The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-20
SPANS APPEALS ARE VAIN
EMPEROR WILLIAM WILL
PROMISE ONLY NEUTRALITY
Queen Regent Makes Desperate Eff
forts Through the Emperor of
Austria to Secure Assurances OF
With the United States-NeRative
Replies From All of the Powers.

Support In the Event of War
With the United States-Negative
Replies From All of the Powers.
BERLIN, March 19-In spite Of
denials. the queen regent of Spain has
repeatedly and strongly appealed to
Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria, to
exert his influence with the monarchs
| of Europe, particularly Emperor Will
liam, to secure their efforts to restore
| amicable relations between the United
States and Spain.
The queen laid special stress on ne
| cessity Of maintaining the peace Of
| Europe and securing an entente Of the
European monarchs against republi-
can, aggressive America. and on the
| affinity Of her dynasty with the Haps-
burgs.
| 1t is understood that Emperor Fran
els Joseph, while replying to the queen
cautiously and conservatively, has ac-
tually written to Emperor William. en-
deavoring to elicit a reply pledging
| the latter to promise to tender his good
offices in trying to maintain peace.
More recently Spain approached Ger
many and Austria with the view Of
obtaining assurances that they, in the
event of war, would assist Spain in
some way or the other.
The Spanish ambassador here, Senior
Mendoz de Vigo, father-in-law of Senior
Polo Bernabe, the Spanish minister
Wednesday last with the minister for
foreign affairs, Baron Won Buelow,
when the latter assured him that
while Germany earnestly desired the
maintenance Of peace, she certainly
would not pledge herself to anything
but the strictest neutrality. Spain is
believed to have received the same an
SWer from Vienna and Paris
Party Politics.
A remarkable change in party poll
tics Is believed to be imminent. 1t as
sures the adoption of the most impor-
tant measures pending in the reichstag
| and diet, while it furnishes the leaders
| with definite issues for the coming cleo
| ton. The main issue will be the COM
| mercial treaties now pending. which
are largely in favor Of industrial inter
| ests and detrimental to agricultural in
| terests. They formerly met with the
| emperor's approval and brought honors
| to Gen. Count Won Caprivi, the former
| chancellor, their Trainer. The new trea-
| ties, according to the government,
| promise to be more favorable to agri-
| culture.
The Agrarian election manifesto, just
| issued, is signed by the leaders Of the
| different Conservative factions and by
| part of the National Liberal and Gen.
| trist parties-the new anal amation
| thus comprising about half the present
| representation in the reichstag and over
half the diet. In opposition to this
| combination all the Liberal and Radi-
! cal factions have pooled their issues,
and they will be supported by the So
c1alists in unfolding the main lines
of the present treaties
Campaign Opened.
The campaign has been opened
throughout Germany. The commercial
convention, sitting this week in Berlin,
representing all the chambers of COM
merce and large industrial firms Of the
country, unanimously passed a reso1u-
ton in favor of the present treaties.
The Centrists, having 100 votes in the
reichstag and consequently the balance
| Of power, are strenuously opposed to
forcing a new issue. as likely to dis
rupt the party, which is already split
upon the naval bill and military reform
bill, part supporting them and Others
mostly the South Germans, opposing
them.
1t is believed In parliamentary circles
that an important resolution will be in
troduced in the diet by the Agrarian
leaders Won Mende1 and Ring, asking
for a uniform and rigorous inspection
OF meats at frontier stations, and urg-
ing the government to exert influence
to secure a. similar decree from the
bundesrath. If it be passed the meas
ure will be a hit at all foreign meats,
including American meats, and the
United States consuls fear 1t may be
construed unfairly and seriously injure
American imports.
The sugar manufacturers Of the
Rhine, at a special meeting just held,
have requested the government Ito in
posed conference on the sugar bounty
question is to meet at Brussels.
There is widespread complaint at the
delay and uncertainty. The belief thaa
| the conference will meet in February
had largely affected sales and purchas-
es. and it's failure to meet would have
disastrous effect upon prices.