The record-union., 1898-06-17
French Cabinet Crisis May Exert in
direct Influence on War.
The Rumors That Germany Intended to In
ferfere With the American Government
in the Philippines Denied by the
German ambassador.

| WASHINGTON, June ia leading
member of the diplomatic corps said
| to-day that the departure of General
Shafter's army of invasion into Cuba
put an end to all present prospects of
peace. While none of the foreign rep
Iresentatives here have ever made peace
representations to the Government, yet
peace negotiations always seemed to
the members of the diplomatic frater-
nifty within the possibility, EVEN
probability, SO long as the troops re-
manned at Tampa and Key West Now.
however, with $4,000 soldiers about to
take position on Spanish soil, it is
said that the conditions opportune for
peace have undergone material
change, as it commits the United
States to an aggressive land campaign,
and also makes it impossible for Spain
to adopt any other course than that of
defending her soil against invasion
The presence of our ships at Manila,
Santiago and Havana have not, this
diplomat 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could have been Withdrawn at any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 beleaguering
few Spanish cities, the American
army now enters Spanish territory, and
that advances the campaign from a
passive to an active and offensive con-
dition.
For this reason, he said. the hopes
of peaceful solution of the conflict
q cd l.
could not be revived until the result of
this first Cuban invasion was deter
mined. This would take some months
probably all summer-for this aggress-
i've land movement would be followed
by others, with one making the pros
pect of peace more remote.
II a peace proposition had come before
General Shafter sailed. diplomatic off,
cials are inclined to believe, it would
have been eagerly accepted by Spain,
and would have stood some chance OF
consideration by the United States.
While it is not doubted that this
country intends to push the war to a
finish, yet the belief is entertained in
diplomatic circles here that the officials
were loath to send a large invad-
ing army into Cuba during the
rainy season, when yellow fever. heat
movement exceedingly hazardous.
even if no enemy was on hand capable
OF making an effective defense
The Cabinet crisis in France may ex-
ert other indirect influence on the pres
ent war. Nj. Hanotaux Minister OF
Foreign Affairs, has been foremost in
overcoming the antiAmerican spirit
shown by Paris and the French people
and French press. He has, moreover,
exercised a strong repressive influence
on Spain. He was able to do this
through his peculiarly close and per-
sonal intimacy with the Spanish EN-
baSsador at Paris, Senior Castillo, and
through him to have considerable part
in shaping the policy of the Spanish
Government. 1t was through Castillo
that Spain hoped to induce France to
come to the 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
a few weeks ago, as it brought to the
Spanish Government and people the
first realization that they were without
an ally or friend in Europe.
The course of Hanotaux has been
highly gratifying to the authorities
here, and they would be glad to see
him retain the control of foreign affairs
in France. Besidse being most TREND
ly to the United States, he is an emf
nently fair and conservative man.
What is feared, particularly in diplo-
matte circles, is that Hanotaux's with
drawal along with the Meline Cabinet,
will bring some fiery Deputy to the
head of the Foreign Office, thus giving
free rein to the popular i'll feeling
against the United States. Hanotaux
has been strong enough to resist this.
but a Foreign Minister drafted from
the Deputies might prefer to share the
popular feeling, rather than resist it..