The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-08-06
NO MORE A JOKE.
London Newspapers Are Now
Taking the Bimetallic Com
mission Seriously.
There Is, However, Considerable
Difference as to the Ex-
act Status.
S0Ne Assert a Final Conference
Will Soon Be Held, While
Others Deny 1t.

LONDON, Aug 6.-Sir Thomas San.
derson, who, as permanent under secre-
tary, ranks next to Lord Salisbury in
the foreign Office, says in an interview:
II do not believe that the British gov.
ernment has submitted any proposition
to the American bimetallic ENJOYS. I
have heard of no meeting between
President N1cKinley's commissioners
and Lord Salisbury at the foreign office
pext week. The report that one will be
held deem untrue. At that time most
of the cabinet members will be away.
Lord Salisbury might come to London
from Hatfield, but no notice has been
served, and most of the ministers could
not be present.
Mr.. Balfour's secretary says no such
meeting has been arranged.
Newspapers Take 1t Seriously.
The English newspapers are now
seriously noticing Senator Wolcott's
bimetallic commission. The Chronicle
says, after "authoritatively" announc-
ing a meeting for next week, which Sir
Thomas Sanderson says has not been
called, that "most of the members Of
the cabinet will be present, aad Lord
Salisbury then is expected to make
known to President McKinley's ENJOYS
the decision of the British government
Oh the subject of the proposed extension
OF silver"
AS cabled two weeks ago, many i'm.
portant people have expected that Lord
Salisbury will again make his old offer
to open the Indian mints and to with.
draw the lO.shilling gold pieces from
circulation. The Statist, the most i'm.
portant financial publication here, has
inclined to that view, and SO has The
Times, qualiiedly.
Refused to Hold Oficial Conferences.
But it is learned on very nearly the
highest authority, that all such state.
ments are without foundation at pres.
ent. In connection with the very grave
doubts expressed about any meeting
being held before September, it may be
noted that Mr.. Balfour and the rest of
the British government are fiymly of
the opinion that it would harm rather
than help any practical effort to settle
the monetary question if any offer were
to be made by Great Britain before of.
fetal negotiations privately conducted
had proved that England. France, Ger.
many and the United States were pre-.
pared to agree upon steps to effectively
yemonetize silver and to maintain par
of exchange. It is believed that Mr..
Balfour has refused to hold any official
conferences with anybody until pretty
nearly final agreement has been re-
ported.
The French and United States gov.
ernments have informed the British
government what they will do if Eng
land and Germany will take certain
specified steps. If the British govern
ment should accept this offer, the ao-
ceptance must be conditional upon Ger
many's agreement.
What Germany May do Important
Germany will not be approached un-
til it is found what England will agree
to, and much time must elapse before @
formal conference is possible. Should
Germany tacitly agree to proposition
agreed upon by the three other coun.
tries, then such a meeting as has been
predicted for next week might be held.
The progress of the negotiations now
going on in London is being kept pro-
foundly secret, but it is said that Eng.
land is prepared to made few minor
concessions. 3
London takes Senator Wolcott and
his bimetallic colleagues more seriously
than Paris did. The French news.
papers, including LIE Temps. made
game Of them, but the London journals
regard them with respect.