The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-27
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE,
England Will Join an international
Bi-MetaIIic Conference.
VIEWS WITH ALARM DISPARITY
OF GOLD AND SILVER.

Sir William Harcourt in the House of Com
mons Denied That England Was
Responsible for the Failure of the
Brussels Conference-Bi-Met etalIists Are
Elated Over Their Success.
London, February 26-In the House
of Commons today, Robert L. Everett,
Liberal member from Suffolk, intro
duced the following motion: "The
House regards with increasing apprehen-
sion the constant fuctuation and grow
ing divergence of the values of gold and
silver, and heartily concurs in the re-
cent expressions of opinion of the govern
ments of France and Germany in regard
to the serious evils arising therefronl."
Sir William Harcourt said that he had
never denied the existence of evils in
consequence of the growing divergence
of the values of gold and silver. When
other countries had desired a monetary
conference the government had not re-
fused to join. The last congress at Brus-
sells had shown that the majority of Eu-
ropean countries had declared in favor of
mono-metallic currency.
He did not think Germany changed
her opinion. When proposals from Ger
many or any other country reached the
government 1t woald be time enough to
consider the question of England's
joining in another conference. A mis-
conception, he said, existed in regard to
the cause of the failure of the BRUSSELS
conference. The government of the Unit
ed States, in proposing an International
conference expressed a wish that it be
had with view TO establish ratio of
values of gold and silver by the leading
ma atoms by means of free coinage of sill
yer in their respective mints. England,
he said, could not accept an Invitation
couched in such terms, and could not
enter into a matter which impeached
the first principles of England's curren-
cy. ("Hearl Hear!") The United States
government thereupon proposed con-
ference to consider what measures, If
any, could be taken to increase the use
of silver in the currency system of ma
tions. When the conference met, the rep
reentative OF the United States proposed
general resolution that in the opinion
of the conference it was desirable that
method be found VIII ch would in
crease the use of silver. This resolution
was supported by the British delegates.
1t Is alleged that the failure of the con-
ference was due to a premature declara-
tion on the part of Sir Charles Rivers
Wilson, the British delegate, against bi
metallism, but this statement is abso-
luteIy untonnded. 1t was a German
delegate who made the first declaration
of the kind, saying that Germany was
satisfied with the present monetary sys-
tenn, and did not intend to alter it.
(Hear! HearO. He said that Germany
recognized the fact that the continual
oscillations of silver values were regret
table from an<economical point of view,
and it was therefore desirable that the
question should be considered. The rep
resentatives of France and other powers
were not so directly opposed to the ques-
tiop, but rather disposed to criticize
than cooperate. The United States del
egate's resolution had to be abandoned,
and after this Alfred Rothschild, Brit
ish delegate, made a practical proposal
for the enlargement of the use of silver.
This was defeated by the action of Rus
sia and the Latin Union. 1t was clear
as far as the objects of the United
States were concerned, that no blame
could be attached to the British dele
gates for the negative results reached.
Recurring to the possible action of Ger
many in promoting another conference,
Sir William said the government had re-
ceived no official communication on the
SD bject, but had no hesitation in saying
that as far as he himself, was RESPONSE
BILE, such a communication would be
met in the same manner as the proposal
the United States was received.
(Hearl HearD To concur in proposals
to confer upon subjects of common in
terest was what belonged to international
courtesy. He would suggest that if an
other conference be held it be under