The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-11-17

Washington, Nov. 16.-The official re-
port of the correspondence in regard
TO the timetable proposals of the
United States monetary commission to
the government of Great Britain, to-
gether with the report Of proceedings
at the conference of the British pre-
mier. the secretary Of state, the first
officer of the treasury and the chancel-
lor of the eXchequer with the French
ambassador and our commissioners,
has reached this country. 1t fully con-
firms the reports cabled TO the Asso-
ciated Press oct. q and o.
WHY THEY FELL THROUGH.
The negotiations fell through. not
withstanding the expressed willingness
of the French government to open its
minis. owing TO the rejection by the
British government of the proposition
to again open the minis TO the free
coinage of silver. None of the other
propositions were replied to because
one of the most important concessions
requested of Great Britain could not
be acceded TO.
Great Britain in making her answer,
referred to the wishes of the govern
ment Of India, to which the proposal
was referred, and the reply Of the gov
eminent of India therefore, is the most
important communication in the cor
respondence.
STRONG CASE.
It is a lengthy document, in which
the advantages pro and con to India
are argued and very strong case.
from their standpoint is made out in
favor of the rejection of the proposal.
The disturbance of values in india With
the attendant paralysis of trade, at
least temporarily: the fall Of silver
prices in India, concUrrently with the
increase Of gold prices in Europe and
America, are advanced; but the most
potent reason urged against the pro-
position is that the burden of failure,
if failure should come from the eX-
pertinent for the establishment OF
bimetallism by France and the United
States. must inevitably fail on India.
INDIA COULD NOT RISK.
Both the United States and France,
the reply argues, with their gold could,
to greater or less extent, protect
themselves if the experiment did not
succeed. In other words. the iA
government, as a preliminary propo-
sition. declared it could not risk the
success of the suggested measure.
A RESERVATION.
This definite and absolute rejection
of the proposal was further set forth
by the cabinet reports of the CORES
pondence. but the document contains a
reservation which would seem to indi-
cate that if the scope of the proposed
experiment was sufficiently broadened,
India might be willing at least to re-
consider her refusal. That paragraph
in Lord Eigin's letter is as follows:
I'VE note that the proposals of the
governments of France and the United
States are subject to the proviso that
they are satisfied that they win re-
ceive the assistance from other powers
increasing the demands for silver We
believe that a limited increase of the
quantity Of silver used as currency will
exercise a very trifiing influence, if
any. in raising the gold price Of silver,
and that the only assistance from other
powers which can be OF any real value
would be the addition of other coun-
tries to the bimetallic union of France
and the United States.
WAIT FOR ASSURANCE
IF. however, assurance of a really
substantial cooperation should be Sc
cured from other countries, we shall
be glad to learn the exact nature of the
assurance and we shall then consider
whether The promised cooperation
changes the problem or adds materi-
ally to the chances of success