Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-18
FRANCE AND ENGLAND
Proposed Mediation to Stop the
South African War
President Mckinley Commended for Offer
Ing His Services Franco May Move In
Order to Protect Her Interests in Rand
Mines.
{ Special Paris Gable Lettcr)

Copyright. 1900. the Associated Press)
Paris, March 17.-'"The United States
has shown selfish Europe an example,"
said responsible official to a repre-
sentative of the Associated Press, when
asked what was the feeling of the
French government regarding Prcsi-
dent McKinley's offer of his good offices
to England. I'VE felt" continued the
official in question, that our own po-
sition with respect to England, IN view
of the present state Of public feeling
there. was too delicate to admit of our
acceding to Mr.. kruger's appeal; and,
as this reluctance appeared to be
shared in by every other power, the
action of the American government in
taking the initiative came as an agree
able surprise. That 1t did not succeed
does not detract from its merit
NrKINLEY DEFENDED.
The Associated Press representative
here called the nterlocutor's attention
to the complaints Of Il portion of the
French press that President Mckinley
refrained from backing UP his Offer
which was necessary TO it's success
some papers having openly stated that
his action was n mere election ma
noeuvre, and not intended to be sue
CeSStul.
I'm our view" replied the official
these criticisms are utterly unjusti-
fed. President Mckinley did even
more than uD to the last moment was
expected over here, Only the merubers
of ChancellerieS. who realized the deli
cate nature of such a step, can appre-
ciate Americas effort at its proper
value. The French Government, while
not prepared to take the initiative,
would. in conjunction with Russia.
readily have supported America; but
the promptitude of Engiands refusal
cut the ground from under them
THE RAND GOLD MINES.
The officials informant added that
although there appeared to be little
likelihood of intervention in the imme-
diatc future, yet hopes are still enter
tanned that an offer of good offices from
the powers may eventually prove ac-
ccptable.
"At any rate" said he. cit is not I'M
likely that 1t will be made if foreign
interests are In danger by the threat
ened destruction of the Rand mines"
This question of the destruction of
the gold mines. as predicted by Mr..
Montague White, is regarded as a
serious matter here. and as being, not
merely possible. but probable.
ALARMIST PREDICTIONS.
1t is learned that the French Gov
criincnt mas received information to
the same effect from another source,
and 1t considers the descendants of the
Dutchmen, who flooded their own coun-
try in order to repel an invader. quite
capable of following this historic pre-
cedent In the case OF foreign owned
gold mines. The French press has
taken up the matter and points out
the enormous amount OF French
savings sunk in the Rand gold fields.
1T is stated that If the Beers carry out
their threat 1t Will take at least three
years to reconstruct the surface ma
chinery and other plant, while immense
destruction could be wrought by dyna-
hitting the underground workings
France owns third of the shares in
the Transvaal mines and these alarm
ist predictions have already had their
effect on the quotations Thus. since
Tuesday. Robinson has dropped from
210 to 200; Ferreira from i93 to 465, and
Geldenhuis from lis to 40.
The tension of feeling between
France and England certainly has I'M
dcrgone abatement this week. for
which the concilatory article of the
London Times Is largely responsible.
A PROPOSITION CONDEMNED
The Governments bill proposing am
nesty In all criminal prosecutions which
have arisen out of the Drcyfus affair
meets with vigorous opposition from
the Dreyfusards, TO whom amnesty
means the deprivation of means of re-.
dress. Drcyfus himself wrote protesting
against the bill. The Senate Commit
tee this week heard Colonel Picpuart
and NJ. lola. all of whom warmly con-
demned this measure.