THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, 15th DECEMBER, 1899

Southland Times, Issue 14515, 15 December 1899, Page 2

THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. FRIDAY, 15th DECEMBER, 1899

The attitude of the European Powers towards Britain at the

THE TRANSVAAL WAP. AND THE POWERS.

present moment is no doubt being followed with great interest and much specula-

tion, for it is quite certain bhat England’s enemies would be only too glad, if tbe chancel of success were good, to descend upon her while she is engaged in a war that is heavily taxing her land forces. The tone of the entire Continental Press has been hostile, often bitterly hostile, to B itain, and only the other day English tourists in the south of France were driven by the intolerable behaviour of the native people amongst whom they were living to seek other summer resorts in Italy. The shameful delight afforded by the French newspapers that published scandalous and insulting references to our Sovereign is another index of the implacable hatred that France cherishes towards the British nation, and it is idle tosuppose that if theopportunity were tempting enough, France would not arm herself and try once more to humble her hereditary foe. The Spectator is one of the best informed English newspapers and the latest number to hand contains an article upon this subject. To the question “ Will the Powers attempt to intervene in our quarrel with the Boers?” the Spectator answeis, “ No, but they would very much like to.” The great preparations for war m de by Britain and the mobilisation of her fleet gave some ground for the assumption that she expected some move on the part oi the Powers and was taking thia means of meeting it. But as the Spectator points out it waa no more difficult bo make preparabions beyond whab waa absolubely required bhan to make preparations which were just adequate; and more important slid the vast and sudden display of her strength on land and sea waa calculated to make the Powers seriously reflect before letting slip the dogs of war. Even though there ia no danger it is much to Britain’s advantage to be ready. But the most powerful check upon a hostile coalition of Foreign Powers, for it may be taken for granted that no European Power would attack England single-handed, is the knowledge that when war is declared with Britain there ctn only be one of two issues, either they must be defeated or Britain as a Power must cease to be. In other words, the fight would be a fight to a finish. Britain would win or she would be extinguished. This being so, the Powers know bhat the United States would never allow England to be beaten without attempting to turn the balance by an alliance against the Powers. The United States would be compelled by the tie of kinship, and by considerations for her own safety, to stand by Britain if her destruction by Foreign Powers seemed imminent. If they eucceeded in crushing Britain the Continental allies would turn against the United States, whose stern refusal, under the Monroe doctrine, to permit Foreign Powers to interfere with the independent republics of South America, Mexico, and Central America has raised resentment and hostility amongst the European Powers. The destiny of America would be decided by that of Britain, and even for these material or commercial reasons, ie., without reckoning blood-rela-tionship as a potent influence, the United States would ally herself with Britain against the rest of the world. Finally the Spectator said that it would-not pay Germany to join the enemies of Britain, and without Germany a coalition would bo impossible. How true this was is apparent from the recent Anglo-German rapprochement, and although the Right Hon. Mr Chamberlain has fallen into tr üble through misstating the extent of the “ understanding” there is no doubt but that our relations with Germany were greatly improved on the occasion of the Emperor of Germany’s visit to England, and that they have become intimate and very assuring to ue. As the Spectator says: “We may be sure that if France and Russia would not fight over Fashoda, they will not tight us over the Transvaal. We aro very much stronger at sea now than we were last year, and they are relatively perceptibly weaker.” There is, therefore, for substantial reasons no fear of the Transvaal war involving Britain in a European embroglio. It may, however, happen that the other Powers will seize the occasion to push their interests in other countries. France, for instance, is said to be contemplating the purchase of Ceuta from Spain with a view to making a Gibraltar of it; and Russia may think the time opportune “ for arranging with Turkey that her battleships may pass through tho Bosphorus and Dardanelles though the warships of other Powers shall be excluded.” Bub in view of the fact that Germany does not in the least degree desire to see France and Russia obtain these privileges Britain would probably be able to defeat the designs of both. There is also the existing national feeling of confidence and self-reliance that the nations of Europe cannot overlook. In the words of the Spectator : “If we were to show fear they might possibly move. But there is not the slightest chance of that. The temper of our people is all the other way. It is conceivable that some harm of a different kind might be dore by the conviction of the man in the street that we could safely * take on ’ the whole Continent. That is the only risk we run from public feeling here.”