The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-01-03
MONETARY CONFERENCE
President Andrews Gives His Views
on Its Work and Results.
He IS ENTIRELY SATISFIED.
Dimcnities Beset the Work OF the Con-
ference and All was Done That Could
be Expectcd-The Result OF the Presi-
Dental Election on the Conference.

TresiuenJ IL. benjamin Andrews o
Brown University, arrived home las
night from Brussels. where, as "A membe
OF the American delegation, he has beer
attending the sessions of the Interna
tional Monetary Conference He stopped
In Paris while en- route for this country
and for six days was surrounded by the
exciting scenes which threatened to over
throw the French government. lie lef,
Paris on December "A on the steamer Gas.
cogne OF the French Line, and arrived In
quarantine on Sunday night.
President Andrews was found i'm his
study this morning by NEWS reperter r
ana when questioned about the pro-
ceedings and results OF the monetary
conference. spoke as follows:
At the first session of the conference
the prime minister of Belgium, who is at
the same time minister of finance made
an address OF welcome. He spoke ably
and very warmly of the necessity of in
ternationsl procedure in the matter Of
| money.
"Tbis address was followed nv one INV
Minister Terrell, the representative of the
United States at the Court OF Belgium.
| who nominated the Hon. Montefiore Law
as president of the conference. Then fol-
| lowed the remaining work of organiza-
tioD, after which the first session ad-
| journed.
'At the next meeting the American
delegates presented their plan for the
work OF the conference. The substance
OF this has been published. 1t was
adopted and became the basis of subse-
| quent procedure.
"As soon as this was done plans began
TO raln In from the four quarters OF The
earth or course only those which were
OF special Importance. or showed pecu-
liar grasp OF the situation, could be taken
into consideration. The work of examin-
ing such as were worthy of being ex-
amined devoived upon committee Of
twelve representatives OF the principal
countries. Henry w. Cannon, president
OF the Chase National Bank, New York.
was the American representative. 1 had
the honor to sit in his place one day when
he was necessarily absent.
III hnd been necessary to occupy n
principal part of the time thus far i'm
making the delegates acquainted with
one another and with the details of the
worlds monetary difficulty. It must be
remembered that large number of the
Delegates. though very able men as Dip
Iomatsts' perhaps, or In some other de-
partmsnt which has rendered them fs-
NOUS, did not pretend TO be specialists in
monetary science or even iu the financial
condition OF their own country. These
gentlemen needed much time to grasp
the matter which to others was perfectly
There appeared TO be some mutual
suspicion between the different delega-
tions which wore away only gradually.
it was very general impression i'm |
Europe, when the conference began. that |
the United States would, before long. 90 |
over TO the free coinage Of silver. The |
Americans dld their best to disablisa the /
other delegates present of this mistake
and i believe with perfect success We /
insisted the United States would not on |
any consideration or in any contingency
give up its gold We explained that our
country stood ready to unite with the
ether great nations in any use of silver
that would be at once safe and beneficial,
but that this country did not propose to
undertake bimetallism alone and that il
the bitter fight for gold now going on
must continue, and no international ef-
fort be made TO relieve it by larger use
OF silver the United States, though reluc-
tant. was prepared for the conflict. We
explained that this country had some
very Important advantages in such a war,
that our protective system was OF advan-
tage to us in this regard, forcing Europe
to pay for our products to q considerable
extent In gold.
"All the deliberations of the conference
were perfectly harmonious. Ii was OBJ
vious that all the delegates, whether from
Democratic or Monarchical countries, |
bad the utmost respect for the United
States, though many OF them were very
in their opposition to some
of the elements OF our fiscal policy.
Reference was made again and again |
20 the results OF the last presidential cleo
Ion here. The change Of administration
was one Of the considerations which
weighed in favor of a long adjournment
against reassembling in January. The
ARE TO have the deliberations of the con
erence continued, in which case sup
bose they would be brought TO a conclu.
ion as soon ~ this could be done with
or he may wish to submit new
questions and propositions.
Other nations may desire to reinstruct
heir delegates. Should the Gladstone
government break down aud Lord Sails
Jury return to power the attitude of
ireat Britain toward bimetallism would
'e immensely more favorable than now.
The findings of Lord Herchel's none
airy. commission in England were often
tied. Far the most active propaganda
4 bimetallism in the world exists now
n England
''As TO results, the above exhibits the
york OF the conference to date which is
IL that could be expected, considering
he difficulties which beset IL at first.
What will take place In June no one
an tell. but ii no special obstacle appears
here is good prospect for some conclus-
,n being arrived at which will lead to ,
lternational cooperation rs to silver
honey sooner or later For reasons
'hich ! think | ought not to make known
have great hope that something def ,
ite will be accomplished at the second
,ssion. |,
1T is probable that two or three M !,
ons, possibly Great Britain and the :
nited States. might start out together :
this matter, leaving the rest TO follow
: not, as they chose. The feature of
le conference. so far, and one of ines
mable value in itself, has been the in
rest Great Britain has shown in sus-
lining the price of silver by interna-
onal agreement" q
President Andrews laid great emphasis | :
/ the fact that in no way could the
be called n failure. It was 8
apostolic TO 40 any more than was ;