The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-06
No Longer Does Coun-
try Stand Shoulder ito
Shoulder With France.
PUBLIC OPINION
DOES NOT APPROVE
If England Does Not Go to AS
sistance of Its Ally When At
tackled by Germany, Then
Time Will Come When
1t Must Stand Alone
Against Kaiser.
BY PHn.L1p EvERErvr.

BY PHILLIP EvEREIvr.
Especial Cable to The Times Dispa tch
London. April 5.-rhat change has
taken place in English foreign politics
during the last two years has been
evident ever since Mr. Asquith. in re-
ply t" question in the House vi
Commons said that under no condi-
lions was England under any obliga-
ton to send military force across
the channel in order TO assist France
in case she We're attacked by Germany
Later IL has been asserted here IN
England that MIR AsQui;h spoke then rs
Prime Minister. hut that if nc had
spoken in his quality of chairman OF
the Committee OF National Defense
his words would have been different
and in the Paris press it has been
cral days later explained away tine
Prime Minister'S words IN a way salts
factory to France But at present We
have only MI AsQuith's official utter
ance to 20 by, and this most GER
which is FAR from being approved by
the whole English nation
1t is an inGisputable fact that in
the fall OF 1911 the government had
everything ready to send a very large
body Of troops into Belgium to meet =
German attack on France through that
country. had II come TO war over the
Asadir incident. and when Germany
had made sure of this she suddenly
backed down, not feeling strong enough
TO light France ana England at the
Same time. even ii Russia were not 10
be dreaded at that time.
Apparently the relations between this
country and France have remained UNI
changed since that time. but Mr. AS
auth has nevertheless said that in no
casc would English troops be sent out
OF the country To help France. So
under the surface change must
nevertheless have taken place.
Policy Has Changed.
Enslands foreign policy has
changed. She has reached something
approaching an understanding with
Germany in regard to limitation OF
naval ornaments. and certain secret
promises may have been made. Eng
lands purpose is now TO prevent a
T. -opean conflict. but the present
- rs 10 not seem very favorable.
..."mai.v has unexpectedly declared
her intention OF strain ming all her efforts
to prepare for war which is 10 cone
very soon, probably even before the
end OF the present year ii things go
we'll in Germany and badly in France.
In that case it seems that France is
to be left TO light her own battles on
land. And here is where the critics
OF the government new foreign pol
icy see a great danger 10 England
II Germany is defeated in that strue
Gle, they say. everything Will he we'll.
tov we shall then stand TO lost moth
ing more than the friendship Of France.
turn Will come next. Germany has
several demands TO make upon the
British empire, which she dare not
make now. when France is ready 10
rush 10 our assistance. But with the
French army eliminated as a factor
these demands viii surely be made. and
England viii have TO acccde to them
or face the war with Germany she has
been dread.ns for years.
Public Opinion Demands IL.
And it is for this reason that very
strong public opinion in this country
demands that the government should
stick 10 the policy which was sue
cessfully inaugurated and carried
through 10y The late King Edward
Those WHO aise this demand are not
the adversaries Of the present Liberal
government. but its own supporters
for the policy of the strong entente
may "e carried through without enor-
nous naval expenses or introduction
q general CONSUMPTION But the lcav-
ing OF France TO her fate will mean
'hat We must he prepared TO meet Ger
many single handed If she is victorious
Signs y
House Of Lords, AS it now exists. is
doomed TO disappear within the next
rev years And IL will disappear with
OUT anybody putting UP a fight for il
Thc present government is deter
mined 10 reform" il within the Iife-
time Of the present Parliament. and
MI Asquith has declared that rot q
VeSuse or the hereditary principle viii
he permitted 10 remain. And not only
has This announcement not been me,
WIN CRY Of horror from the Tories
hnt some Of their papers seem quito
satisfied at the progpects.
what the details OF the reform" VIII
pc II IS beyond my power, 10 pronhe.,
but machine politics are the Order ~
'he "a! mere as well as In America. and
1t - quite safe to predict tba, n. 49,.
nppe" house will nc planned tn bc "
crNiceabie 10 the machine politicians
az The ingenuity OF our profcssionai
poh''cians can make IL Whether ,he
chahse VIII he for tic good OF ~.
country remains 10 be seen. mn, mn
nodN really carcs what becomes Of our
. eTtuitHry Legislators who for years
,'"Ne hcen working towards Tie .caI.
ihs % their own doom. Wien tbev
i"lIcd. year after year. 10 ,n.to INK
protest against the open sale Of nor.
oFs 10 men with absolutely no claim
20 uiSl'nc'ion they forfeited the respect
"i me country. and when thcy ,h,c,..
our the budget or 1909 tho, ,i.,,od
NY" INC hands OF the men who .,s
now about 20 pronounce the DEAN scr
tencc on them
IN the course ~ a month NJ, az
nay expect To see ihc repor, OF Jlo.d
'"o'ses iand inquiry. which II ix a.,
eu "iii contain many stsr,Iinr rev.
r'%'''hs- but IL Is exceedingly donI,
"a. whether much Will be heard ~ g,
a hc hist sensation has died ON,
80, mere ~ no enthusiasm FOR lana re- a.
ior'n among the other members 80
lNapihct Land reform will the