New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-24
IMPERIAL DEFENCE
The Mediterranean - Entente
DipIomaCy-Empire Highways.

London. June T.
british naval concentrations Oh 'me
North Sea have weakened hhs'"n
Mediterranean defences. THIS cani'o'
denied although the. Importance Oh Inv
prnr,ier's holiday jaunt on the Enchah'
&c NAV easily be exaggerated A ue'-
ade ago England had fourteen oa''l N.
shins in the Mediterranean against So.
der the Austrian and Italian nasS'
rr,,o rronortion is now four, against TOUR
~ for Germany. Two allies aiarmlslS
80 ouqqested that the trade route "
Eevpt and India can be intercep'eu 49,
ING q European war and that the nri'''i'
oarrisons and fleet must be reiiiioi oeD
,,.i,bout delay. They seem to be oorro"
TO, .roubIe unnecessarily. for the Brltlsii
feet in the Mediterranean coulu 20
strengthened from Plymouth ana roi %
mouth and rendered invulneraoie 'o"s
hoforo q combination of the Italian anu
,rstr,an snuadrons could be erecteu'
certainly thew expose themselves to rldl-
cule when they propose close oelehSi'o
alliance with France and the aoHilssioh
90 tho BLACK Sea fleet to the Medlter-
ranean. England has not fallen so 10"
IN Goa mower that she cannot establish
her supremacy at any moment between
Gibraltar and the SueZ Canal John buii
will not he put in good temper oy 'le
nroposal that his most important COM
r,orc;aI route shall be intrusted to the
ioint Guardianship Of the three entente
powers.
On the other hand, Radical extremists
make serious mistake when they ue-
clara that the strategcal Importance OF
,ho Mediterranean 10 England Is incoh-
siderable. Cairo has become the geo.
graphical centre of the British Empire
The continued occupation Of Egypt ana
tba Soudan. the command Of the Suez
Canal and the protection OF the shortest
tr,da routa 10 India are among the most
vital OF British interests. II Is only
Little Highlander dwarf who declares
that France and Italy alone are deeply
concerned in the future Of that great sea
o,d that tho natural route to India Is by
the cape. He forgets about Egypt WIN
its vast inland protectorate and the con-
troll of the Suez Canal, which is as essen
ti,I IN England as the mastery OF the
Panama Canal will he 20 America. The
Italian occupation Of Tripoli and some OF
the Egean islands and the construction
Of Austrian battleships under German
advice increase rather than lessen the
,rnrortance OF keeping the British de-
fo,cea IN the Mediterranean ahoat ana
ashore on a high level OF efnciency'
When tho fleets were concentrated on the
North Sea there were sound reasons.
strotegical and economical, for abandon
ing the Mediterranean as secondary
po,nt. The increased activities OF
Austria and Italy in that quarter may
easily render the strengthening OF the
qarrisons in Egypt, Malta and Gibraltar
and the reinforcement Of the feet meas
ures Of vital importance.
The conversion OF the entente with
France into an anti-German alliance Is
mt probahle while the Liberal govern
mont remains in power. Ministers have
been convinced that the objects conterh-
Mated by Edward VII in the agreement
of 1904 have been carried out ana mat
{, two crises there have been serious
risLs of war. There is no evidence that
France wants a defensive alliance which
would expose her 10 invasion without the
assurance Of the support Of a powerful
Rritish army. on the British official
sida there is no disposition 70 increase
the liabilities NJ the entente and TO rem
dor n n provocative coalition. Lord Hal
dane and a powerful section OF the Cab
met hold that good understanding
with France does not stand in the way
or an equally friendly arrangement with
Germany. The new German Ambassa-
dor when he arrives from CONSTANT
NOBLE and Berlin. is expected TO propose
adjustments of railway and other ques-
tious in Asia Minor and to promote good
feeling between Jealous countries. With
the Radical party and press clamoring
for pacifcatlon and with n marked sub
sidence OF the anti-German feeling in
ENGLAND. that astute diplomatist is likely
10 have a large measure OF success. The
fierce competition in naval construction
may be continued, and the British fleets
may be concentrated in the Channel and
the North Sea in readiness for a rapid
sweep upon Hamburg, Bremen and Kiel;
but the chances Of war through the en-
tente engagements with France will be
minimized.
II these Radical suggestions are car
rled out the efficiency OF the entente will
inevitably be impaired There will be a
revival both in France and Russia OF the
oldtime prejudice against "perfidious AL
bion" as everybodys friend and nobody S
ally. The balance OF power, which Ed
ward VII re-establshed in Europe
through the entente diplomacy will be
undermined. All these considerations
point to the urgent necessity for eX-
elusive British action in protecting Egypt
and the trade route to India. In the
event Of war with any member Of the
Triple Alliance England will have TO de-
pend upon her own fleets and garrisons
for the defence of the highway to India
and the maintenance of her benefcent
work in Egypt. Lord Charles Beresford
In his structures on Admiralty policy has
invariably advocated the protection Of
the chief commercial routes by cruiser
services; and the most fanatical naval
economists have frankly conceded that
this would be one Of the most urgent Of