The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-27
GREATER USE OF SILVER
AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
PROBABLE,

a Report That the Selection Of the
Place for Holding it Is All That Re-
mains President Harrison
Not Ready Yet TO Give the Senate
the Information Asked for.
WASHINGTON, April 26.-President Har-
rison does not care to trust the secrets Of
the negotiations for a conference regarding
the enlarged use Of silver to the members
Of the United States Senate. Senator Sher-
man quietly slipped q saving clause, ''if not
Incompatible with the public interests"
into the resolution calling for the corr
respondence, which Senator Teller intro
duced last week. Upon that peg the
President hangs his refusal TO reveal
the facts, even though the secrets Of the
Senate chamber have been guarded by the
removal Of Executive Clerk Young. The
President in his briei message, artfully
seems to leave the question open whether
there is any correspondence at all, but his
declaration that, ''if free international sill
yer coinage is not presently attainable" he
will labor Ito secure the largest practicable
use Of that metal, " is q significant hint of
the character of the coming confer-
ence. The fact is that invitations
have been given 70 the leading
nations to enter such a conference, and if
final steps have not been taken calling it, it
is because the place has not been chosen. The
British government did not, it seems, seem
especially disposed 10 favor London as the
place of meeting, and the places now being
considered are Brussels and Genoa. When
the place is absolutely decided the Presi-
dent may see fit TO take the legislative
branch of the government, or at
least the treaty-making branch,
into his confidence. Great Britain, France,
Belgium, Germany and Italy had consented
to take part in the conference and the only
nation Of note which is hesitating is Austria
Hungary, which has lately been trying to
get rid Of her silver and get upon a gold
basis.
TEXT OF THE COMMUNICATION.
Following is the full text of the communi-
cation sent to the Senate by the President
Ihave received the resolution Of the Senate of
April %, requesting that If not incompatible
with the public interests l inform the Senate
what steps have been taken toward the secur-
ing of an international conference to
coinage OF silver at the mints Of the
nations participating in such conference, or as
TO Enlarged Use of silver in the currency sys-
tenn OF said countries, and that transmit 20
tween the United States and other
governments upon the subject, and
in response thereto beg respectfully to inform
the Senate that in my opinion it would not be
compatible with the public interest to lay
before the Senate at this time the Information
requested; but that, at the earliest moment
after detinite information can properly be
given, all the facts and any correspondence
that may take place will be submitted
to congress. 1t may not be in
appropriate, however to say here
that believing that full use of silver as a coin
metal, upon an agreed ratio, by the great com
mercial nations of the world would very highly
promote the prosperity of all their people.
have not, and will not, let any favorable oppor-
tunity pass for the promotion of that most de-
srabls result. or, ii free international silver
coinage is not presently attainable to secure the
largest practicable use of that metal.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, AprI %, 1899.
ENGLAND AROUSED.
LONDON, April 26.-Lord Salisbury, Mr..
Goschen and Mr.. Balfour have consented to
receive an influential deputation from the
chamber of commerce and from the COM
mercial community, whose object it is to
urge the promotion of an International
agreement looking to unrestricted coinage
of gold and silver, as a remedy for the en-
barrassment in trade arising from the
violent fluctuations and uncertainty Of ex-
| change with silver using countries.