The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-06
GREAT BRITAIN DECLINES,
And Chances of Mediation by Foreign
Powers are Therefore Very Small.

London, April 5.-The movement OF
the powers of Europe for q joint offer
of mediation between the United States
and Spain, has received severe and
probably fatal rebuff in the form OF
definite refusal upon the part Of the
British government to participate in it,
Many conflicting and erroneous hints
regarding this statement to bring the
Hispano American quarrel under the
jurisdiction of the concert of Europe,
have been telegraphed from the differ
est authorities the Associated Press has
obtained an outline of the details Of the
movement which has been learned by
London diplomats. The project is dis
tinctly of Spanish origin and was set on
foot by two influences, official and per-
sonal, the former requesting the good
offices of the chancellories of Europe to
attempted personally to influence the
Soverefgns.
1t is understood that the tenor of these
communications was to the effect that
European intervention are threatened by
what Spain terms "the pretensions of
the United States to the right to Interfere
in colonial matters
mover in the suggested mediation and
by her counsel it was suggested to the
British foreign Office that the powers
unite In a note to the United States and
Spain, offering to mediate in the disputes
between those two countries. Great
Britain, however, definitely refused to
join in the movement and while it was
not actually announced that she SYM
pathized with American intervention to
end the war in Gu. a, such sympathy is
fact.
Communications looking to mediation
are still being exchanged between the
constitutional powers, but the latter
recognize that Great Britains' refusal to
cooperate will srob the movement of
much of its weight. -
The Emperor of Austria is the most
deeply interested from certain standpoints
but financial interests appear to have
actuated France even more than dynas-
tistic interest actnated Emperor Francis
Joseph.
Emperor William of Germany is known
to be- lukewarm in the matter, but there
is reason to believe he has learned that
the majority of Germans are unwilling
that Germany should oppose the United
States.
1t is still uncertain whether the conti-
mental powers will finally otter medi-
alton, Now that Great Britain has cold
shouldered the matter, the diplomats do
not believe the United States would
accept such an offer. the combination
being SO evidently biased In favor OF
Spain that Spain would gladly submit
her quarrel to suoh tribunal.
The foregone conclusion and chief lmt
portance of the movement in the opinion
of a diplomat, who is conversant with
the situation, is that it will probably
have the effect of widening the cleavage
between Great Britain and other nations
and of strengthening the growing SYM
pathy and community of interests to the
United States and Great Britain.
SPANS present efforts to secure the
mediation of the Pope are now supposed
to be due to the knowledge that Euro
pean mediation will probably be fasco.
THINK POPE WILL SETTLE 1T.
Havana People Believe That the War Is
Havana, April 45.-All the newspapers
here accept the reported mediation OF the
Pope as a certainty, believing that the
danger of rupture is probably averted.
FL Diario De La Marina asserts that If
peace is secured thefirm and warlike at
titude of the Spanish people will have
much TO do with it,
At the palace it is given out that
Gen eral Pando, on March 20 left Yer
tiertes. province OF Puerto Principe, and
that during his march to Santa Ana he
sustained only slight skirinishes, destroy
ing large quantities of supplies stored for
the insurgents and turing many
no rises.
At Yaguas the Spanish column, accord
ing to the palace account, dispersed the
insurgents. At San Bias, the insurgents
mr., Frortod ho trpODs 0f thb Snanjeh com.
mander, but were defeated, leaving many
dead on the field and having seven
captured.
At Imana, General Castenellos with q
force of all arms has destroyed every
thing that could be serviceable ct the In
surgents, carrying the work OF destruc'
ton toward Soledad He sustained con-
tinuous fire on the way, the Spanish
forces losing ten killed, lieutenant and
thirty soldiers wounded.
At San Felipe, Juan Bauntista and
Guiana Libre, the Spanish sustained a
severe fire, killed the insurgent lieuten--
ant, Emilio Nunez, and destroyed several
sugar mills and ranches.
There has also been considerable activ1-
ty on the part of the government troops
in other parts of the same province.
POPE'S INTERVIEW TION A. FAILURE
LonQon, april pa special uespapcu
from Rome, published here this after
noon, says al telegram received at the
Vatican from the United States has an
nounced the failure of the Pope's iptsr-
vention. 1t says that President Mckln-
ley showed himself extremely sensible
of the initiative taken by the pontiff,
but it was impossible for him to over
come the prejudice, even though 1T be un-
just, entertained by majority OF the
American people against the Vatican's
intervention in political affairs.
The Associated Press has obtained an
outline of the movem ent Of the powers
which has been learned by London diplo-
mats. The project is distinctly of Span
ish origin, and was sent on foot by two
influences, official and personal, the
former requesting the good offices OF the
chancellors Of Europe to prevent war,
while the Queen Regent attempted per-
sonally to influence the soyereigns.
1t is understood that the tenor OF these
communications was to the effect that
European interests are threatened BY
what Spain terms the "preten sions OF the
United States to the right to interfere in
colonial matters"
SILENCE AT THE VATICAN.