New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-10
FOREIGN NATIONS SOUNDED.
GREAT MAJORITY FRIENDLY.
GERMANY AND AUSTRIA THE ONLY
EXCEPTIONS.
OTHER GOVERNMENTS PROMISE STRICT NEU-
TRALITY OR MORAL SUPPORT IN CASE OF
INTERVENTION IN CUBA OR WAR BE
TWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND
sPAIN-ENGLAND's REPLY PAR
T1CTLARLY SATISFACTORY.

T1CTLARLY SATISFACTORY
fRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIrrNE.1
Washington. March 0--The correspondent Of
The Tribune is in position to announce that
the Administration has within the last few days
put itself in communication wiz other Govern
ments. or, as a man competent to speak with
authority on the subject expressed 1t. with
every Government on earth" to ascertain what
would he their attitude in case the United States
should consider itself compelled to enter upon
a policy of Intervention in Cuba or In case Spain
committed some act resulting In an outbreak OF
hostities between the two countries Within
the last forty-eight hours replies have been re-
ceiyed from every Government to which the
inquiry was addressed and with two exceptions
these replies have been entirely satisfactory
and sympathetic. That of Great Britain was
particularly so. Not only did every Govern
ment hasten To say that in the event Of inter
vention on the part Of the United States or
an outbreak OF hostities. strict neutrality
would be preserved. but some are said to have
gone so far even as to give assurances OF moral
support in any effort this country might make
to restore order in Cuba
cool. NOTES FROM GERMANY AND AUSTRIA
The two exceptions to the general tenor Of
these replies the answers given by Ger
many and Austria. While not unsatisfactory
and certainly not hostile in tone they yet were
coldly nom -committa and to that extent pro-
duced feeling OF disappointment among State
Department. officials. The Government OF Ger
many contented itself with saying in substance
that as no definite policy had as yet been an
nounced by the United States on the Cuban
question. and as an outbreak Of hostilites be-
tween Spain and the United States con-
tingency for the present and nothing more, 1t
dar rIara hat
its attitude would be under conditions the exact
nature Of which only the future could deter
mine In other words, the German Government
was dsincIined to reply to merely hypothet-
ical question.
The reply Of Austria was trfe less tart.
perhaps. than that furnished by Germany, but
It was equally non-committal 1t said. in effect.
that Austria was at peace with the United
States and Spain: that its relations with both
were equally friendly and that therefore, II did
not see any good reason why 1t should express
an opinion, in advance of possible rupture be-
tween the two countries, as to what its own
attitude would be under certain conditions
ACTION IN LINE WITH PRECEDENT.
In sounding foreign Governments on these
noints the Administration followed the prece-
dent set under General Grants Administration.
bv Secretary Fish It is true that Secretary
Fish did not instruct the American Ministers
abroad TO ascertain what the attitude OF the
Governments to which they were accredited
would be In case the United States were forced
TO put stop to the Cuban disorders, but he did
attempt to persuade the Governments Of Great
Britain Germany, France Russia, Italy and
Austria that It was their first duty to make
strong representations to Spain as to the neces-
sity of putting a prompt end TO the war in Cuba
or of abandoning the struggle. In his letter
of instructions TO the Ministers he said
You will further state that the President Is OF
are accredited find ii consistent with It's views ~
urge upon Spain the Importance ana necessity VI
either terminating abandoning this contest,
which now after n continuance OF seven years mas
not advanced toward prospect OF success on
either side but which s chrrac erized by cruelues,
nv violation Of the rules Of civilized modern war
fare by pillage. desola'ion and wanton incendlar-
ism threatening the Industry. capacity ana pro-
duction of an extended and fertile country, the
friendly expression OF such views 10 spain might
lead that Government 10 dispassionate conslderd-
the earlier toration of peace and prosperity to
Cuba if TO the preservation OF the peace OF the
such a course on the part Of the Government to
satisfactory 70 the United States, and, in the
opinion OF the President conducive TO the interests
OF every commercial nation and OF humanity IT.
self
It will be seen, therefore, that the Administra-
ton. IN ascertairing the attitude Of European
powers, is acting not only with due regard to the
opinion Of the civilized world. but is following an
American precedent as well.