The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-10-20

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rsCgSsC EXPLANATIONS


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LONDON. Oct. 10 Even the cviss threat
~ned In Europe Ivy the Austrian Emperor's
Hines command. Ices attention In the press
thar the situation involved In the srnding
81 American hattle~hips on q cruisc tn the
Pao'hc. The thing that MOI. puzzles Euro
pean commentators 10 what may h. DO
scribrd az the pronunciation Of the American
policy.
They have read with III concealed i'm
patience President Roosevelt's innocent
explanation that the Government In merely
exercising its undoubted right to send It's
ships from one American coast to another.
They see In this nothing but an appeal 10
American prejudice in favor Of insularity,
which they point out can no longer exist.
however much America may desire to cling
to tho idea Of politically ignoring the rest
Of the world. IL in significantly pointed out
that the world to-day In only one-third tho
size IL was fifty years ago and hat no nation
can any longer ignore It's neighbors even IL
the estates are separated by brooks as wide
as the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Acts which at one time signify nothing
become obviously threatening at another
time. No observer in all Europe, however
friendly 20 America, has attempted to deny
that President Roosevelt's policy regarding
the feet is at the present moment full Of
provocative meaning. On the other hand
the idea that Japan has n bellioose inten-
ton Is unanimously repudiated. Trouble, IL
il comes, will be solely due TO some wound
to the amour prIpre Of a high spirited
nr,opeaI noNpla The l.-u.r - ..uA 40
offence will inevitably be increased by the
sending OF the American battleship fleet,
and President Ro%osevelt's policy may he
applauded or condemned as the critic desires
war or peace.
This gives the current comments great
significance and interest. II is important
to note. therefore. hat public utterances in
Germany contain no criticism OF the siren
uous American President, and Russia is
enthusiastic in his praise. " SUNS
London correspondent has received several
letters from st. Petersburg and Moscow
this week calling attention to the unanimous
plaudits Of Russian public opinion upon
President Rooseveltis action. Every belli-
cose utterance Of the American press and
American officials is reproduced through
u Russia without fear of the censorship,
and the country has evidently made up it's
mind that its hate enemy will soon be en-
broiled in war with the United States.
The papers assert without ~equivocatioa
that the port Of Vladivostok will be placed
at the disposal Of the United States as a
naval base, and nc denial is forthcoming.
Nobody gives the slightest weight to Secre-
tary Taft's and President Ro~osevelt's
protestations Of peaceful intentions.
They are received with smiles AZ merely
the customary preliminaries to all rupturee,
and the people speculate only on the date
of the opening Of hostilities. Americans
may he indignant or not over this in
credulity regarding the good faith Of their
Chief Magistrate. but foreigners judge
him as history has taught them to judge
others under similar circumstances. They
simply assert hat the logic OF events bears
no other Interpretation.