davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1897-06-06
A CLOUD OF SUSPICION
HANGS OVER HoFFMAN's CON-
TIDENTIAL CLERK
Examination Of the Books Reveals a
Shortage and Indicates Mo-
tive for Murder

SAN FRANCISCO, June 5.--After four
days of continuous investigation into
the mysterious death Of Isaac Hoffman Il,
the Battery street merchant, who was
found in dying condition in his own Of
flee with three bullet wounds In Ms
head, the police have not advanced be-
yond the conclusion that a murder was
committed by some person as yet un-
known.
The cloud Of suspicion has not been
lifted from Theodore Figel, Hoffman, IS
confidential clerk and bookkeeper, who
was admittedly in the Office with Hoff-
man last Tuesday evening, less than an
hour before the discovery of the dying
man.
After spending an hour over the
books of the firm today, the detectives
and attorneys for the relatives of the
deceased came to the conclusion that
there were several peculiarities about
Figers system of making his entries
which need considerably more explana-
ton than that vouchsafed by the book
keeper. In the statement made by Figel
to the police, he said that the firms
profits for the year amounted to $32, 900:
but it now appears that Hoffman's last
act before he met his death was to write
to his partner in New York to the effect
that the firm had made $4,000 during the
year. 1t is therefore conjectured that
either Hoffman was misinformed as to
the balance to the credit Of the firm, or
that Fige's estimate is erroneous.
An evening paper publishes an inter-
view with Chief Detective Bohen to the
effect that SO far as circumstantial evil
dence goes, things look very bad for FL
gel. Bohen intmates that there is al
ready a shortage perceptible in the
firms books, and that he expects that
when properly exported they will show
deficiency of several thousands.
Detective Bohen is also credited with
having advanced the theory that Hoff-
man had discovered irregularities and
summoned Figel to give an account of
his shortage after the other employees
had left the office upon the evening of
the tragedy.
The herald., 1897-06-06
A Long Voyage

SAN FRANCISCO, June 5.--The
British bark Java left Portland 212 days
ago for Queenstown, and is making the
slowest voyage on record. When che
was out 10S days she was spoken in the
vicinity of Cape Horn. She was then
sailing slowly along, and before she was
heard again from nearly score of ves-
sells had passed the Horn and were an
chored in some English port. Insurance
men began to get anxious and reinsur-
ance went up to 40 per cent. When she
was out 150 days she was spoken on the
equator in the Atlantic, and since then
she has not been heard of. Insurance
men now believe the vessel is safe, but
they have doubts if the ship has enough
provisions on board for her crew.
The herald., 1897-06-06
Beat the Bank

FRESNO, June 5.-A number Of years
ago property valued at $4,000 was set
aside for the children Of D. w. Park
hurst, with Parkhurst and his wife as
trustees. A trust deed was 90 drawn
that while the trustees could not mort
gage the property there was nothing to
prevent them from selling it. The prop
erty was located in Fowler. AS the
boom flickered out Parkhurst needed
money, and tried to borrow it on the
property. The attorneys for the bank
said they could not mortgage it, but
could sell it to a.third party, and then
accept joint notes. Parkhurst and wife
made the sale to Mrs Ashbury,
member Of their family, and then made
notes for s30,000 on which $12, 900 was ad-
vanced by the Bank of Southern Cali
fornia. The eldest son recently came Of
age and brought suit to set the deed of
the bank aside, charging that il was
fraudulent, and not made in good faith,
and the whole transaction was matter
Of collusion, and that the sale was not
real. Judge Risley also viewed the
matter 50, and set aside the sale this
morning.
The herald., 1897-06-06

FOR EXCHANGE
14-room house. with s acres set to
citrus and deciduous fruits, near San
Diego, and 7-room house. Del Mar; all
clear; for Denver property.
10 acres near San Bernardino and 20
acres near Perris. in alfalfa, for Los
Angeles property.
Denver improved and unimproved prop
erty.
City and country Kansas property.
Fine property. Block Island, r. l.
4400-acre ranch near Pueblo: want $1,000
residence in Los Angeles, clear; balance
time.
10-room house and lot, Grand ave-. for
clear improved property.
10-room house, with good 10 acres, good
out-buildings. North Haven, Conn.,, for
Los Angeles or Pasadena improved prop
erty.
371a-acre ranch near Orange for i'm
proved Los Angeles or Chicago property.
5-room house near Westlake park for
small orange grove near Los Angeles.
Farms In Illinois.
Improved and unimproved Ohio prop
erty.
GEORGE VAN DERwERKER,
6 1923 Byrne building.
The herald., 1897-06-06
A STRANGE DISASTER
A Leaking Gas Main Blows Up q
ScoW


