The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-17
NO MORE PEACE TALK
VIEWS OF A MEMBER OF THE WASH.
INGTON DIPLOMATIC CORPS.
Nothing Can Be Done to Prevent Real
War Now that the Army Is Invad-
ing Cuba-The French Crisis.

WASHINGTON, June 16-A leading mem
Der of the diplomatic corps said to-day that
the departure of General Skaters first
army of invasion to Cuba put an end to all
present prospects of peace. While none of
the foreign representatives here has ever
made peace overtures to the United States
government yet a peaceful solution has al
ways seemed to members of the diplomatic
fraternity as within the bounds of POSSIBLE
ity, even probability, so long as the United
states troops remained at Tampa and Key
West. Now, however, with 1900 American
soldiers about to take a position on Span-
ish soil, it is said that the conditions oppor-
tune for peace have undergone a. material
change, as it commits the United States to
an aggressive land campaign, and also
makes 1t impossible to adopt any other
course than that of defending the soil
against invasion. The presence of our ships
at Manila. Havana and Santiago has not
this diplomatic official stated constituted
an actual invasion, although the ships had
wrought much damage. The ships could
have been withdrawn at any time, but with
1900 troops landed on Cuban SOIL a new
and more serious phase of the conflict was
presented. Instead of blockading and be-
leaguering a few Spanish cities, the Amer
lean army now entered Spanish territory,
and that advanced the campaign from a
passive to an active and offensive condition.
The ships had simply surrounded Spanish
territory, but the troops would cross the
line and enter Spanish territory. For this
reason, he said, the hopes for peaceful
solution OF the conflict had passed away,
ana ne DelleVed they could not be revived
until the result of this Cuban invasion was
determined. This would take some months.
probably ali summer for this aggressive
4 movement would followed w
others, each one making the prospect of
peace more remote II peace proposition
ndd come before General Shafter sailed
diplomatic officials are inclined to believe
Il Il would have been eagerly accepted by
tba stood
While it is not doubted that this country
intends to push the war TO finish, yet the
belief is entertained in diplomatic quarters
tfat the authorities here were oath to send
a large invading army into Cuba during the
rainy season. when yellow fever, heat and
exceedingly hazardous, even If no enemy
was on hand capable of an effective de-
Tense.
The Cabinet crisis in France may exert
other indirect influences on the present war
NJ. Hanotaux. minister of foreign affairs in
the present French Cabinet has been fore
most in ovCrco ming the anti-American
spirit shown by part of the French people
and French press. He has. moreover. ex-
ercised a strong repressive influence in
Spain. He was able TO do this through his
peculiarly close and personal intimacy with
tue OpdulSH ambassador at Paris, senior
Castillo, and through him TO have a con-
siderable part in shaping the policy of the
Spanish government. 1t was through Cas-
tilo that Spain hoped TO induce France to
come to her rescue, but Hanotaux would
not entertain the proposition. and. on the
contrary. urged that Spain must make the
concessions necessary TO secure peace. 1t
was this attitude of France. shaped by
Hanotaux. that caused such deep depression
in Spain few weeks ago. as ii brought 10
The Spanish government and people the first
realization that they were without an ally
or friend in Europe. The course of Hano-
tauX has been highly gratifying TO the au-
thoTites here. and they would be glad TO
see him retain the control of foreign affairs
in France. Besides being most friendly to
the United States. he is an emnently fair
and conservative man. What is feared, par
ticularly In diplomatic circles, is that Hano-
tauxs withdrawal along with the Meline
Cabinet, will bring some fiery deputy TO the
head of the Foreign Office. thus giving free
rein to some of the popular ill-feeling in
France against the United States. hano-
taux has been strong enough TO resist this.
but a foreign minister drafted from the
Chamber of Deputies might prefer 10 share
the popular feeling rather than resist 1T.