Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-05
ENGLAND REFUSES
Will Not Join the Powers to Offer
Mediation.
NO DEFINITE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN
1t is Felt That Some Action is
Near at Hand.
FRANCE AND AUSTRIA LEAD

LONDON. April 5.-rhe movement of the
powers Of Europe for a Joint offer Of medi-
alton between the United States and Spain
has received q severe. and probably fatal,
rebuff In the form OF a definite refusal
upon the part OF the British government to
Participate in II.
Many conflicting and erroneous hints re-
gsrding this scheme to bring the Hispano-
American quarrel under the Jurisdiction OF
the concert Of Europe" have been tele-
graphed from the different European capi-
tails From the highest authorities the As
sociated Press has obtained an outline OF
the details OF the movement as learned by
London diplomats.
The project is distinctively Of Spanish
origin. and was set on foot by two in
flrences. official and personal. the former
requesting the good offices of the chancel-
lcries OK Europe to prevent war. while the
queen regent attempted personally to in
fluence the sovereigns.
It is understood that the tenor Of these
communications vas to the effect that
European interests are threatened by what
Spain terms ''the pretensions Of the United
States to the right to interfere In colonial
matters"
France Led the Movement.
France. not Austria, was the prime NOV
er in the suggested mediation. and by her
counsel 1t was suggested to the British
foreign Office that the powers unite In a
rote to the United States and Spain offer
ing to mediate in the disputes between
those two countries. Great Britain. how
ever. definitely refused to join in the mcve-
ment. stating in substance that the Cuban
question did not concern her. While 1t was
not actually announced that Great Britain
sympathizes with American intervention to
end the war in Cuba, such sympathy is a
fact.
Communications looking to mediation are
stiu being exchanged between the ,onti-
rental powers, but they recognize that
Great Britain's refusal to cooperate will
rob the movement of much Of its weight.
The Emperor of Austria is the most deep
ly interested from certain standpoints. but
financial interests seem to have actuated
France even more than dynastic ta.erest
actuated Emperor Francis Joseph.
Emperor william Lukewarm.
Emperor William of Germany is known
to be lukewarm In the matter, but there 70
reason to believe he has learned that the
ma 1ority Of Germans are unwilling that
1cEhodly OpIOSe lue lulIeu SluleSs
1t is still uncertain whether the conti-
mental powers will finally offer mediation.
Now that Great Britain has oold-shoulder-
ed 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 such a tri-
bunal
The foregone conclusion and chief i'm
portance of the movement, in the opinion
of 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 sympathy and
community Of interests OF the United
States and Great Britain.
Spain's present efforts to secure the me-
diation of the pope are now supposed to be
due to the knowledge that European me-
diation will probably be a fiasco.
No Definite Instructions.
Action by the great powers of Europe to-
ward mediation between the United States
and Spain Is felt to be near at hand, but
I'D to a late hour this afternoon II could
rot be learned that any Of the ambassadors
or ministers stationed here had received
definite instructions to initiate the move
uept. They are, however, fully advised Of
the telegra phic exchange now going on be-
tween the capitals of Europe. and they an
ticipate that this will bring definite results
very soon. As one Of the members Of the
diplomatic corps explained the situation
today:
1.-The accord. or concert. of the great
powers is like a concert of musicians, the
1T, tlot 4ha inst anfr
are brought into complete harmony. That
is what is being done now: the instruments
are being tuned TO the key preparatory TO
sounding the first note"
France and Austria.
IT is known at the embassies and lega-
tions that France and Austria are most
active in endeavcring TO bring about a
common basis for conoerted action. It is
understood also that the exchange has
proceeded sufficiently to acquaint the pow
crs with the fact that any steps they may
take toward mediation will be acceptable
to Spain. There Is not the same assurance
that It will be as acceptable to the United
States, for in the absence OF a definite
proffer of mediation the official position Of
the United States cannot be defined. At
the same time it is the prevailing feeling at
the foreign establishments in Washington
and this feeling has undoubtedly been
communicated to the powers in the Euro
pean concert-that the tendency in the
United States is against any mediation
from foreign sources. This IL regarded as
making the action of the powers much
more difi1cult.
1t was said today that any mediation by
the powers would be based on the wflling-
ness OF both parties to accept It.
A Different Case.
A distinction is made In this Gaze from
that of the concert Of the powers when
they intervened to stop the Turko-Greecian
wsr. and when Russia Germany and
France combined TO compel Japan to re-
llnquish the Lao Tung peninsuiar as part