CHICAGO, June 5.-One Of three mud
scows in tow of the tug Andrew H. Green
was blown to atoms this morning by an
explosion of gases just after having
passed through the Rush-street draw.
The explosion was heard for great dis
tance and all the buildings in the vicinity
were shaken to their founda tions. Aug
ust Americus, who was on the scow, was
blown into the river and drowned before
help could reach him.
During the past week the company
has been engaged in dredging the South
Branch in the vicinity of the Bridgeport
Gas Works and the general theory ad-
vanced is that in some manner the gas
eots substance in the scow became ig-
nited from spark from the tug.
A portion Of the Goodrich dock was
shattered and considerable damage
done to the buildings in the vicinity.
Frank Morton. night agent of the Gra-
ham and Morton Transportation Com
pany, was thrown from his bed and
severely bruised by flying timbers. The
Rush-street bridge was shaken to its
and it is feared has been
damaged.
Those who witnessed the explosion
were positive that 1t was the tug An
drew H. Green and the report that all
on board had perlshed spread rapidly
and the greatest excitement prevailed.
The herald., 1897-06-06
Not Yet Settled

SAN FRANCISCO, June 5.-The ques-
ton as to who will be the next postmas-
ter of this city is still unsettled. 1t is
agreed that the appointment belongs to
Congressman Loud, but his choice, it ap-
pears, does not quite suit John d. Spreck-
els. That is causing temporary
hitch. From correspondence in the
hands of John D. Daly's friends it is posi-
lively stated that Mr.. Loud is for that
gentleman, and will do all in his power
to secure his appointment 1t is as
serted that he will brook no opposition
unless Mr.. Daily consents to take the po-
sition of collector of internal revenue.
Daily looks serene and confident.
The herald., 1897-06-06

part in the movement. Unfortunately
for their usefulness In France at least
two out of the three American commis-
sioners do not speak 4 word of French
and neither does the of1cial secretary
Of the commission. The awkwardness
Of this was shown at the banquet. when
to the toasts.
Mr.. j. Gubbins. the owner Of Galtee
More, the Irish colt which won the Derby
on Wednesday last, was poor man
working in America when he inherited
great fortune from his uncle, Mr..
Wyse, the Irish distifler, and immedi-
ately returned to Ireland. Galtee More
is probably one of the most valuable
horses in the long list Of Derby winners.
Several weeks before the race Mr.. Cub
bins refused 425,000 for the colt.
Mrs. Charles Stewart Parnell. widow
of the late Irish leader. is about to take
up her residence at Tremarton Castle,
near Plymouth.
SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.
Upwards of $4,000 signatures have al
ready been obtained for the Scottish
National memorial to the Queen, pray
ing that in state documents the wordo
Great Britain" and British" should
always be substituted for England"
and English"
Mr.John Erskin,a merchant Of Belfast,
Ireland, has offered the lords of the
treasury for the Queens acceptane. a
freehold overlooking Bel
fast Lough, as the site of royal resi-
dence in Ireland. The latter country, it
is claimed in some quarters, has always
fretted over the fact that the Queen
does not visit that portion Of her domain
and it has been asserted that her failure
to do so is the result Of the refusal of
Dublin in the eixties to grant site for
a monument in Phoenix Park to the late
Prince Consort.
The Duchess Of Devonshire's historical
fancy dress ball promises to be an elab-
crate affair. 1t is understood that the
Of Marlborough formerly Miss
will appear in the character
of Columbia and the Duke Of Marlbor-
ough has ordered a Louis XVI costume
with wonderful jeweled embroidery. The
Prince of Wales will represent one of
his ancestors.
The Prince and Princess of Wales,
Princess Victoria and Prince and Prin-
cess Charles of Denmark left London
this afternoon for Sandringham, where
they entertained large party, includ-
ing the king and queen of Wurtemberg,
during the Whitsuntide holidays.
The king of Siam, Chula Long Korn l.,
who is now in Rome on his way to the
jubilee festivities here, after leaving
England will proceed to New York on
his own yacht, the Maha Chakskri. He
will cross the United States, staying
sufficient time in different American
cities to enable his yacht to proceed
from New York to San Francisco, where
le will embark for his home. The date
If the kings arrival at New York is
not yet fixed.
Japan has ordered a battleship of H.
100 tons to be built on the Clyde. She
VIII be a duplicate of the British battle
ship Jupiter. The Jupiter is 14,900 tons
Ind $4,000 indicated horse power.
The herald., 1897-06-06
Food for India

