The age-herald., 1899-09-12
ooNo'uo'up'o h6'so''o' VI DREYFUS CASE THE CAUSE The Movement is Considered to be of the Utmost Gravity. WOULD BE AN OFFICIAL INSULT Step May Be Taken By Two Methods Either of Which Will Sunder
 Friendly Ties With France
 -Hepburn's Opinion
WOULD BE AN OFFICIAL INSULT

Washington, September 11.-1t is believed that when congress assemblies there will be considerable agitation of a proposition for this government to abandon its participa- tion in the Paris exposition.
 It is known that expressions hostile to the exposition quoted from Senator Stew art are very widely endorsed, and 1t IS thought that if 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. It is pointed out that to withdraw from participation in the exposition would be regarded as an official insult to France. No further legislation on the part of con- gress is needed to carry out the plans of this country for the exposition. About $1,- 2OO.OOO has been appropriated for the ex- penses of the commission and the govern ment exhibit the commission has been ap- pointed and the space desired for exhibits from this country has been secured
 Two Ways to Interfere
 There are now only two ways in which congress could interfere. One would be to revoke such part of the appropriation as has not been already expended in the ex- penses of the commission, and the other would be to pass a resolution declaring that on account of the unsettled conditions the valuable government exhibits should not be sent to Paris. To do either of these things would be sufficient, it is believed, to break off all friendly relations between the two countries. Congress and the state department may look at the matter from different points of view.
 The president and the state department, having responsibility for maintaining our relations with foreign governments, can not be expected to find in this affair req son for involving the country in an inter- national complication, and 1t Is likely that the executive branch of the government will use what influence it can to prevent any nasty action.
 viii Proceed With Preparations
 Unless congress expressly forbids it, this government will proceed with the preparations for the exhibition and will send to Paris such government exhib- its as are decided upon, but this will be dcne with a 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 citizen will be quite extensively avaied of to withdraw from participation in the exposition. An other difficulty the way of an effort to prevent participation in the exposition, however. will be found in the fact that before congress has assembled much of the government exhibit probably will be packed and on its way to Paris, If not actually there.
 Work of Transporting
 The exposition opens in April, and the work of transporting and preparing the exhibits will have to begin some months before that time. Up to this time. it Is said the preparations of the government exhibit has not begun, but the work will proceed as soon as the government officials are ready.
 Representative Hepburn, of Iowa, said to- day that he has ceased to marvel at the methods of French army justice after ob. serving how the trial of Dreyfus was con- ducted. No such trial or verdict was pos sible in the United States. He did not think 1t would in any way affect diplomat dc relations between this country ana France, nor did he think 1t would interfere with United States exhibitors at the com- ing exposition.