The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-09-12
EXPOSITION BOYCOTT,
Merchants of All Lands Will Shun
the Paris Show. .
GOVERNMENTS WILL NOT ACT,

But Citizens VIII Take Revenge on
France For the Conviction OF Drey-
fus-A British Commissioner Wil
Refuse to visit Paris.
Washington, Sept. 12.-It is believed
that when congress assemblies there
will be considerable agitation Of =
proposition for this government to
abandon its participation in the Paris
exposition. 1t is known that express
sions hostile to the exposition voiced
by Senator Stewart are very widely
sympathized in, and 1t is thought that
II the conviction of Dreyfus Ia per-
mitted to stand there will be very lit
tie friendly feeling for France among
members of either the house or senate.
Such a move, however. would be .
grave one. 1t is pointed out that to
withdraw from participation in the ex-
position would be regarded as an OF
fetal insult to France. No further leg
islation on the part of congress II
needed to carry out the plans of this
country for the exposition. About L.
200, 900 has been appropriated for the
expenses of the commission and the
government exhibit, the commission
has been appointed and the space de-
sired for exhibits from this country
has been secured.
There are only two ways in which
congress could interfere. One would
be to revoke such part Of the appro-
priation as has not been already ex-
pended In the expenses Of the COM
mission, and the other would be to
pass resolution declaring that on ac-
count of the unsettled conditions in
France the valuable government ex-
hibits should not be sent to Paris. To
do either of these things would be
sufficient, it is believed, to break of
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, cannot be ex-
pected to find in this affair reason
for involving the country in an inter-
national complication, and it is likely
that the executive branch of the gov
ernment will use what influence 1t can
to prevent hasty action.
Unless congress expressly fOrbids 1t,
this government will proceed with the
preparations for the exhibition and
will send to Paris such government ex-
hbits as are decided upon, but this
will be done with a realization Of the
probability that much of the space Sc
cured 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 availed Of to with
draw from participation in the exposi-
ton. y~s
Representative Grosvenor, Of Ohio,
who has just returned from Europe.
spending part of the time in Paris.
when asked by reporter II the Drey-
fus verdict would hurt the Paris ex-
position, replied:
Beyond doubt No nation can af-
ford to boycott the exposition as
nation, because such action would be
a direct insult to France. but individ-
uals can express their opinion, and. In
my Judgment, thousands who would
otherwise have visited Paris will now
remain on this side. This will touch
the French In tender spot. The
French people are looking forward to
making a great deal of money out Of
the show. 1t is good thing that the
appropriation for the exposition has
been made. Congress would hardly be
in the mood now to pproprisie
money"