SAN FRANCISCO, June 5.-The
whaleback steamer City of Everett is
being put in readiness for her relief voy-
age to India with grain and other pro-
visions for the famine-stricken Hindoos.
Next Tuesday she will go to Port Costa
to take on the wheat, but before che
steams out through the Golden Gate she
will return to this city for missionary
meeting. In addition to the wheat the
steamer will take goods worth 5000 600,
sent from various portions of the coun-
try.
The herald., 1897-06-06
A Drunken BraW1

LOUISVILLE, KY, June 5.-A special
to the Post from Paintsville, KY, says:
A pitched battle, in which Tom Lewis
Preston Lee, Green Charles. j. W.
Charles, Shade Lee and Hemp Lee en-
gagged, occurred near the Virginia bor-
der. ]. w. Charles was killed outright,
and Green Charles, Hemp Lee and Tom
Lewis were mortally wounded. The par
ticulars are meagre, but the report says
that the crowd had been drinking, and
quarrel ensued
The herald., 1897-06-06
THE SCARED SHERIFFS
LEAVE FOR SAFER PLACES THAN
URBANA
Nobody Willing to Father the Orders
Given to Shoot Into the Riot
Gus Crowd

URBANA, O., June 5.-The city has
resumed its normal condition. Nothing
is known of the whereabouts of Sheriff
McLain and Captain Leonard. 1t is the
general understanding that the Sheriff
drove to Springfield, but nobody outside
of the Captains immediate circle OF
friends knows where he went. It was
reported last evening that mob of $50
had organized to go to Springfield after
the Sheriff. Such word was sent to
Springfield, having the effect. it is said,
of driving the Sheriff Off to Dayton. He
is universally condemned by the people
and held responsible for the shooting of
citizens by the militia. The citizens in
sist that he was altogether too officious
and should have refrained from order
ing out the troops. The Captain Is con-
demned for ordering the soldiers to fire
and the boys of the company for firing
into crowd Of their fellow citizens.
After the escape from the jail the men,
bers of the company have not dared to
show their faces upon the street, and
many of them have left the city. A liv-
cry man took the timid squad to Spring
field.
The Sheriff denies the responsibility
for the shooting and SO doee the Captain.
On the other hand the citizens assert
that the Sheriff himself fired the first
shot. He asserts that at least five shots
were fired into the Jail from the outside
before shot was fired on the inside.
MILAN AT DAYTON
DAYTON, O., June 5.-Sheriff Nc
Lain of Urbana arrived here last night
and was quietly conveyed to the home
of his brother-in-law. Efforts were made
to keep the presence of the Sheriff in
this city secret. He said he had left
Urbana at the solicitation of friends and
that while he had no fear he had defer
red to their wishes in the matter.
The herald., 1897-06-06

$170Q-Nice 5-room cottage, up-to-date
in every respect. for alfalfa land In Los
Angeles county; good trade IL offered.
$140o-New, modern cottage on east side.
and $500 or $500, If need be, for acreage
near Vernon.
$5Oo0-Fine home, splendidly located
mortgage $25OO, year and a half to run,
for northern California wheat land.
PASADENA
$250o-Two substantial flats. we'll To-
Gated, mortgage $3.50, due two. years, for
small ranch, alfalfa preferred.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
$1,000 Equity in fine Gardena, straw
berry and alfalfa, for cheap unimproved
In dry climate.
KERN COUNTY
$2000-S0 acres near Upton on 8. p. r.
r.. good land and clear for town prop
erty; will assume or pay difference.
ORANGE COUNTY
$1500-10 acres near Santa Ana, mort
gage $500; fine artesian we'll, small i'm
wants cottage In town; you can get good
trade.
VENTURA
$5000-We offer a first mortgage Of $1,000
on splendid property in Los Pesos VAL
ley, all in bearing fruit; holder wants
home in town; figures must be close.
$50. .00O-A beautiful orchard In full bear
ing, as fine as in Southern California, for
income eastern; good reason for ex-
change.
EASTERN
$2000-50 acres choice corn land in Mon
roe county. Iowa: good place and Of
fered cheap, for house in town; might
assume.
MUNCY & WILSON,
30 Stimson block.
The herald., 1897-06-06
En- Route to Ianan

