The Portland daily press., 1899-09-12
Move Would Be a Grave
One.
Besides That 1t Is Too Late To
Back Out.

Washington. September 11.--It is be-
lieved that when Congress assemblies
there will be considerable agitation OF q
proposition for this government to aban.
don Its participation In the Paris exposi-
tion. 1t Is known that expressions hos
tile to the exposition quoted from Senator
Stewart are very widely sympathized in
and IL Is thought that IL the conviction of
Dreyfus Is permitted to stand there will
be very little friendly feeling for France
among members Of either the House or
Senate. Such move, however. would be
a grave one. 1t is pointed out that to
withdraw from the participation "a the
exposition would be regarded as an OIL
cial insult to France No further lsgisg-
tion upon the part of Congress is needed
to carry out the plans of this country for
the exposition. About 81, 200. 600 has
been appropriated for the expenses Of tie
commission and the government exhibit.
the commission has been appointed and
the space desired for exhibits from this
country has been secured. There are now
only two ways In which Congress could
interfere. One would he to revoke such
part Of the appropriation as has not been
already paid out In the expenses of the
commission and the other would be to
pass a resolution DECLARING that on ao-
count of the unsettled conditions in
France, the valuable government exhibits
should not be cent to Paris. 10 do either
OF these things would he suftioient Ii is
believed to break of ali friendly relations
between the two countries.
Congress and the state department may
look at the matter from diflerent points
of view. The President and the state
department., having responsibility for
maintaining our relations wsth foreign
governments, cannot be expected to End
In this affair reason for Involving the
country In an international complication,
and IL is likely that the exeontive Q branch
OF the government will uss what influ-
enee 1t can to prevent hasty action.
Unless Congress expressly forbids It,
this government will proceed with the
preparations for the exhibition and will
send to Paris such government exhibits
as are decided upon but this will be done
with q realization Of the probability that
much of the space secured with such
difficulty for private American exhibits
will be left vacant Little doubt Is felt
that the latitude allowed the private citl-
zen will be quite extensively ayailed of
exposition. Another diffisulty in the way
OF an effort TO prevsns participation In
| the exposition. however, will be found in
the tact that before Congress has assem-
bled much of the goyernment exhibit
probably will be packed and on its way
to Paris If n OF actually there. The ex-
position opens in April and the work of
transporting and preparing the exhibit
will have 20 hegin come months before
that time. Up to this time, 1t is said,
the preparation of the government exhibit
has not begun, but the work win proceed
as soon as the government officials are
ready.
Representative Hepburn of Iowa said
today that he had ceased to marvel at the
methods Of French army justice after OBJ
serving how the trial OF Dreyfus was
conducted. No such trial or verdict was
possible in the United Statss. He did not
think 1t would in any way affect dipio-
matic relations between this country and
France, nor did he think it would intsr-
fere with the United States at the coming
exposition.