The San Francisco call., 1898-03-31
SPA AIN SEEKING AID IN EUROPE Sends a Note to the Powers on the Ameri-
 can Trouble. France Is Ready to Make a Move to Assure
 Peace.
If Is Only Necessary for the United States to Signify It's
 Willingness.
Special Dispatch to The Call.
Call Office, Riggs House.
 Washington. March 30.

Washington, March 30.
 It was stated to-day in high dip Iomatic ouarte- that the 7: )anish Gov ernment within the last ten days had addressed {. te to the great powers of Europe fully setting forth the grave aspect of the controversy with the United States and at least .i'erentially sugg Asting that the time gas now op- portune for European influences to be exerted. It is sa that this note led to the utterance of Premier Hanotaux in the French Chamber last Saturday and has been the cause of activity at Eu- ropean capitals within the last few days in connection with Spanish American affairs. Up to the present time, however, no actual step toward mediation or intervention has been taken by any foreign power, although there is little d)ubt that France stands ready to take oe initiative if there is the slightest evidence that the United States Government will view such a move with favor The French Embas- sador at Washington, M. Cambon. has received no definite instructions direct ing him to tender the good offices of France At the same time the Elm
 
 marks of Premier Hanotaux, has called on Judge Day and has said that if thls Government at any time feels that the French Government can aid in avert ing the present crisis and maintaining peace he has no doubt that France will readily undertake to exert such good offices as will be acceptable to both powers. This, as stated, is not a formal tender by the French Government, for as yet the French Ambassador has re- ceiyed no positive instructions, but II clearly indicates the tendency and will lingness of France to act as mediator in the present. emergency at any mo- ment. It is probable that the sugges- tions ha--e not taken more formal form owir~ to the delicate character of such overtures.
 A tender of good offices Is one of the last resorts of diplomacy, when all other means of averting war seem to be at an end. There is additional diff ficulty from the fact that when two nations are involved in a crisis any ex- ternal influence may be resented as an intrusion. There is reason to believe that the French authorities are fully conscious of these delicate and difficult phases and that no step will be made unless it is clearly apparent in advance that the United States desires the friendly offices of other nations.
 The Spanish Government has earn estly hoped within the last week that som~ of the European powers and more likely Austria or France, would take the initiative without waiting to con- suit the desires of this Government This hope has proved vain, however and it is said to-day on high author ity that recent negotiations in Europe have disclosed positively that while the sympathy of some of the continen- tal powers was toward Spain, no one of them stood ready to espouse her cause by mediation or by arms. Most has been expected of Austria, owing to the dynastic relations between Aus tria and Spain.
 Up to the present time, however Austria has not felt ready to take the initiative. The reports from Vienna last night that the Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Count Goluchowski had instructed the Austrian represen- tative at Washington to cooperate in the steps to be taken by France, are not borne out by any actual develop ments which have thus far occurred here. The Austrian Minister has not been at the State Department the pres ent week nor have any suggestions in this line been received by the State De- partment from him. It is a passing coincidence that the French Embassa- dor, the Austrian Minister and the Spanish Minister are more closely asso- ciated together than any other diplo- mats in the case