Page:Anglo-American relations during the Spanish-American war (IA abz5883.0001.001.umich.edu).pdf/51

 had been engaged in investigating conditions in the colonies, and this event served as an opportunity ior him to announce both British dependence on colonial loyalty and his policy of imperial federation.

On January 21, 1896, a dinner was given m honour of Lord Lamington, who was leaving England to assume his duties as governor of the colony of Queensland. After having spoken of the greatness of the Australian colonies, Mr. Chamberlain called attention to the South African affair and to the significance of the assurances of colonial support in case of war. Then, quoting from Tennyson, he said, "let

Serious as the Anglo-German episode may have been it was exceedingly opportune in that it served to crystallize the policies of the new British Government and to reveal to the British people the fundamental weakness of their international position. This weakness having once been demonstrated, it became possible for Mr. Chamberlain to urge the second step in his foreign policy—the promotion of a "durable friendship" with the United States. His opportunity came when the Venezuelan boundary controversy was projected into the complication of British affairs in December, 1895.