IS THERE AN AKGLO-AMERICAN. UNDERSTANDING ?

Otago Witness, Volume 25, Issue 2321, 25 August 1898, Page 21

IS THERE AN AKGLO-AMERICAN. UNDERSTANDING ?

(Daily Times.) Last Tuesday, in the course of an article on the European and American situation, we mentioned a paper entitled '" Is there an Anglo-American Understanding ? " which appeared in the '"Fortnightly Review " for July. Those people who are in the habit of looking at the Anglo-Ameri-can understanding from a merely sentimental standpoint would do well to study this paper, and with it they might join another — " The Anglo-American Future," by Frederick Greenwood, in the " Nineteenth Century " for the same month. Mr Greenwood, according to his

wont, is somewhat cynical, but his remarks are, for tho mosL part, very shrewd, and he, as well as " £>iploniaticus," furnishes a, salutary corrective for the vapid and hasty generalisation which has been so prevalent during the last few months. Concerning the rapprochement between England and America Mr Greenwood observes: "A distinguished American politician said the other day that the most remarkable thing about it was its spontaneity : its true quality was marked by the fact that it did not spring from any sudden or any special need. Now that is indeed what we could wish ; but it is not tho truth, and everbody knows it." And Mr Greenwood declares that it is " a poor Pecksniffian make-believe " to deny that the feeling arose in England '' about the time and for the reason that Mr Chamberlain spoke of our need of alliances," and in America when apprehension of European interference was fresh and keen. It does not follow that rapprochement is other than genuine or that it musb prove transitory : the important consideration is that mutual self-interest mixst be tho central principle of a permanent understanding, just as it served as the motive of the change of feeling manifested in May. " Diplomaticus " somewhat elaborately examines the notion that an Anglo-Americaoi alliance may be founded on affinities of race, or identity of language, or common sympathy with freedom, 'and he shows good ground for regardiug the idea as a delusion — a plausible sentiment to which no countenance is given by anthropological science, political experience, or the actual conditions of the English and American peoples. Many historical and con- i temporary illustrations are furnished, and the conclusion, apparently warranted, is that however much an understanding "may be strengthened afterwards by an awakened sense of racial affinity, and of common political ideals, its basis must be a community of material interests, and those interests must be j ascertained and agreed upon in the usual J way." There is no doubt that the senti- j mental view is the more enticing, — the ] view of the preacher and the poet : it lends itself so readily to magnanimous eloquence, and altogether is so delightfully easy. Nevertheless, the suddenness of America's friendly manifestation ; the fact that even within the last year or two the most prominent expressions of American feeling towards England were hostile ; the fact that so recently as February of this year a distinguished American general could write of "our ancient | antagonist, England," and " our ancient i allies, France and Russia " (admitting, i with a show of surprise, that "for the first time " American interests were with j the ancient foe and against the ancient friends) ; — do not these things (together with the somewhat fickle sensitiveness of \ the American temperament) point the moral that the question of a permanent Anglo-American understanding must be settled by the practical statesmen rather than the sentimentalists, — settled, too, on a basis of common material interesLs ? " Diplomaticus " supposes that there has beon a recognition, more or less definite, of community of interest. It was, of course, a matter of interest — almost of necessity — to America that England should countenance, or at least refrain from discountenancing, the intervention in Cuba, — should, iv fact, reverse her policy regarding Cuba — a policy dating from the time of Canning. Twentythree years ago America asked the Powers to countenance intervention " in Cuba : " All tho Powers returned unfavourable replies, but we have Mr authority for the statement that, had England stood out, as she is now doing, intervention would have proceeded, and General Grant would have saved President M'Kinley the labour and anxieties of his present great enterprise." England has now taken up a different position,— practically saving America from the unfriendly attentions j of Europe, and there is clear evidence ! that America is grateful. But, asks " Diplomaticus," is it likely that the isolation of America has been covered by j tho British Government without a quid J pro quo 2 And what guarantees has j America given ? According to this writer, I

the answer is probably connected with the commercial necessities of America. Washington's famous "rule of conduct" is becoming impossible, — the nile j " in regard to foreign nations, in exfcendj ing our commercial relations, to have I with them as little political connection ias possible." The two parts of this policy ! are no longer compatible. America's ! commercial interests are directly menaced by the projects of European diplomacy. "With a growing export trade, which they are ambitious to increase on a va-^t scale, bub hampered by a tradition which ! forbids them to seek dominion outside j their own hemisphere, the people of the ! United States find themselves to-day coiii fronted by the possibility of the neutral markets cf the world being seized and closed against them hy a combination of Protectionist Powers." This hostile movement is resisted by England, ant} ! America has been impressed by the course of events in China and by the practical, logical appeal of Mr Chamberlain's speech. The writer in the "Fortnightly" finally asks : "Is it, then, carrying this speculation too far to suggest that the understanding, of which I have argued the probable existence, is based on the recognition of the identity of the interests of England and America in the markets of the Far East " Unfortunately, with or without America's co-operation, England's policy of the " open door " has not been marked by conspicuous success. We cannot summarise Mr Greenwood's article, but it should be read. The Nestor, of London journalism (as he was recently termed) thinks that the American desire — if desire there be — for an English alliance will disappear pretty quickly, — end, in fact, with the war, unless Continental Powers should intervene respecting the settlement with Spain. Should everything go off quietly the idea of alliance will drop : " were I to add that it would be dropped with a joyful sense of relief, and that their gladness will be doubled if the people of the United States can feel that their new career does not begin with every door to friendship closed but one, I should only speak of a natural and blameless sentiment." By "their new career" Mr Greenwood means that new national and international policy, that attempt to cut a more imposing figure among the nations, that renunciation of the old self-contained aloofness, upon which, in the opinion of so many competent observers, America is bent. America obviously means to be a great naval Power, and it is very interesting to note that Mr Greenwood attributes this movement largely to the influence of Captain ! Mahan's writings. His conclusion, if conclusion it can be called, is that, though the project of an alliance is likely to drop, still (seeing that America will ; before long be a great fighting Power) "we may think ourselves lucky in the ; good feeling that sets in between the two ; countries at the turn of the new time." j We do not suggest that the two articles i from which we havo quoted so freely fur- i nish complete or specially conclusive re- j views of the Anglo-American position : j perhaps their chief value, as has already j been hinted, is corrective. As Mr Green- j wood observes : " There is forgiveness, I \ hope, for mentioning neglected facts j which are also stones of stumbling."