Page:Anglo-American relations during the Spanish-American war (IA abz5883.0001.001.umich.edu).pdf/50

 aggression, began at once to seek concessions and "spheres of influence." In Africa the British faced a variety of problems, for the entire continent was being opened to foreign conquest. General Charles Gordon's death in the Sudan had not yet been avenged. French interests were being asserted throughout the North. German expansion was moving forward so rapidly toward the South that it threatened not only to prevent further British expansion, but to jeopardize the British colonies already established there.

Since Lord Salisbury proposed to prosecute an active foreign policy, it was necessary that he should meet all of these situations at once. But Great Britain was without allies; and every one of the nations which he would oppose was a member of one of the two great European alliances. Thus, Lord Salisbury was limited to a policy of diplomacy, for war could be justified only upon the greatest provocation. Into this crisis in British affairs an event of unusual significance was now projected.

On December 29, 1895, Dr. Leander Jameson made his famous raid into the Transvaal. This was followed on January 3, 1896, by a friendly note from the German foreign office to President Paul Kruger. A few days of frenzied activity on the part of the British Government followed, and the "Flying Squadron" was made ready for action. War seemed almost inevitable. Immediately promises of sympathy and support arrived from the principal British colonies. It had been understood for some time that Mr.