SAN FRANCISCO, June 5-Col A. E.
Buck OF Atlanta, Ga, recently appointed
United States minister to Japan, is here
en- route to his new field of labor. He Is
accompanied by Mrs. Buck and w. d.
Baker, his private secretary. The party
will sail for Japan on the steamer Peru
on Tuesday next.
The herald., 1897-06-06
Argentine Wheat

WASHINGTON, June 5-A decided
decrease in the amount Of wheat export
ed from the Argentine Republic is re-
ported to the. STATE department by United
States Minister Buchanan at Buenos
Ayres, for the first three-quartere of this
year, as compared with the same period
last year, the figures being 53,798 tons
and 267,079 tons respectively In some
provinces the government has been OBJ
liged to distribute wheat for seed.
The herald., 1897-06-06

FOR EXCHANGE
7-acre ranch at Corona to exchange for
cottage In city; ranch clear.
For exchange-A small house in Riv.
erside; will trade for something in city.
For sale-Nice little properties on in
stallment plan; easy payments.
For sale or trade-Two 5-acre tracts
south part of city; well located; worth
more money than asked.
For sale or exchange sections of
school land. well located.
FRED l.. SEXTON, 264-5-6-7 Wilson
block. 6
The herald., 1897-06-06
Off for London

NEW YORK, June 5.-Five American
bishops of the Episcopal church-O.
Dudley Of Kentucky, Worthlngton of
Nebraska, Leonard of Ohio, Perry of
Iowa and Vincent of Southern Ohio-ali
accompanied by their wives sailed on
the Lucania today to take part in the
queens jubilee and attend the Lambeth
congress- Six American bishops sailed
last week.
The herald., 1897-06-06

daughter Marie has been given the hon
or Of christening the new ironclaG Her
tha. His majesty made her present
of mcdel Of the vessel eight feet long
Crown Prince Frederick William Is
now being thoroughly instructed, at the
emperor's behest, by professional, In
amateur photography.
The herald., 1897-06-06

FOR EXCHANGE-1O-ACRE RANCH OF
lemons and navel orange trees; 5-room
house, good barn and out buildings; well
improved; near Redlands, for house and
lot Los Angeles.
Fine desirable property at Minneapolis.
Mimi, for property in Los Angeles. Long
Beach or ranch property; what have you
got.
HOYT 6 DUNBAR, room 20, Bryson
block. G
The herald., 1897-06-06
It Ratified Dishes

BUTTE, Mont, June 5.-An earth
quake shock lasting two or three seconds
passed under Butte at $50 this morn
ing. 1t rocked houses and ratified dishes,
but it was all oyer before the people had
time to become alarmed. The motion
semed to be nearly east to west.
The herald., 1897-06-06
Gas Bills Signed

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, June 5.--Gov-
ernor Tanner signed the gas bills today.
AS a result the companies forming the
Chicago Gas Trust will be able to con-
solidate saving thereby 1t IN said $780,
900 annually.
The herald., 1897-06-06
r0R zxcn4xus--ksAL ss7xTs

FOR EXCHANGE
No. H->10.0OO. 2O-acre ranch at Tropics.
deciduous fruits: 4-rooih h0uss. i6fSs
barn, plenty Of water. etc.; want eest-
ern property; Lincoln property pre-
ferred.
No. 7s-$25.o0o 12 acres within city limits
Of Ahaheim; ilne 8-room house, barn.
etc.; full set to budded orange trees.
full bearing; - shares water decided
with the land one Of the finest places
in Anaheim; want Los Angeles prop
erty for $4,000 equity.
No. 95-$2s,0 900. incumbrance 1850. fins
grlstmill. up to date. Is miles from
Canton o.; also so lots l0x12d, suburb
Of Columbus O.. $4,000; incumbrance.
$50 on each lot years. 9 per cent: want
Southern California property.
M. MACDONALD,
T,eN S25 Byrne Block.
The herald., 1897-06-06

