Show A PERTINENT QUESTION The answer ot tho Hon John TV Foster Fos-ter exSecretary of State to questions rom the Independent raises u new problem The main question WW Suppose that JCL single European power or a combination of two or more Continental Con-tinental forces should be at war with Great Britain and should be able to defeat the British North Atlantic squadron nnd take possession of Canadian Ca-nadian territory or the Bermuda under the Monroe doctrine would tho United States be obliged to become the ally of Grot Britain to prevent this > acquisition of territory in the ease either oC permanent or temporary occupation oc-cupation IIsCqulslon that fits close and Mr Foster uses a good deal I ot space to lay down the foundation for his reply that it Is Improbable that the United States would ally herself with England in such case but ho thinks that such n situation would hen he-n favorable opportunity for this country coun-try to negotiate with Great Britain for tho withdrawal oC its sovereignty from the Dominion and further that It IB safe to say that no other European power with our consent would be permitted mitted to hold Halifax or the Bermudas i Ber-mudas It Is f ticklish question and shows anew that the Monroe doolrino needs more exact dcllnltlon n loose generality will not much longer be satisfactory to any one The minor question was whether in view on the trouble between Great Britain and i Franco as tp the Island oC Mlquelon thin country would make objection to the transfer of he sovereignty oC that Island from France to Great Britain Mr Foster answers very properly that we would have n6 possible Interest I relation to such 0 transfer and there Is no reason why we should care any thing about I |