg and Moscow this week, calling at
tention to the unanimous plaudits of Rus
sian public opinion upon President Roose- |
velt's action Every bellicose utterance |
of the American press and American
officials is reproduced throughout Russia |
without fear of the censorship, and the |
country has evidently made up its mind |
THAT their late enemy will soon be en- |
broiled in war with the United States. |
The papers assert without equivocation |
that the port of Vladivostok will be placed |
at the disposal of the United States az a |
naval base, and no denial Is fort thcoming. |
Nobody gives the slightest weight to |
Secretary Taft's and President Roose- |
velt's peaceful protestations of peaceful |
intentions. They are received with |
smiles and merely the customary pre-
lminaries to all ruptures and the people |
speculate only on the date OF the opening |
of hostilities. Americans may be indig- |
Ill IT,, I,,I;%
ing the good faith of their chief magis- |
trate, but foreigners judge him as his |
tory has taught them to judge others |
under similar circumstances. They simply |
asset that the logic of events bears no !
other Interpretation.