The Hastings Standard Published Daily THURSDAY, SEPT. 23, 1897. ENGLAND AND AMERICA.

Hastings Standard, Issue 433, 23 September 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily THURSDAY, SEPT. 23, 1897. ENGLAND AND AMERICA.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

It is a remarkable fact that the British Government is displaying an extremely conciliatory attitude towards the American nation. This has been brought out very prominently since that memorable period when the two nations seemed on the eve of hostilities over the Venezuela incident. Fortunately the trouble in connection with the " Monroe doctrine" was relegated to the background by the negotiations for arbitration, and although arbitration has not actually been accepted, the proposition for arbitration momentarily screens the trouble. England is doing everything possible to keep on terms of friendship with the Government at Washington, and the fact is very significant. The Behring Sea Fisheries dispute has been simmering for some time, and has been the subject of many so-called settlements, but it remains to-day a dispute. There is a new Secretary of State in the United States, and Mr Sherman, it will be remembered, gave vent to some bombastic and jingoistic remarks ■ on the issues of this dispute. He however qualified his remarks in a Press interview; nevertheless they have left a nasty impression behind them. The interchange of documents between the two Governments shows that Lord Salisbury has replied in a dignified manner, and while not avej'sp. to the points at issue being submitted to ft conference of experts he declines to involve Great Britain to accepting the decision of the experts. Then again, on the appeal of the Currency Commissioners, the Bank of England was induced to state the terui.s upon which it would give a fringe of silver to its reserve. It is true that these terms are prohibitive and in no wise calculated to assist the bimetallist but the mere fact that the Bank through political pressure made any offer at all to include silver in its reserve is suggestive. This can be regarded as nothing less than a conciliatory act on the part of Her Majesty's Government and evidence of a friendly feeling towards the American people. It is a great feature that England should so seek to keep on friendly terms witb the Great Republic, and although no act of Her Majesty's Government has been derogatory to the dignity of the British nation, the studied friendliness has something behind it. What that is, it is impossible for us to say, but that there is some strong motive is beyond doubt. We have not done with America even if the Behring Sea question ie satisfactorily settled, for ac-

cording to Mr Henry Norman there is yet another cloud impending over the Anglo-American relations. Writing in the Cosmopolis for last month he saya that there is a growing determination on the part of the United States to repudiate the Clayton ; Bulwer treaty of 1850, which has reference to the Nicaragua Canal project. Great Britain surrendered important points on both side of the isthmus on the d's'i net pledge tha' neither Government would "ever obtain or maintain for itself any exclusive control over the said ship canal." For sixteen years the States have been endeavoring to abrogate this treaty, but have been opposed. But Mr Henry Norman tells us that a strong party is now determined that the canal when constructed shall be under exclusive control of the Washington Government, treaty or no treaty. The present conciliatory attitude of the British Government may be taken in anticipation of the Nicaragua trouble, which, from the evidence adduced by Mr Henry Norman, seems to be the most serious trouble we are likely to have with our Yankee cousins.