The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-08

diplomatic room. where they held a confer
ence with Judge Day, assistant secretary of
state, Secretary Sherman having gone home
to lunch before their arrival. This CONFER
epce took a wider range and went consid-
erably outside of the address delivered TO
the President. While the diplomatists were
at first received together. they soon sepa-
rated into groups, with the apparent pur-
pose of presenting the views of their several
governments. The British ambassador, the
Austrian minister and the Italian charge
were the first to retire, coming away to-
gether. The Russian charge was the next
TO leave The German ambassador and his
secretary then had a private conference
with Judge Day. At its conclusion the
French ambassador and his secretary in
turn had a conference with Judge Day
These conferences lasted about half an
hour the several diplomatists leaving sep
arately. Shortly afterwards Judge Day left
the State Department. declining to say more
than to refer inquirers to the address of
the ambassadors and the reply of the Pres
fdent.
The action of the powers in presenting the
joint note to the President was to have
occurred yesterday. but wac deferred by
5 o'clock yesterday afternoon that the Rus
sian government cabled its charge instruc-
tons similar to those given 10 the other
representatives. At O'Clock last night
meeting was held and the joint note for
mally signed, 1t having been prepared at
the meeting at The British embassy the
night before. The note is in French. aEd
bears the signatures of the representatives
of the six powers The original note in
French was presented, and in dong so Sir
Julian Pauncefote stated to the President
that it was given him in this language,
as French is the diplomatic langua &c Of tic
world. An English translation, not bearing
the signatures, accompanied the original
note, and it was this English translation
which Sir Julian Pauneefote read The
Presidents answer was not reduced TO
French.
An inquiry at the several embassies anu
legations shows that the reply of PRESIDENT
Mckinley has created a most favorable i'm
preston among the ambassadors ami min
listers. 1t was cabled Immediately to or
don, Paris and all the other European CAPT
tails The declarations Of tie President
that, in the interest of humanity this war
fare must stop, and his indirect appeal to
exert their influence in the name o. human
ity found sympathetic reflection in the
sentiments of all the ambassadors ard
other representatives.
DID NOT CHANGE THE STATUS.
The note of the European powers pre-
sented to the President to-day has not, in
the opinion of the members of the admins
tration, changed the situation in the slight
est degree. What pressure was brought to
bear to secure even this mildly expressed
hope that further negotiations would result
in the maintenance of peace is not known,
but it is confidently believed that it is the
result of persistent appeals on the part of
Spain for some expression in favor of peace
between the two countries. The note is not
regarded in any sense as a protest against
the course this government has pursued
thus far or is likely to adopt to secure
stable government in Cuba. Some of the
governments represented in the note are
known to be in full accord with this gov
eminent in its purposes with respect to the
Cuban question, and therefore any theory
that the note was intended as Il remon-
STRANGE is not regarded as tenabIe
The reply of this government, which had
previously been read and approved by mem
bers of the Cabinet is not considered as
indicating any change in the fixed purpose
of the President to intervene in Cuba at
once, nor is it believed it was the expecta-
ton of majority of the foreign representa-
tives present that the United States should
change its policy regard the joint note
as other than an expression in behalf of
peace and without special significance. So
far as known in administration circles no
further representations on this subject are
expected. No offer of mediation on the
part of any European power has been re-
ceived, and there is high authority for the
statement that none would be accepted If
proffered This has been the fixed policy of
the government from the first, and there is
no prospect of a change in this regard
At the embassies and legations the pre-
sentation OF the joint note of the powers
was regarded as the event of the day An
ambassador from one of the great powers
of continental Europe stated that it was
without parallel in history; that it was tile
first and the only time that the six great
nations of Europe representing in the ag-
gregate the power Of civilization, had united
I'm this solemn manner to secure the peace
Of the world. 1t was, this high authority
stated, a. movement historical in character
and one fitting to occur on the advent of the
twentieth century.
Calls at the various embassies and lega-
tions late in the day showed that the re-
Spouse of the President had created a most
favorable impression in foreign quarters.
The Presidents answer was looked upon to
some extent as a counter appeal to the pow
ers for their cooperation in the cause of
humanity against the intolerable condition
of affairs in Cuba In some diplomatic
quarters there was a disposition to read
the joint note between the lines" and to
give it suggestive character beyond the
mild phrases adopted. This was not the
generally accepted view, however. The ia
vorable manner of its reception was looked
on as wise move at this critical juncture,
for, without rejecting as an intrusion these
foreign suggestions. they We're so received
as to give the greatest promise of SYM
pathy rather than opposition from the most
powerful joint influences in the world.
MS fSsn