9th May. of at present, if signs be worth the noting, is the probability that before long their friendship shall have changed to feud, and their kindly hand-clasp be relinquished in order that awards may be gripped. France has no trade to fight for in Manchuria. We have. Sebas America. the. two English-speaking peoples and Japan, in case there is intervention by us in favour of our ally. But the chances of any such conflict were never greater than the guesses of the scaremonger could make them, and with conditions as they are now such a collision comes hardly within Every little squabble that has Both of us are interested very con-the bounds of the imagination, Such occurred since 1870 has Lorne within siderably, the United States more it the elements of a general con-flag ration, Such, at any rate, has naval with a very great proponderawat would, in its main issues,.be than ourselves, and it is certain that whatever happens these interests ance of power on our side, We are been the opinion of the scaremongers. will be defended. Whether Japan well aware that proposals have again But the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-8 be victorious or vanquished, our and again been made fora recasting of passed off without any further ex-treaty rights in Manchuria will be the map of Europe at Great Britain's tension of hostilities than that which safeguarded, and it will depend on expense. But the idea that the brought Roumania to the rescue the attitude of the victor how this present continental Powers could of her badly battered neighbour. will be accomplished. If it be Rus-come to any agreement ona matter England's interference in Egypt on sia, she will hesitate at giving a 80 delicate and so vital to themselves the rebellion of Arabi was the signal free hand to our trade since the is too chimerical to need a moment's for French withdrawal, and there admission on aqua) terms of the thought, Sir John Fisher has told was no sign of intervention during English-speaking merchant means us recently that as compared with the long-drawn-out campaigns against the driving out of the Russian. Onl: its condition only three years ago, the Mahdi, Much fear was expressed the complete collapse of Japan would, the British navy is fifty per cent when, in spite of advice, Greece drew however, raise this question, and better than it was then. "Constantly the sword against Turkey in 1897, then the problem would become at sea, practically on a war footing, and brought on herself what many farther complicated by the possible with a vast improvement in shooting, onlookers considered condign punish-intrusion of an unknown quantity and more homogeneity, the Britis ment. But even the entanglements in the shape of Germany. ships of the moment make up a respecting Crete were finally un-But really responsible statesmen fighting machine of greater power ravelled through the common-sense seem to have been very sceptical as than we have ever been able to disofan admiral or two. In 1898, it to the probability of the general war pose of before. What the Americans is believed that England's attitude so freely prophesied. "In my opinion," can do, Dewey has shown at Manila forbade European intervention be-said Mr. Gladstone, "the threat has and Sampson. off Santiago, while the tween America and Spain, and thus been an imposture by those who recent exploits of the Japanese navy effectually prevented the breaking invented it, and a sheer error on the have naturally made us proud of the out of what might otherwise have part of those credulous: enough to fact (hat they are our pupils, and been a titanic struggle indeed, believe in it." This was spoken pleased because they are our allies, Now we are in the midst of an-nearly ten years ago, and if it were The celebrated Olga Novikoff (0.K.) other conflict, in which there are true in the middle nineties, how used to tell us that the British were interests affecting two Powers vitally much more true is it to-day. -Many never considered good Europeans. It—China and Japan—and others matters which required adjustment is to be feared that our present more or less seriously. It is difficult to say which of these two has most then have been et ape Te attitude will strengthen that opin-
at stake. Russia comes next. to be " Gotontal Power of any imher very great gain Spain has cease ion. This may be so. But fortunately in these days of big armaments Though morally on an entirely portance. The question of Cuba is reason rather than sentiment governs different plane from either of the settled once for all. That of the in polities, and reason is opposed to other two, she stands to win or lose Philippines is probably as dea general war. an immense amount, Her position finitely decided. France and Engis very similar to that of a gambler land have completed the long-hoped-at Monte Carlo, who, having laid for adjustment of their differences,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.