The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-23
EXPLANA TIONS
ARE FORTHCOMING.
Russia, 1t Appears, Prevented
Joint Note to United States.
WHOLE SUBJECT GONE INTO
Statement That France Supported the Aus
tran Proposal, Credited TO Br fish
Official, is Said TO Be
Incorrect.
fBy Associated Presr.,

PARIS. Jan. 22.-In view of tho state
rlent made by Lord CranSorne, tho Brit
ish Under Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, in the House OF Commons Mon
day on the subject OF representations
made TO Great Britain before and after
the outbreak of the Spanish war and the
dispatch of the Associated Press from
London yesterday on the same subject,
the correspondent of the Associated Press
made inquiries in an authoritative quarter
here and received the following expla-
nations. which throw a. somewhat diff
ferent light on the subject:
In the first place, in the Spanish neso-
tiations, at the end of March, 1888, 10
secure the intervention OF the Powers III
her favor. Great Britain took the same
attitude as France and the other Pow
ers. She neither refused nor consented
TO join in collective action. All the fo"-
ers were heSitating until they aScer-
tanned the intentions OF the others Rus
sia settled the matter by the late Count
Mourayieff's blunt rejection Of the pro-
posal.
Subsequently, after General Woodford's
conference with the Spanish premier and
Senior Gullon. the foreign minister DIT
which the latter indicated the event Oh
the surrender Spain was willing to make
to the United States demands, the Aus
TRAN Government. believing Spain sur
render was sufficiently complete 10 sat
isfy the United States. instructed Its am
hassadors to propose to the 6ulopeati
Governments that note be presented AZ
Washington, urging the United states 10
accent SPANS offer and avert war.
RAISED OBJECTION.
The Spanish anita sador in London saw
Mr.. Balfour. who promised to instruct
Lord Pauncefotc to act alone, or win
his colleagues. with the view to maintain
peace. No collective action was defnitely
agreed upon, though Russia, france anu
Germany were disposed towards a move
ront which would avert an outbreak VI
hostiIitics. A few days before the wall
i,s,-,-o,,or II was declared that Mr.. Bal
fo,,,- had raised the objection to which
lord Cranborne alluded in the House OF
Commons Monday against any nole
which would have the appearance OF put
tinrr nressure on the United States VI
Offering an opinion on the Unlteo STATS
attitude. The Austrian proposlt'oh .i.s..
feu through and the subsequent Jo'iL'
resolution of Congress rendered any
t,ar action out of the question:.
This was the extent of Great Britain
action against the United S1ares
FRANCE FRIENDLY.
-r,o statement of a prominent British
foreign official quoted in the London dis
match of the Associated Press resaraihs
the alleged support by France of the Aus
trian proposal. is declared TO oe iileoi
rect. France did not back UP the pro2o-
sal. and the French. ambassador in Lon
don confined himself to making an IN
curry as to what view the Bri.ish govern
,ne,,t took of the matter Frances attl-
iudo throughout was friendly to the
United states as well as to Spain, her
a avert Sllc
took no Initiative in any Suggestion teno-
ing TO put pressure on the United states
nor at any time encouraged Spain to re-
The exact value which should be placed
on Great Britain's leaning toward the
United States can be gagged, it is de-
clared. by the fact that when war was
declared Senior Gullon was furious. firstly
against Germany. secondly against hus-
STA, and only thirdly against Great Brit
ain. His resentment against Germany
was due TO the latter having encouraged
Snain TO resist and then having aban-
doned her at the last moment