The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-06
BY WILLIAM LIE QUEUx,



upon the point.
"Of course" exclaimed the Marquis.
ave have received no intimation OF any
diplomatic difficulty. Further, you may
reassure the public that the Government
win do everything in its power to avert
any catastrophe; but as no catastrophe
has occurred. all this excitement is quite
uncalled for
MAY | use your OWE words. your lord.
sbip?' inquired the reporter quickly. II
want to reproduce this in the form of an
interview.
'sYou can act as you please about
that the Premier said, smiling as he
added, II suppose we shall see it in every
newspaper in England tomorrow, headed,
THE War Against England: Interview
with the Prime Minister
.'Not tomorrow, your lordship. 10
night - laughed the reporter, fidgetting
in his eagerness to get away with the
finest bit of ''copy" that ever his pencil
wrote.
The Premier turned to speak with Lord
Warnham, but my friend Johns was not
to be DELAYED, even by the discussion Of
the nations psril. If the Archapgel had
suddenly appeared he would have calmly
"taken q note of how such an occurrence
affected the onlookers
SIS there anything more can say, your
lordship?" he asked, impatiently inter-
rupting their conversation. :,
mo, | think not at present., LORD
Warnham answered.
eff YOU have any further statement to
ma Ike I shall hold myself in readiness, !"
he said the journalistic spirit OF greed
being aroused to have the whole of this
exclusive information to himself
"We will send for you if we have any.
thing further to communicate, Lord
Warnham answered, and wishing him
i'm tod that AFT least for
the present the interview was at an end.
After he had left i. was desired, upon the
suggestion of the Premier, to slightly
amend one of the sentences used by Lord
Warnham, and with that object rushed
after the excited interviewer. After lit
tie search I found him in the small room
behind the Press Gallery debating In
breathless haste to the clerk who sat rest
ing his head on one hand while with the
other he worked the telegraph-key.
AS approached, heard him exclalm
in broad Scotch
Now then, Ford, look sharp. my lad,
look sharpi Send this along: "A repre-
sentative of the Press has just interviewed
the Marquis of Maybury and the Earl Of
i've information impaired is of the great
est possible Importance, as it shows"
Here I interrupted him, and having re-
uuested him to reconstruct the sentence,
as desired by Lord Warnham, left him,
and returned to where the two Ministers
were still in earnest consultation.
Having busted myself with some CORES
pondence living upon the Foreign Minis
tors tabls while the pair discussed a
critical point as to the instructions to be
sent to Lord Worthorpe in Paris there
presently came another loud knock at the
door. One of the clerks, who had rushed
over from the Foreign Office, entered
bearing Geographic dispatch.
"Where fron?'' inquired Lord Warn
ham, noticing the paper in his hand as he
came in.
"From ST. Petersburg, your Lord
ship" he answered, handing him the tele-
gram.
The Premier and Foreign Secretary
read it through together in silence, ex-
pressions of satisfaction passing at once
across both their countenances.
"Then we need have no further appre-
| hen sion, :" exclaimed the Premier at last,
looking up at his colleague.
Apparently not," observed Lord Warn
| ham. 'sThis is certainly sufficient con-
firmation Of Worthorpe's dispatch" and
he tossed it across to the table whereat l
sat, at the same time Diminishing the clerk
| who had brought it,
Taking up the telegram I saw at a
glance it was from our secret agent in the
Russian Foreign Office, and that it had
been re transmitted from Hamburg. AL
| though he had stated that all cipher mes
sages were refused this was in our private
code, and it's transcription, written be-
meath was as follows:
| Remarkable. development of situation
has occurred Ministers held Council
this afternoon, and after comforting with
the Gear the latter decided to withdraw
his proclamation of war which was to be
| issued tonight. The reason for this sud-
den decision to preserve peace is mys-
terry, but the Gar left half an hour ago
on his journey south, two If the Minis.
tiers have left for their country Seats and
telegraphic orders have been issued coun-
termanding the military preparations,
therefore it is certain that all idea Of war
is entirely abandoned. Immediately at
the conclusion of the Council telegram
was sent to the Russian Minister in Paris
informing him of the decision not to COM
mence hostilities against England. The
'Novoe Vremya, in order to allay public
feeling, is to be prosecuted for publishing
| false news.
Ito be Continued