Evening journal., 1896-07-06

Negotiations For an Understanding With
France Have Been Dropped-To what
Extent English support Has Been Vol
unteered Is Not Apparent.
NEW YORK, July G.-Don Manuel dc
Albania, The Journals Madrid CORE
spondent, cables the following:
Although 1t is public fact that the
negotiations for an understanding with
France have been broken off, the govern
ment alone knows what has happened.
1.-THE negotiations pointed toward ver-
liable alliance with France, always desired,
because in the case of a Franco German
war the Spanish army in the Alps would
stop Italian troops on the frontier, while
If Spain sided with Germany, France would
be obliged to keep large force In the Pyr-
enees and fight on the three frontiers.
"Spain constantly refused to take part
In European conflicts, preferring neutrali-
ty, which relieved her of the necessity Of
keeping up large and expensive standing
army. Now, however, in the presence Of
the danger of a conflict with the United
States, Spain hos determined to abandon
the policy Of isolation.
France made good offers and the ne
gotiations reached such an advanced stage
that France sent a naval squadron to Co
runa and Ferrol, where, oboying the in
structions of the government Of Madrid,
the local authorities, heartily seconded by
the respective populations, enthusiasticnl-
ly received the French marines, whose
commander responded with demonstra-
tions of tho warmest regard for Spain
The exchange of sympathies looked like
those at Cronstadt and Toulon, which
scaled the Franco Russian alliance.
Negotiations with France Broken or
"This continued somo time, and then a
visit Of the officers of the French squadron
90 Madrid was contemplated, when sud
denly negotiations between France and
Spain broke down. Russian papers attack
cd Spain, and the Paris press, which only
few days before highly praised her, now
sing different tune and are manifesting
sympathies with the Cubans
''What happened Is a mystery. Some
suppose that the rupture might be due to
refusal Of Russia to enter the Franco
Spanish alliance, preferring tho friendship
of the United States.
''I understand that the rupture was not
declared by France, but by Spain, whos'
government had received from another
country more favorable offers. have beer
unable to ascertainif the offers came from
Germany or England but the haste mani
tested in the direction of the re- establish
ment of commercial relations with Ger
many is significant. The German navy Il
not so powerful as the French, but Ger
man political influence is greater, and I
German alliance would probably not forc
Spain to send an army outside Of Spanish
territory, as a French alliance would, II
case Of European war
spanish politicians with whom hav'
talked consider It more likely that the Of
fers came from England, whose interest
Is to prevent the Franco Russian allianc
from becoming stronger, at the same tim
that England has the same American In
forests as Spain and is also interested n
not having Spain allied with possible enc
mics of England, because Gibraltar bay |
now easily dominated by batteries fron
Spanish territory.
ITO what extent English support ha
been offered however, is point my friend
did not know"