AND RANCH FOR
$4,000 property, clear, on w. Sixth; want
lot in this city for $500 cottage at Long
Beach; want lodging-hous for equity
in S-room house on hills; want home and
give $1,000 olive ranch, clear, at Glen.
dora; want lots and cash for $1,000 flats,
clear. MARTIN 6 KURTz, room 22s
Byrne building. 6
The herald., 1897-06-06
A Rare June pav

MARQUETTE. Mich, June 6-6now
fell here for half an hour last evening
A cold rain fell nearly all day preceding
it.
The herald., 1897-06-06

FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE
No. 96-$1000 20 acres in Diamond valley;
Is acres in deciduous fruits, bearing;
want cash or equivalent; this price is
less than half it's value, but owner's 8
business calls him here.
M. MACDONALD,
1926 Byrne Block.
The herald., 1897-06-06

TO LOAN-A BARREL OF MONEY ON
diamonds. pianos, furniture and all first
class securities; business confidential.
CREAsINGER, 247 s. Broadway. rooms
! and z. 5-29-tf
The herald., 1897-06-06

FOR EXCHANGE
No. ss-$1500 s-room house and lot.
Princeton, Rureau. county. ILL.,: clear;
= wa.ft house and lot CO ,afs here; also
G 2 lots and large cottage In Cei:crrn, NJ.
tr "; clear; 1880.
house, outhouses. within the city lin.
Wits II Sugar Grove, Morton county Pa;
elegant paying property: -lncumbrance
ysOo0: want Los Angeles property.
No. SS-$10000. 5000. $2500 and $15o04
houses and lots business and residence.
IN Kansas City. NO.. to exchange for
Los Angeles property: all clear.
No. S2-$l60 900. 100 acres under, cultivation.
" miles from Norwalk near Santa Fe
Springs.
M. MACDONALD,
426 13vrY,a hlfck
The herald., 1897-06-06
FOR ExcHANdE-RHAL ESTATE
FOR EXCHANGE
..THE BEST EQUIPPED EXCHANGE
OFFICE IN LOS ANGELES"

G. W. DAVIS. Central and Northern
California.
I. K. WILSON. Los Angeles city and
county.
r. E. MUNCY. Southern California.
The herald., 1897-06-06

TO LEND ON REAL ESTATE AT PER
cent. payable at any time OF IN mont,uy
payments. MECHANICS SAVINGS
MUTUAL BUILDING AND LOAN AS
ISOLATION, 107 s.. Broadway. II
The herald., 1897-06-06

MONEY TO LOAN ON FURNITURE,
watches, diamonds, pianos. sealskins and
real estate; interest reasonable; private
office for ladies; business confidential.
c. c. LAMB. 226 S. Spring ST.; entrance.
room 467. S-21tf
The herald., 1897-06-06

TO LOAN
500 to $4,000 on city or country real
estate.
LEE A. MCCONNELL,
1924 113 s. Broadway.
The herald., 1897-06-06

FOR ExCHANGE-12 ACRES NICE,
rich, level soil water decided with land;
set solid to prunes and apples. 8 years
old; all fenced, etc.; price $1,000; will take
city property and assume or good lodg-
ing house or grocery. BEN WHITE, 2s5
w. First st.
The herald., 1897-06-06

POINDExTER & WADsWORTH, ROOM
S0S Wilcox building. lend money on any
good real estate; building loans made: II
you wish to lend or borrow, call on US. If
The herald., 1897-06-06

MONEY no LOAN, $500 TO s5OOO IN SUMS
to suit: no delays. CONTINENTAL.
BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION,
126 W. Second ST., Wilcox building. tt
The herald., 1897-06-06

TO LOAN--UNLIMITED AMOUNT FOR
small loans; no commission: light ex-
rerse. SECURITY LOAN AND TRUST
CO., 223 S. Spring st.
The herald., 1897-06-06

