The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-05-20
CHAPTER XIII.
A. STATEMENT 10 THE PRESS.

CHAPTER XIII.
STATEMENT ~ THE PRsss.
This Is indeed extraordinary" ex-
claimed Lord Maybury. the Premier.
ct last.
"An amazing development-most
amazing!" the Foreign Minister cried.
unusually excited.
is the dispatch from Paris very re-
markable?" l asked. unable to any
longer bear their tantalizing converse
ton, so anxious was to ascertain the
latest development OF this conspiracy
against our country.
Read 1t for yourself" Lord Warn
ham answered, glancing at the Premier
to ascertain whether this course re-
ceived his appreciation, and finding
that It did, he handed me the dis
patch, which l found, moment later,
read as follows:
From Marquis Of Worthorpe, Paris,
to Earl Of Warnham, Her Majesty's
Principal Secretary Of State for For
eign Affairs-My Lord, In further con-
tinuation Of my dispatch Of this morn
ing have the honor to report to your
lordship that the war preparations ac-
lively commenced here on receipt Of
telegram from st. Petersburg (copy Of
which was enclosed in my last dis
patch) have, owing to later telegram
from Russia, been entirely stopped.
The orders for mobilization have ev-
erywhere been countermanded. Ac-
cording to a statement just made to
me by our secret agent in the Minis
try of Foreign Affairs, the French
Government have to-day received
word that the Cars declaration of
war will not, for some unexplained rea-
son, be published. l send this by spe-
cial messenger, in the hope that it
will reach your lordship this evening.
-Worthorpe."
This is remarkable" cried, 1T
appears as IL Russia had already re-
pented."
I'VE want" said the Prime Minister,
this statement spread throughout the
country"
in order to allay undue public
alarm l wish it to be known that, ac-
cording to advices l have received, the
statement in the 'Novoe Vremya' to-
day, at first believed to be correct, is
without foundation"
Then war is not declared?"
mo. The alarming report repro
duced by the English press from the
St. Petersburg journal is apparently
totally incorrect"
There presently came another loud
knock at the door. One Of the clerks
| who had rushed over from the Foreign
Office, entered bearing a Geographic
| dispatch.
Where from?" inquired Lord
Warnham, noticing the paper in his
hand as he came in.
From St. Petersburg, your lord
ship" he answered, handing him the
telegram.
The Premier and Foreign Secretary
read 1t through together in silence,
expressions Of satisfaction passing at
once across both their countenances.
Then we need have no further ap-
prehension," exclaimed the Premier at
last, looking up at his colleague.
Apparently not" observed Lord
Warnham. This is certainly suffi-
cient confirmation of Worthorpe's dis
patch" and he tossed it across to the
table where l sat, at the same time
dismissing the clerk who had brought
it.
Taking up the telegram l saw at a
glance it was from our secret agent
in the Russian Foreign Office and that
it had been re-transmitted from Ham.
burg. Although he had stated that all
cipher messages were refused this was
in our private code, and it's transcript
ton written beneath was as follows:
Remarkable development Of situa
ton has occurred. Ministers held &
council this afternoon, and after con.
ferring with the Car the latter decid
ed to withdraw his proclamation o.
war which was to be issued tonight
The reason for this sudden decision
to preserve peace is mystery but thu
Gar left half an hour ago on hi!
journey south, two of the Minister!
have left for their country seats, an(
Geographic orders have been ISSUED
countermanding the military prepare
tons, therefore 1t is certain that al
idea of war is entirely abandoned
Immediately at the conclusion of tn,
council telegram was sent to tn,
Russian Minister in Paris informing
him of the decision not to commenc,
hostilities against England. The No
voc Vremya, in order to allay publi
feeling is to be prosecuted for pub
fishing false news"