Evening star., 1902-02-11
ORIGIN OF THE NOTE
GERMAN OFFICIAL PRESS STnN
AFTER PAUNCEFoTE.
Spanish War Intervention ouestion
Continues to Agitate the
Courts Of Europe.

A dispatch from London last night sayuJ
The efforts Of the German Official and semi
official press to reopen the controversy con.
cerning the attitude OF the powers toward
the United States prior to the Spanish
American war are rapidly leading to COM
plications which at least will be entertain
Ing and which possibly may have important
developments.
Henry Norman. NJ. P. who on January
20 first interpellated Lord Cranborne. un-
der secretary for foreign affairs, In the
house OF commons on this matter. will AK
Lord Cranborne tomorrow whether his at
tentfon has been called to the statements
widely made In the German press and alleged
to have received official confirmation that
Great Britain on April IA. 1898, through
her ambassador. proposed a fresh joint note
In which the powers should declare that
Europe did not regard the armed interven-
tioE of the United States In Cuba as justi-
fable. and that In consequence OF Ger
many's refusal to accept this proposal tho
step was abandoned. Mr.. Norman will
also ask whether Lord Cranborne can mako
any statement on this step.
The Associated Press Is In a position to
say that IL the cabinet agrees to allow
Lord Cranborne to make a frank answer
to Mr.. Norman's questions he will not give
anything but fiat denial to the allega-
tions of the German press If Lord Cram
borne accepts Mr.. Norman's invitation to
make further statement on this subject.
IL Is probable that 1t will be a guarded ref
etence to the unofficial pourparliers which
took place among the diplomats at Wash
lEgton prior to the declaration Of war and
Of which the foreign office has no official
record.
According to the foreign office 1t is incon-
ceivable that LeGd Psuncefote could have
entered into any such negotiations as are
suggested by the German press and much
less instigated them.
However. IL the reply regarding this phase
or the affair Is made 1t is not likely to be
too definite, on account of the palpable
anxiety exhibited here to make Germany
produce those documentary proofs which
she Is alleged to have.
A dispatch from Berlin yesterday says:
The official North German Gazette this
evening joins in the controversy regarding
the attitude OF the several powers previous
to the outbreak OF the Spanish-American
war. 1t says:
Lord Pauncefote's proposal of April IA.
ls9S to send collective note to the gov
ernment of the United States declaring
American intervention dn Cuba) to be un-
justifiable Is historical fact" And the
Gazette proceeds to characterize as absurd
the attempt now being made to obscure
and dispute an event which did not occur
In the presence of the representatives OF
only two powers. but on which the repre-
Sentatiyes OF all the powers at Washington
after an agreement reported to their
spective governments April II, 1898. stimuli
taneously and identically."'
lie 0eTHdu OH1Clal declaration In the
North German Gazette is q direct conse-
quence Of the increduity expressed by
American and English newspapers regard
Ing the disclosures from here Of the action
OF Lord Pauncefote OF April H. 1898. II this
declaration Is replied to by Great Britain
the documents relating to the matter will
undoubtedly be published. In official circles
here 1t Is deemed best to wait and see how
the statement published this evening in the
North German Gazette Is received
A transcript Of the dispatch from DR.. Won
Holleben. the German ambassador at
Washington, communicating the proposal OF
Lord Pauncefote was sent to Emperor Will
liam Immediately after its receipt. and the
emperor annotated his fiat refusal on the
margin OF the message. The informant OF
the correspondent added:
But for the action of Emperor William
Lord Pauncefote's proposal would have
been accepted by the other powers"
The German government although 1t con-
siders its attitude is no more than correct.
Is quite unwilling that it's course should be
misunderstood.