The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-18
Relations of France and England
Were Too Delicate to Permit Form
er Power to Take Action.
ANOTHER EFFORT PROBABLE
IF FOREIGN INTERESTS IN THE
RAND ARE THREATENED.
Fears Expressed that the Beers May
Destroy the Johannesburg Mines
-Wane of Anglophobism.
Copyright. 1900, by the Associated Press,

PARIS March 1.-THE United States
has shown selfish Europe an example"
said a responsible official to a representa-
tive of the Associated Press when asked
what was the feeling of the French gov
eminent regarding President McKinley's
offer of his good offices to England. 1--WE
felt" continued the official in question.
that our own position with England, in
view of the present state of public feeling
there, was too delicate to admit of our ac-
ceding to Mr.. Krugers appeal and, as this
reluctance appeared to be shared by every
other power. the action of the American
government in taking the initiative came
as an agreeable surprise. That it did not
succeed does not detract from its merit"
The Associated Press representative here
called the iuterlocutors attention to the
complaint of a 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 electoral
maneuver and not intended to be success
full.
In our view" replied the official, "these
criticisms are utterly unjustified. President
Mckinley did even more than up to the
last moment was ever expected over here.
Only the members of chancellories, who
realized the delicate nature of such step
can appreciate Americas effort at its prop
er value The French government, while
| not prepared to take the initiative. would,
in conjunction with Russia readily have
supported America: but the promptitude of
England's refusal cut the ground under
them
The Associated Press informant added
that. although there appeared to be little
lkennoOd or intervention in the immediate
future. yet hopes still entertained that
an offer of good offices from the powers
| may eventually prove acceptable. "At any
| rate, said he. ''it is not unlikely that it
Will be made If foreign interests are in
danger by the threatened destruction of
| the Rand mines"
This question of the destruction of the
| gold mines. as predicted by Mr. Montague
| White, is regarded a serious matter
here and as being not merely possible, but
probable. The Associated Press learns
| that the French government has received
| information to the same effect from an
other source, and 1T considers the descend
ants OF the Dutchmen who flooded their
| own country in order to repel an invader
quite capable of following this historic pre-
ceuent In the case of foreign-owned gold
Il
| matter, and points out the enormous
| amount of French savings sunk i'm the
| Rand gold fields. 1t is stated that If the
| Beers carry out their threat IL will take
| at least three years TO reconstruct the sur
| face machinery and other plant, while i'm
| mense destruction could be wrought by
| dynamiting the underground workings
France owns a third of the shares in the
| Transvaal mines. and these aIarmist pre-
| dictfons have already had their effect on
the quotations OF the stocks of those mines
Thus wnce sin cFene Tss holdings are larger
dropped from 30 to 200. Ferreire from 4sS
to 49, and Geldenhuis from 14S to 14o.
| The discussion of the question of media
ton in the Senate Thursday gave NJ
Delcasse. minister of foreign affairs, an
| opportunity to emphasize the fact that
| the Franco-Russian alliance is as close
as 1t ever was and that unity of action pre-
| to Russia was prompted by a report that
| Count Muravieff, the Russian foreign min
| lister. during his visit to Paris. suggested
| intervention, but the French government
| held back. Nj. Delcasse's statement shows
| that no such proposition was ever made
The tension of feeling between France
| and England certainly has undergone
abatement this week, for which the con-
| cillatory article of the London Times is
largely responsible: and the fact that Ii
| was so well received by the French press
| demonstrates that the Francophobe atti-
| tude of many Of the English papers is, to
| great extent, accountable for the strained
| relations of the two peoples. Those Ma
| tionalist organs whose AnglOphObism is
| part Of their studied party policy have
| not aba ted their attack; but the moderate
| journals have responded to the advances
| of the London press in the same spirit.
|
The governments bill proposing amnesty
in all criminal prosecutions which have
arisen out of the Dreyfus affair meets with
vigorous opposition from the Dreyfusards,
] whose regulations have been besmirched by
| the vile accusations of their adversaries
and to whom amnesty means the depriva-
| ton of the means of redress Dreyfus
! himself wrote protesting against the bill
which will, if passed, kill his hopes of re-
| Mobilization. The Senate committee this
week heard NJ. Reinach Colonel Picquart
and NJ. lola. all of whom warmly con-
demned the measure Colonel Picquart de-
be included in the same list with General
MERCER and his accomplices. M lola sub
mtted that the amnesty was in violation
of the Constitution.
The irrepressible Esterhazy has bobbed
up again and has written to the committee
of the Senate announcing that he had
| made four dispositions before the French
J consul general in London, Nj. LequeuX
which would prevent the government from
| sitting the inquiry he de .nands. Accord
ing TO an inspired statement his dispositions
| are valueless. as he has only produced
copies. instead of the originals. of the
1 documents he DrofeSSeS To DoSSeSS