The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-07-29
THE COMMISSION is BUSY
THEY FOUND EVERYBODY IN FRANCE IN
FAVOR OF Bi,METALISM.
What They Hope For From Great Britain
Germany viii Not Move Without
Great Britain.

Mr.. VIM. L. Curtis, writing from Lon
don to the Chicago Record, notes the
presence in England of the Currency
Embassy. and says:
The commissioners are very much
gratifed with their reception in the other
countries they have visited, particularly
in France, where they found that nearly
every person of Importance is bimeta-
list, and public opinion is very strongly
that way. The president, the prime min
ister the minister of finance, the chair
man of the chamber of deputies, are all
strongly sympathetic with the movement,
and have directed the French ambassa-
doris in the other countries to use their
influence to assist the American commits
sioners in their mission. The French
ambassador to London has been especial
~ instructed on the subject and will CO.
operate with Messrs. Wolcott. Steven
son and Paine while they are here. Not
only in France. but in Italy, Belgium and
Holland. the commissioners have found
sentiment both among the governments
and among the people favorable to the
restoration of the double standard. They
have not yet visited Germany. They will
go from London to Berlin.
The commissioners will not ask Great
Britain TO change her fiscal system.
They will not even ask her to adopt
a double standard of money or recog-
nize silver any further than at present,
but they will attempt to have the mints
of India reopened and the coinage of
silver rupees resumed. This will bring
200, 100000 people into use of silver
again, population equal to that of
France. Germany, Belgium, Holland and
Italy combined. They think that is
enough to ask at present, and they do not
understand that Lord Salisbury is vio-
lenJly opposed To such a proposition.
They expect to reach him through Mr..
Balfour, the first lord of the treasury,
who is his nephew, and has great in
iuence with him. Mr. Balfour is one
of the most ardent bimetallists in Eng
land. and it is from him that the COM
missioners have received their greatest
degree of encouragement.
Nor is it believed that the resumption
of coinage in the India mint will be
strongly objected to by the financial in
terests that surround the Bank of Eng
land in Lombard and Threadneedle
streets. 1t is thought that many of the
largest bankers in England will be IA
vorabIe to such action This the COM
mission expects to discover within the
next few days, and it will seek an inter-
view with Mr.. Balfour and Lord Sails
bury just as soon as the jubilee guests
have departed, and official affairs in
London resume their ordinary status.
1T is expected that the commissioners
will recommend to President Mckinley
that an international conference be held
of nations who desire the restoration Of
the money value of silver and the adop-
ton of double standard. in order that it
may no longer be the subject of inter
national controversy, and it will be sug-
gested that every delegate be sent with
positive instructions, in order that it will
not be necessary to take an adjournment
for consultation, or postpone final action
for any other reason. If Great Britain
is invited, the government will be asked
to instruct her degeates that they may
concur in remonetizing silver so far as
India is concerned.
There has been some preliminary
work done in Germany. One of the
commissioners told me that the ground
had been plowed over, but the KAISER
government will do nothing without
Great Britain, and visit there has been
postponed until the commissioners may
take some defnie proposition with them.