The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-03-21
FOR PEACE
Queen Victoria Sends a Message to
President Mckinley.


New YoRK, March 9.-The Her
AIDS Washington correspondent
telegraphs with positive knowledge
that Spain is financially unable to
carry on war; that the powerful in
huence Of Great Britain is being
exerted to prevent war, and with his
hands fully strengthened to meet
war the President is more hopeful
than ever it will be avoided.
The air in Washington to-day was
surcharged with stories Of various
kinds as to the prospective policies
Of the administration in dealing
with the Cuban question, and Of all
sorts of foreign complications that
would follow. / am enabled to state,
however, that the most important
development of the day was one
which tends toward peace rather
than war. Since the Maine disaster
there have been many evidences OF
British official and unofficial SYM
patty with the United States, and
in the light of these the visit OF Sir
Julian Paunceforte to the President
yesterday is OF peculiar significance.
Diligent inquiry as to the object of
this visit develops the fact that
Queen Victoria has, through the
British ambassador, conveyed to
President Mckinley her gratifca-
ton at the wise and conservative
course which he has thus far pur-
sued in relation to the Cuban and
Spanish situation. She has also ex-
pressed to him her thorough SYM
pathy with the efforts put forth by
the United States to relieve suffering
humanity in Cuba, with the hope
that these endeavors may be con-
Quoted to successful conclusion
without war.
These expressions were not sent
in official form. They would have
been communicated through Mr..
Hay, United States Minister to
Great Britain, but for the fact that
he was absent on voyage on Tues
day night. They were, therefore,
made direct TO Sir Julian Paunce-
fote with the request that he convey
them in person to the President.
There has been no correspond.
ence with this country upon the sub
ject, so that the Queens sentiments
do not appear on record. The de-
sire Of the Queen that war should
be avoided was emphasized for sew,
eral reasons. 1t was pointed out
that the commercial relations OF
Great Britain and the United States
were too extensive to be jeopardized
by war in this country, and a Spanish
blockade of the port of New York
for instance, it was pointed out
would be of irreparable damage tc
British shipping, while the cessation
OF the shipment of supplies to Eng
land would be exceedingly serious
No representation Of the attitude
of England in case Of hostilities wat
contained in the Queens message
but the assumption seemed to be
that war would be avoided.
The reply of the President ex
pressed his thanks and said that he
hoped it would be possible to avert
war. The public announcement o.
the real purpose Of the visit Of Sill
Julian, as we'll as a denial of the
fact that it had related to the pres
ent crisis, has been due entirely tc
the fear that misconstruction might
be given to the incident. 1t wal
thought that the approval given by
the Queen to the Presidents course
might displease persons of ultra
American spirit and might be re
garded as having undue weight in
influencing the Presidents future
action.