The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-21
Statement by Lord CranbOrne on the
Proposed Intervention in the
Standardization War.
BRITAIN WILLING TO MEDIATE
BEFORE THE OPENING OF HOSTILE
TIES WITH SPAIN,
But Declined Later to Act with Con-
tinentaI Powers In Putting Press
ure on the United states.

silence that was a striking tribute to the
deep interest felt in the matter, Lord Gran
horne, under secretary for foreign affairs,
in the House of Commons to-day made the
first official statement which ever emanated
from the British government regarding it's
private attitude toward the United States
in the war with Spain.
The subject of proposed European inter
vention in the Spanish-Ameriean war was
brought up by Henry Norman QiberaD i'll
the form of a question asking whether any
communication proposing or concerning
Joint or collective action by the European
states, in view of the outbreak, or expected
outbreak. of the late war between the
United States and Spain was received from
the Austrian or any other government, and,
if so, what was the nature of the reply of
her Majestys government? Mr.. Norman
further invited Lord Cranborne to lay the
papers I'm the case on the table.
Lord Cranborne, in reply, said no such
communication had been made to the gov
eminent after the outbreak of the war, but
that Immediately before the war communi-
cations were received from other powers
suggesting the presentation of a joint note
to the President of the United States. Her
Maiesty's government agreed to join with
the other powers i'm a note expressing the
hope that the negotia lions of her Majesty
might lead to a peaceful settlement, ae-
companied 10y guarantees acceptable to the
United States for the preservation of order
in Cuba. The government first took steps
to ascertain whether the presentation OF
the note as well as its terms, would be
acceptable to the President. Her Majesty
government, Lord Cranborne continued, de-
clined to associate itself with other subse-
ouent proposals. which seemed open 10 the
object of putting pressure on the govern
ment of the United States and Offering an
opinion on its action, The under secretary
concluded with saying l. was unable TO
lay the papers in the case on the table.
This statement was received with burst
of ringing cheers such as seldom greets the
mere answer of a parliamentary question.
OTHER POWERS REBUFFED.
Inquiries made by the Associated Press
concerning the subsequent proposals.
mentioned by Lord Cranborne elected inn
portant information from the Foreign
Office There it was stated that Great Brit
ain had been twice formally approached on
this matter, but only once after the COM
mencement of hostilities between Spain and
the United States. Lord Cranborne's refer
ences to more than one proposal were evil
IDENTIFY congratulations, which included ten
tative proposals not officially recognized.
The occasion upon which Great Britain
deliberately put down her foot was, accord
ing to the Foreign Office, when the Aus
trian ambassador at London interviewed
Lord Salisbury and asked him IL Great
Britain would be willing to join in a col
lective note from the European powers
urging the United States to desist from
war with Spain Such q note was not TO
threaten reprisals or intervention, but was
to be in the nature of strong protest and
a plea for arbitration. Lord Salisbury, so
the representative of the Associated Press
was informed, regarded this proposition as
unWarrantable interference in the analrs OF
a friendly country and frankly said so, de-
claring that Great Britain would not be
party to any such step, especially in view
of the late President .McKinleys attitude
toward the ante-bellum efforts of European
powers to avert war. The Foreign once
heard nothing more on this subject, the
matter of a collective note apparently be-
ing dropped.
what powers were previously prepared to
sign this note had Great Britain acquiesced
thereto the following statement from
high official of the Foreign Ofice, through
whose hands all secret dispatches passed,
had best be given in his own language.
This official said: I'VE have no docu-
mentary evidence to prove that any power
other than the one which formally APP
preached us was concerned in this effort TO
send a collective note to the United States,
the purpose of which, however polite the
a threat We had at the time, however,
every reason to believe that this power was
merely put forward as sort of buffer in
order to sound us, and that Frarce, Ger
many and Russia were behind her and
only awaiting our assent formally to an
nounce their own. We have never had rea-
son to change that belief, which, in the
case of France, amounts to moral GER
tainty.
INCURRED ENMITY.
"There are a hundred and one diplomatic
secrets which, pieced together, convinced
us that our estimate of the situation was
correct. and doubtless there are documents
in the European chancellOries which de-
tail the negotiations that occurred prior to
our being approached Subsequent diplo-
matte reports convinced us that not only
was the collective note dropped on account
of our refusal, but that We incurred not
a little enmity because our action was suf-
fciently patent to obviate all necessity of
our actually having possession of copies of
those diplomatic interchanges which re-
suited in our being asked to sign the sec
ond protest to America.
Opinion in the Foreign Office is somewha t
divided as to the ACCESSIBILITY of to-day s
announcement i'm the House of Commons,
several high officials of this office believing
ii will only tend to strain the relations be
tween Great Britain and the continental
powers.
Mr. Norman said to a representative of
the Associated Press: Il am delighted to
get such an unexpectedly frank and i'm
portant answer. My question was down
for the opening day of the session, but the
government asked me to postpone il until
to-day / did so, but with little hope of
securing a definite pronouncement, for
such things are usually arranged between
the government leader and one OF his sup
pOrters While of course, j am one of the
most outspoken critics of foreign pol
icy there was no put up job. | merely
wrote the question because | thought theI
was more hope of getting some sort of an
answer at that stage of affairs than at any
other | think Lord Cranborne's statement
reveals a condition of things more serious
than any one suspected for il shows that
practically the whole Of Europe was ready
TO attempt to cOerce the United States.
even at the risk of war. After the hostil-
tiles with Spain had commenced, the seIec-
ton of Austria TO be spokesman for Europe
showed excellent tact, for our relations
with that country were of the most friend
~ kind. To Dontblank refuse her must
have cost us no little prestige. Beyond
what Lord Cranborne said. / know little.
But that / think sufficient, for il shows the
excellent feeling of the British government
in its relations with the United States.
which l believe TO be the most important
relations We have
"A