MONEY LOANED ON DIAMONDS.
watches, jewelry, pianos. sealskins, car
riages. bicycles, warehouse receipts and
all kinds of collateral security; storage
free In our warehouse. LEE BROS. 402
S. Spring st. IT
The herald., 1897-06-06

FOR ExCHANGE-DOUBL HOUSE, 70
rooms, stable, sewer and lot 65 feet front,
close in. for land or vacant lot: house 6
rooms, stable, etc.; nice home, Twenty
ninth and Vermont; see owner. r.
VERCH, room 80 Temple block. 6-S-1O
The herald., 1897-06-06
FINANCIAL

MONEY TO LOAN IN ANY AMOUNTS,
on diamonds, watches, jewelry, pianos,
safes, lodging houses, hotels and private
household furniture; interest reasonable;
partial payments received; money quick;
private office for ladies' @. NJ. JONES.
rooms 12-14. 254 S. Broadway 2S-tf
The herald., 1897-06-06

FOR ExCHANGE--A SOUTH RIVER
side ranch. lemons and oranges and VII
lase residence and business property,
for city In southwest. B.. A. HOLLEN.
BECK, 126 3. Broadway,
The herald., 1897-06-06

FOR EXCHANGE-GOOD FIRST-CLAss
improved city real estate for an i'm
proved alfalfa, orange or walnut ranch
r. K. IFFETEON. 107 8. Broadway.
ONCE hours, II to II or to5.
The herald., 1897-06-06

FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE-REAL ES-
tate; 20 acres of peat land 40 acres of
peat land; 80 acres of peat land: 10 acres
of peat land; Westminster country.
FRED L. SEXTON, 264-5-6-7, Wilson
block.
The herald., 1897-06-06

FOR SALE-OR EXCHANGE FOR LOS
Angeles or Santa Monica property, A.
room houses. large lots fruit trees, small
fruits and flowers, Elgin ST., Garvanza,
by owner, FRANCIS BAUMRJJK
The herald., 1897-06-06

FOR ExCFIANGE-ONE OF THE FIN
est income ranches In the famous Ojai
valley, near Ventura, for city property.
This ranch can be secured at bargain.
See owner this week at our office. HIM.
TON & WHITAKER, 1873 w. Second ST q
The herald., 1897-06-06

TO LOAN--IF YOU WANT MONEY ON
real estate security 1 have It In any
amount WIN. F. BOSBYSHELL. 1o7 8.
Broadway
The herald., 1897-06-06

LOS ANGELES CITY
$170Q-Nice 5-room cottage, up-to-date
in every respect. for alfalfa land in Los
Angeles county; q good trade IL offered.
The herald., 1897-06-06
FOR SALE-LlVE STOCK
PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS. ETc.

KN1aHT BROS. PATENT soLrcI-
torss freq book on pateuts. ~ Ryrne
The herald., 1897-06-06

FOR ExCHANGE-1o ACRES OF GOOD
land In San Bernardino county with
plenty of water: what have you to offer
in exchange? r. H. PEPPER 4 CO.. 103
So. Broadway.
The herald., 1897-06-06

FOR EXCHANGES ACRES DAMP
land near Westminster; house rooms;
artesian wells. barn, etc.; 5000; mort.
gage $4,000; can clear 1t. J. c. WILLMON.
1914 S. Broadway
The herald., 1897-06-06

MONEY TO LOAN UPON EASY TERMS
Of repayment. STATE MUTUAL
BUILDING AND LOAN ASSN, 161 8.
Broadway b-20tf
MONEY 70 OLOAN-LOWEsT RATES ON
real estate, personal notes or security.
The herald., 1897-06-06
M. MACDONALD,
S25 BYrne block.

FOR ExCHANaE-7RooM COTTAGE.
lot 100x1%. with barn, well. wind mill:
price $1,000 mortgage $3.50: want clear.
In property or Pasadena property. BEN
WHITE, 2S5 w. First ct.
The herald., 1897-06-06

In spite of the cordiality with which
the United States monetary commission
has been received on all sides In France,
1t is believed nothing practical is likely
to be accomplished there. Much has
been made of the utterances of M. Me-
line, the French Premier, at the Paris
banquet, but he carefully pointed out
that he spoke in his own name and not
In behalf of the government of France
1t is also known that he has declared
that France would not take the initia-
tive unless Great Britain would take