426
WANTED MORE ENTENTES.
"
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE TRIPLE ENTENTE.
[June 29, 1907. tried to make a little diversion, doubtless thinking that each would be only too ready to seize an apple of dis or.. The result was the exact opposite, and actually losed any breach that might have been impending, and so the first fytte of the comedy ended.
The most instructive thing in all the play has been undoubtedly that neither France, Spain nor England has found itself in consequence of their agreements called oa to make the slightest sacrifice. Neither of the three has in the smallest affair found
(Daily Press, 25th June). (Daily Press, June 24th.)
Perhaps the most interesting of the recent -Although, as we have frequently found alliances has been that just concluded occasion to remark, our hopes of universal between England, France and Spain. peace and disarmament are not profound, Historically the alliance is of course it is pleasant to be able to point out that unprecedented: there have been agreements the peace of the Far East is in a fair way with France about Spain, and agreements to be practically prolonged and assured. with Spain about France; and a general The "yellow peril ghost is being most agreement with Portugal as regar la both, effectively laid, and with the disappearance but an agreement wherein all three were of national nervousness there are bound to united in a common interest has up to this itself in such a position that it had to yield be fewer calls to arms. The Powers with sel lom or never been conceived as possible. up a point of vantage ground or undergo interests in the Extreme Orient may now
Yet there is nothing in the present agree. any detriment to its dignity or influence as safeguard those interests very securely ment to denote that any particular change an independent state. One President in and inexpensively by following the excel has come across any of the contracting France having finished his term of office was lent example of England and France. parties. Under like conditions a tripartite able to shuffle off the responsibilities of his Taking the past record of alliance and agreement such as the present, would have post, and retir; int private life with the ententes under observation, it must be been equally feasible a century ago. The proud feeling that he had done his duty, admitted that including those that looked fact is, of course, that neither France, Spain and gained the approbation of his fellow least pacific their general tendency has been nor England has anything to gain from the men whether at home or abroad. The King to reduce the risk of war. The idealists who other: England discovered a century ago of Spain undisturbed by smouldering dis- pay visits to the Hague are all very well that it was useless for her to try and get aetent at home, or by warlike threats in their way, but it is the diplomatists footing on French ground; she blockade abroad has been in a position to enjoy his who are really accomplishing things. The and hunharded, but found herself for all life as no sovereign of Sain has ever been universal peace ideal has failed to convince, her trouble without a square inch of able to do before him; while in England but almost as useful has proved the general territory. France found the same in Spain King EDWARD bas found it possible for a chorus of agreement with the first principle after the Peninsular War, for the old monarch w thout loss of per onal or nation l of the old Jingo rhyme :
"We don't boundary stones had not moved forward an dignity to take part in the amenities of want to fight." It is to much for ell. Spain had discovered the like two social life as fully as the most happily any people to say they will never fight centuries before; so that the foundation circumstanced of his subjects; and so the again: commonsense recognition of the facts had long been laid, had there only been act, as picturesque a one as ever was staged, of existence demands the retention of the gome retson for erecting substantial closes without a discordant sound. pis aller; but all are now fairly unanimous edifice on it. A century ago Algerine Nor apparently does the second act open on the point that war should be the last pirates still were a source of danger in the under less genial surroundings. Auspicious- shift. It is so very costly, not only as to Mediterranean, and although the fact didly the first scene rises with the presentation its immediate and direct expenditure, but not lead to any special alliance which was of a small baby to the assembled Ambassa also in its effec's upou tradal and other de- probably not needed, the thre, Powers dors of all the Powers. The Queen of Spain, velopment. Capital requires a state of peace EXMOUTH bombarded Algiers in return for she had before been beloved by her fellow acted very much in concord. In 1816 Lord already endeared to her new subjects as before it can be applied to good purpose, commerce thrives on peace, and wealth and accumulated insults offered to the flag; and subjects in Eng'and, has just given birth to prosperity increase under its regime.
