The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-01-30

Paris, Jan. 23.-In view of the state
nent made by Lord Cranborne, British
under secretary Of state for foreign
affairs, in the house Of commons Mon.
day on the subject Of representation
made to Great Britain before and after
the outbreak Of the Spsnish-American
war, and the dispatch of the Associated
Press from London on the same subject,
the representative OF the Associated
Press made inquiry here iu an authorita.
tive quarter and received the following
explanation, which threw Q somewhat
different light on the matter:
I'm the first place, in the Spanish me-
gotiations at the end Of March, 1893, to
secure 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 the collective action. All the powers
were hesitating until they ascertained
the intentions of the others. Russia
settled the matter by the late Count
Muravieff's blnnt rejection of the pro-
posal. Subsequently, after Gen. Wood
ford's conference with the Spanish pre-
mier and Senior Gullon, the foreign min
lister, at which the latter indicated the
extent of the surrender Spain was will
ing to make to the United States de-
mands, the Austrian government, be-
heving Spain's surrender was sufficiently
complete to satisfy the United States,
instructed its ambassadors to propose to
the European governments that q note
be presented at Washington, urging the
United States to accept Spain's offer and
avoid war. The Spanish ambassador in
London saw A. j. Balfour, the first lord
OF the treasury, at that time acting as
secretary of state for foreign affairs
during the absence of Lord Salisbury at
Beaulieu, France, who promised to in
struct Lord Pauncefote to act alone or
with his colleagues with view to main
tanning peace.
No Action Definitely Agreed Upon.
"No action was definitely agreed upon,
though Russia, France and Germany
we're disposed toward a movement which
would avert an outbreak of hostilities.
A few days before the war, however, il
was declared that Mr.. Balfour had raised
the objection to which Lord Cranborns
alluded in the hoIse of commons Mon
day against any note which would have
the appearance of putting pressure on
the United States. The Austrian propo-
sition then fell through, and the subse-
quent joint resolution of congress rem
dered any further action out of the ques-
ton. This was the extent of Great
Britain's action in favor of the United
States"
The statement Of a prominent foreign
Office official, quoted in the London dis
patch of the Associated Press, regarding
the alleged support by France Of the
Austrian proposal, is declared to be in
correct, since France did not back up
the proposal and the French am bassadOr
in London confined himself to making
an inquiry as to what view the British
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'resist. Her infu-
ence was always directed, in the pour
parlers of the powers, to maintaining
peace. The exact value which should
be placed on Great Britain's leaning to-
ward the United States can be gauged,
it is declared, by the fact that when war
was declared Senior Gullon was furious,
FIRST against Germany, secondly againsts
Russia and only thirdly against Great
Britain. His resentment against Ger
many was due to the latter having en-
couraged Spain to resist, and then having
abandoned her at the last moment.