The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-15
was then ordered him TO 60 70 the presi.
dent of the republic

was then ordered him to &c 70 the presi.
dent of the republic
Mercier's Statements DenieA.
Regarding Mercier's declarations on Sat
urday last on the witness stand, Casim:r-
Perser said.
'.Nercier had no right whatever 10 inter-
vene in diplomatic conversation would
have prevented such an Interference. Il
was I alone who conferred with the min
lister, and declare the impression / de-
rived from the conversation was one Of
complete calm, otherwise the incident
would not have been closed BY the franz
ing OF a note.
I'VE had no telegram from Berlin that
evening. II was in regard 10 the note the
minister referred TO Berlin. II there had
been any news in regard to the matter on
the evening o. the 9Th We would not have
waited until the sth TO publish the matter.
There was no dispatch addressed to friend
ly powers relative TO the incident. The
incident has been magnifed. Besides. In
the event Of diplomatic complications the
president would have communicated with
the minister Of foreign Affairs"
Mercier's Reply.
Mercier replied he went to the Eiysee as
minister of war. He recalled that Gen.
DE Boisdeffre could testify In regard to the
OfueIB ISFefNEd. DeHduK6 SelzeQ uD0n
this declaration and insisted that Mercier
repeat the statement that he had given
orders to Boisdeffre relative TO mobiiisa-
ton.
Casimir-Perier resumed his testimony
and said he would not reply to certain of
Mercier's tnsinnations.
Il do not wish to answer them" said
the former president. THE circumstances
are too sad and too tragic for me to try
to enyenom the discussion. ! am master
of myself and Of my conscience / would
only state that Mercier has made every
effort to mix me as deeply as possible in
this affair. but have remained aloof,
afiirm. during the progress Of the investi-
CATION
MeseteP Was InsubOrdimate
The former president then complained
OF incorrect behavior OF his subordinate
toward the chief Of the state
las an instance" said Casimir- Perier
''Gen. Mercier undertook to shorten the
| term Of service OF 5000 men without con-
| euiting the chief OF state. thus lacking In
| the respect he owed 10 the chief OF state. q
| Demange asked Cisimir-Pe IL on the
| 9Th an understanding had not been
/ reached between France and Germany on
the subject Of Dreyfus. Casimir- Perier
replied that before his Interview with the
| minister on the 9Th. the question OF Drey-
| fus had never been raised between them
and Germany.
MangIed Translation NJ . Telegram.
~ Demange asked Gen. Mercier why he
had not included In the dossier OF 1894 the
doubtful translation of the telegram Of
agent n" 10 his government under date
Of November 3.
In reply Gen. Mercier said not one Of
the TRANSACTIONS OF the telegram was COM
mun!oated 70 the judges because there
stii existed doubts N his mind NJ De-
mango remarked that the text was COM
municafed 10 Sandherr as official and
therefore doubts were impossible
NJ Demange then asked that NJ Paieo-
1ogue. Of the foreign office. be recalled In
order to state that only single version
OF the telegram was given him. as he un-
derstood Gen Mereter's uncertainty was
aroused by the receipt OF a semi-ofhTiai
draft Of the telegram.
At this point Mat Carriere the represent
tative Of the government. asked that u be
clearly shown that two versions OF the tel
egram were given. one official and one
semi-osficial. NJ pemange said that In
communicating the official tex, November
2 Sandherr emphasized It's official char
acter.
Paper which Mercter Destroyed.
Counsel next asked Gen MERCER shy
the explanations OF the secret dosser were
not included In the dossier relating 10 the
revision. The general replied tina, he con-