The age-herald., 1902-01-23
New Light on Action of Powers
 Prior to Spanish War
ALL TRIED 10 HAVE PEACE
Great Britain Took Same Attitude as France and the Other Powers. The United States Had No
 Particular Friend.

Paris, January 22.-In view of the state ment made by Lord Cranborne, the Brit ish under secretary for foreign affairs, in the House of Commons Monday on the subject of representations made to Great Britain before and after the outbreak of the Spanish American war, and the dis patch of the Associated Press from Lon don yesterday on the same subject, the correspondent of the Associated Press made inquiries in an authoritative quar- ter here and received the following ex- plantations, which throw somewhat diff ferent light the subject.
 In the first place in the Spanish nego- tiations at the end of March, 1898, to se- cure the intervention of the powers in her favor, Great Britain took the same attitude as France and the other powers She neither refused nor consented to | join in concentrated action. All the pow CTS were hesitating until they ascertained the intentions of the others. Russia set tied the matter by the late Count Mora vieff's blunt rejection of the proposal.
 Urged United States to Accept. Subsequent after General Woodfords s conference with the Spanish premier and Senor Gullon, the foreign minister, at which the latter indicated the extent of the surrender Spain was willing to make to the United States demands, the Aus trlan government believing Spains sur render was sufficiently complete to sat isfy the United States. instructed its am bassadors to propose to the European governments that note be presented at Washington urging the United States to accept Spains offer and avert war The Spanish ambassador in London saw A. J. Balfour. the first lord of the treas- ury, who must at that time have been acting as secretary of state for foreign affairs, during the absence of Lord Sails bury at Beaulieau, France, who prom ised to instruct Lord Pauncefote to act alone or with his colleagues with a view to maintain peace. No action was definite ly agreed upon. though Russia, France and Germany were disposed towards movement which would avert an out break of hostilities. A few days before the war, however, it was declared that MT Balfour had raised the objection to which Lord Cranborne alluded in the House of Commons Monday against any note which would have the appear ance of putting pressure on the United States of- fering an opinion on the United States | attitude.
 Proposition Fell Through. | The Austrian proposition then fell | through and the subsequent joint resolu- tion of Congress rendered any further action out of the question. This was the extent of Great Britains action in favor of the United States. The statement of a prominent British foreign office official quoted in the London dispatch to the As sociated Press regarding the alleged sup port by France of the Austrian proposal Is declared to be incorrect. Since France did not back up the proposal and the French ambassador in London confined himself to making an inquiry as to what view the British government took of the matter, Frances attitude throughout was friendly to the United States, as well as to Spain, her ardent desire being to avert war. She took no initiative in any suggestion tending to put pressure on the United States nor at any time encouraged Spain to resistence Her influence was al- ways directed in the pour parles of the powers, to maintaining peace.
 The exact value which should be placed on Great Britain's leaning toward the United States can be gauged. 1t Is de- clared. by the fact that when war was declared Senor Gullon was furious, firstly against Germany secondly against Rus sia, and only thirdly against Great Brit ain. His resentment against Germany was due to the latter having encouraged Spain to resist and then having aban- doned her at the last moment.