The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-20
AN EXAMPLE TO EUROPE.
M'KINlEY'S OFFER OF GOOD OFFICES IN
INTEREST OF PEACE.
COMMENT OF A FRENCH OFFICIAL
Words OF High Praise for the Course
Pursued-The Criticism as an Elec-
tion Maneuver Unjustified - Po<si-
bility OF European Mediation In Case
the Destruction OF the Mines at JS-
hannesburg L. CentempIated-Lkszc
lihood OF This Action by the Boers-


Copyrighted by Associated Press.)
Paris. March 1.-THE United States
has shown selfish Europe an>.xampse."
said a 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 Of
fees 10 England. We felt" continued
the official in question. that our own
position with respect to England. I'm
view OF the present state Of public feel
ing there. was too late 10 admit OF our
acceding TO Mr.. Kruger's appeal; and
as this reluctance appeared To be shar-
ed by every other power the action OF
the American government in taking the
initiative came as an agreeable sur
price. That it did not succeed does not
detract from its merit
The Associated Press here called the
interlocutors attention to the COM
plants OF Il portion Of the French press
that President Mckinley refrained
from backing up his offer, which was
necessary TO its success, some papers
having openly stated that his action
was a mere election maneuver and not
Intended to be successful.
In our view,' replied the official,
these criticisms are utterly unjusd-
fed. President Mckinley did even more
than up to the last moment was expect
| ed over here. Only the members Of
chancelleries, who realize the deff-
| cate nature OF such a step. ca. appre-
ciate Americas effort at its proper
value. The French government, While
| not prepared 10 take the initiative,
would, in conjunction with Russia,
readily have supported America but
| the promptitude of Englands refusal
cut the ground from under them
| The representatives informant added
| that, although there appeared To be
J little likelihood OF intervention in The
immediate future. yet hopes are stih
entertained that an offer OF good szFices
from the powers may eventually prove
| acceptable. AT Ay rate" said he, 1t
it not unlikely that il will be made ff
| foreign interests are in danger by the
threatened destruction OF the Rand
! mines
This question of the destruction ss
| the gold mines, as predicted by Mr.
! Montagu White is regarded as a ss-ri-
| Gus matter here. and as being. not
merely possible, but probable.
| II is learned that the French gov
| a-nment has received information to-
| the same effect from another source.
and it considered that the descendants =
of the Dutchmen who flooded their own
country in order to repel an invade r
! are quite capable OF following this his
| toric precedent in the case of foreign
| owned gold mines. The French press
| has taken up the matter and p0inu us
, out the enormous amount OF French
savings sunk in the Rand gold fields.
| 1t is stated If the Beers carry out their
threat it will take At least three years
| To reconstruct the surface
and other plant. while immense destruc
ton could be wrought by dynamitine
the underworkings. Thus. since Tues
day, Robinson has dropped from 2ll
to 200; Ferreria from 493 to 465 and
Geldenhuis from 14S TO 14o