The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-16
EUROPE JEALOUS
. OF UNITED. STATES
Would Welcome War Which
Would Halt Our Commercial
and Financial Progress.
ENGLAND OUR ONLY FRIEND
Former Comptroller Hepburn
Gives Results OF Recent Obser-
vations on Continent.

NEW YORK, March 15.-Jcalous of
the commercial and financial progress
OF the United States, the residents OF
inc continental nations of Europe
would welcome and rejoice in any in
tornational complications that would
bring this nation into difficulties, pro-
vided they were not injured in the
process. according to a. p. Hepburn.
former Comptroiled OF the Currency.
and at present president of tho Chase
National Bank. OF this city He re-
turned yesterday from trip to Eu-
rope covering about two months, and
to-day gave his Impressions OF neopie
and things as he saw them ON the other
side.
we are regarded there ms A bun,y..
tious people, who ought to be spanked
into some sort of decorum." he saiS,
On the continent they think. or affect
TO think, that their present financial
aud commercial difficulties are charge
able to us--that their depression is n
reflex OF ours. accentuated by the
SlOoooo,0oo OF gold which VIC took
during December and January. The
balance of trade In favor OF the United
states during November. December and
January was more than $500. 900, 600.
and every dollar OF gold we took was
obtained by commodity bills. and vet
they seem to think that Europe loaned
II to us az matter of favor.
Fear Military Growth.
ut Is our growing Importance as a
naval and military power that most dis
turbs them. 1t dIsturbs the interna-
tional balance Of power, ms 1t hereto
fore existed. and upon which their al
plomacy has heretofore been based.
Neither does the continent like Japan,
and for similar reasons.
Her recently achieved naval and mil
itary prestige and her English alliance
have brought Japan TO the front In the
family of nations. an aggressive force
that must be reckoned with In world
politics 1t calls halt to territorial
acquisition In the East. and from now
on Is likely to mark q recession in
European influence In Asia
"Concomltant Herewith, European
commerce liz suffering serious check
and is bound in future. IN view OF the
wonderful commercial adaptabillty and
activity OF the Japanese. to encounter
a competition heretofore unknown.
The yellow peril that doomed large in
the earlier stages OF the Russo -Japa-
nese War still stalks the continent of
Europe. although 1t is no longer polite
to proclaim the same.
would Welcome War.
1T follows from this condition OF af-
fairs that nothing would be contcm-
plated with greater complacency by the
continental powers than war between
the United States and Japan
A taxing of the strength and A vast
ing OF tho resources of these two
powers. not involving thamseives.
would tend to restore their relate
power and precedence in tnc council
o. nations.
"This explains the repeated rnnorS
from Paris. Berlin and ST. Petersburg
of impending difficulties between the
United States and Japan; The wish Is
father to the thought, and the continual
prediction OF trouble is madn in th=
hope OF melting the same.
"They expected some disaster to be-
fall our fleet in It's Pacific cruise. They
consider Admiral Evans rs something
of swashbuckler. and they regard
the President as impulsige, and they
seem to have really persuaded them
selves that disaster or complications
must ensuc.
Fleets Success n disappointment.
..The fleet proceeded on it's journey
not only without mishap, but In
manner demonstrating its efficiency,
The reception 1t received has proved
the WISDOM OF the cruise, ahu ny o'iS
can fail TO read from II the closer ties
between the two Americas. which must
be of great commercial and political
advantage IN the future. Our Euro
pean censors are proportonately dis
| appointet.
TT was never more apparent than
| now that the only European friend we
have is England. England is the only
European power that would not wei
come a condition of affairs that nllsAe
bring to us disaster. or defeat. Eng
lands interests parallel ours, and any
| thing that would impair our prestige
| would be alike prejudicial to her