The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1909-04-22

There is no question that the Eng
lish government has seriously con-
sidered this plan several times, only
to abandon it, partly on the ground
that it was rather more radical than
circumstances warranted, and partly
because it feared that he kaiser
might recompense himself for the
loss of his fleet by big Seizure OF
terfiritory from England's ally,
France.
Now, however, the situation Is
more pressing. The Germanic alli-
ance has accomplished just what the
British alarmists were afraid 1t
would. 1t has become dominant on
the continent and comes dangerously
near to having become dominant
over England, too. At any rate, it
has blocked important British plans,
snubbed England, Inundated Eng
lands friends and threatens to keep
on doing it. So the clamor for
prompt action is louder than ever
and plenty of good political judges
say the chances are more than even,
that, sooner or later, the govern
ment will have to yield to it.
Balkan Grab Helped.
The everlasting Balkan contro-
ia of
course, with apparent prominence.
The real issue is a much more vital
one, however, than that of the Bal
kans.
Until after the Russo-Japanese
war, England was suspicious rather
of Russia than of Germany. The
war convinced every one that there
was no particular reason for be-
ing afraid of Russia for long time
and the British became quite friend
ly with the car. The decline of
Russian power correspondence ex-
allied Germany and the kaiser made
matters worse-from the English
viewpoint-by Selling the opportu-
nifty still further to strengthen him
self through cultivation Of his
friendship with Austria, the i'm
provement of his own army and the
creation of great navy.
By way Of checking this develop
ment, English diplomacy did every
thing imaginable to encircle the two
Germanic nations with a Gordon of
enemies
How Plot Worked.
England, France and Russia lined
up solidly to stop German aggre-
sion in the near east. Italy, though
nominally Germans and Austria S
ally, was stirred to a pitch of jeal-
ousy which threatened dissolution
of the triplice. Turkey declared a
damaging boycott against Austria.
Germany, previously commercially
dominent in Constantinople, was
practically frozen out of the market
there by England, French and Rus
sian financiers Servia and Monte
negro were undoubtedly encouraged
to insist on indemnity from Austria
for every questionably injury. Bull
garia was tempted into repudiating
Germanic influence by financial con-
English officialdom was delighted.
No doubt was left that the Germanic
allies would be compelled to give up
everything they had gained by the
grab" or at any rate to pay much
more for it than it was worth and
the German prestige would suffer a
setback from which it would take it
years to recover.
But Berlin and Vienna diplomats
proved too clever for the London
Paris-St Petersburg combination.
Every one knew Germany and Aus
/ tria were allies, but Berlin and Wen
ma left it an open question how far
! they would go for one another. 1t
was a foregone conclusion that each
would fight to defend the other from
humiliation, but it was considered
very doubtful whether either would
help the other along offensive lines.
Called the Bluff.
Negotiations were spun out inter
midably. England, France and Rus
STA thought the two Germanic pow
ers were delaying matters as much
as possible in the hope of getting
out of an embarrassing position with
a minimum of loss and humiliation.
AS a matter Of fact the delay was
merely to give time for such military
dispositions as the two kaisers deem
ed necessary before calling" the
Anglo-France-Russia bluff.
These dispositions completed, they