France and Spain were quite content. But
an heir to the crown of Arragon and Hongkong sud Singapore must be indirect- the punishment was not rufficient, and in Castile, and the good news is empha- ly benefited by the Anglo-Japanese under-1830, France had to repeat it; but she went sised by the additional fact that the standing; and now the vast French colonies
babe is strong and healthy, and the mother, of Indo-China are free for unrestricted
in good trim. For two generations Spain enterprise. Though the hesitatious aud
bad been in evil case, and the succession fears that may have hampered it hitherto
jopardised by pretenders. Under te late were, as we remarked the other day, the
monarch, ALFONSO XII, affairs at one result of illusion, it is satisfactory to feel
commenced to pull thems Ives together but that even an imaginary dragon is removed
he died before the birth of his successor, from the path. It will be highly satis
and his Queen, MARIA CHRISTINA, had to factory all round when the obstacles stand-
assume the Reg ney. Fortunately she was ing in the way of a similar understanding
equal to the emergency, nud not only between America and Japan are destroyed.
governed the Kingdom well, but had her Japan is not doing anything to bolster
son Jarefully educited for his high task. them, and though she has frequently
Bit the old evils coull not be eradicated in repudiated any improper designs in the
a generation, and before the young King Philippines or Hawaii, the air will be
came to govern personally, the old system clearer when there is a hard and fast
of in srule had lost to Spain the greater part entente. If Washington can only succeed
of her remaining Colonial possessions. in overcoming the constitutional flaws that
Inheriting his mother's capacity for govern- permit individual states to nullity Federal
ment, the young monarch on assuming the treaties, such an agreement with Japan way
helm set himself to unite the factions of his be confidently expected, as a logical sequel
8mewhat unruly kingdom; and by bis to the others mentioned. Then further, it
active and generous disposition won his way has been suggested, would follow a Japanese
to the hearts of his subjects. It was with understanding with Holland, who has large
these recommnendations that he made a tour colonial stakes in these parts, and whose
through the courts of Europe, where his relations with the new Power have long
populer, and where he met his destined engaging meaners made him personally
bride. Many pr judices had to be overcome in both countries be'ore either the English or Spanish people cou'd be brought to look no other monarch than King ALFONSO, favourably on the alliance; and probably
whose active life and love of sport hal made him a favourite with the English people, could have succeeded. • What ALFONSO's personality had done in England that of his destined brid was soon to din Spaia. When, therefore, tas course of events had brought France and England together generally, and affairs in Morocco had thrown France and Spain almost literally. into each other's arms; and King Alrosso's
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further, and to make matters sure took the town and deposed the DEY. England and Spain were well content to be rid of an aunoyance, which moreover was always threatening, the peace of Europe. Soine snarling took place afterwards, and when England in 1840 took Acre, and handed it back to Turkey from whom it had been taken by MEHEMET ALI, France threatened war; but fund it was not worth fighting for. But things were coming together, and in 1879 England and France together attempted to put Egypt to rights, and placed MOHAMED TEWFIK on the K. edivial throne. Some two years after occurred the rebellion of ARABI, when England decided to go to war, but France would not be persuaded to join, and withdrew in a huff. This for some years revived old jealousies, which fortunately confined themselves to words; but these disputes which had year by year been bcoming less serious gave way in 1904 to a general convention when a fair baitne of grievances was struck, and the old scors bould aris-, of which there are none on tue fually closed, so that unles new grievances been such as to pave the way for the most enthusiastic of ententes. With one more
horizon, the alliance may be looked upon as rapprochement, between Germany and good for an indefinite period. This last left Japan, the list should be about complete, it open to France and Spain to and the peace of the Far East, so necessary both that while they had a great deal of together, and a little conversation convinced for the recovery of trade and commerce, would be practically assured.
common interest, they had
practically nothing between them to give rise to jealousy or misunderstandings that could Recently there have been large amounts of ot be removed by a little good-humoured antimony exported from Hunan to Hankow. giving way on both sides. The most diffi. A telegram from Hankow says that foreign cult thing to adjust was Morrocco; but on merchants intend regulate the price of anti-comparing notes both found they had far Hunan. The Bureau of Mines in Hquan has more in agreement than difference, and once decided not to sell any antimony during the 5th the task was assayed the whole fell into order naturally. Curiously Germany here
mony by not buying for three months from
moon.
•
Come
King
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