Page:Anglo-American relations during the Spanish-American war (IA abz5883.0001.001.umich.edu).pdf/49

Rh of her colonies and the United States. With the former, he advocated a commercial union and a union for defence; with the latter, a "durable friendship." The opportunity to carry out his policy came with the election of Lord Salisbury and the adoption of the new British foreign policy. Mr. Chamberlain was given what had previously been considered a relatively unimportant portfolio. His plan, however, was to make the office of colonial secretary the pivotal position in the promotion of the new British foreign program. Within six months after his appointment Mr. Chamberlain was actively engaged in the prosecution of his plans.

The new Coalition Government was plunged immediately into foreign complications. The revival of Armenian persecutions by the Turks brought the Near Eastern question into prominence. It was here that Lord Salisbury received American criticism for the first time, since many Americans placed upon the British full responsibility for the continuation of the Armenian atrocities. The situation was even more serious in the Far East. Chitral was permanently garrisoned, an event which meant the revival of Anglo-Russian competition in Indian territory, The Chino-Japanese War showed China to be a decadent nation; and Russia, France, and Germany, each prepared for immediate