The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-30
BRITAIN OUR FRIEND.
England Held of Other Powers Dur.
 ing War With Spain.

Euglan0 Held On OLner EoWcEs ouf-
 ing War With Spain
 Walter weHman's Washington Special to
 Chicago Record-Herald.
 An important and almost sensational contribution to the history of the attempt to form a European, coalition against the United States at the outbreak of the Spanfsh-American war was made today by a gentleman not now in no public ire, position to know all the facts. The iden- tity of this person cannot be disclosed, but the correspondent Of The Record Herald Is able to vouch for his high character and adequate information, an assurance which would be carried by his name alone. could that be published.
 The statement which this gentleman makes is in effect that the government of Great Britain not only refused to join the proposed coalition, but threw out a broad intimation to it's proponents that If they persisted in their efforts and at- tempted to bring pressure to bear upon the United States in Spains behalf Great Britain would "use other than diplomatic means if necessary" to make the coali- ton harmless.
 But one construction can be placed on these words, to wit. that if continental powers attempted to intimidate the Uni ted States Great Britain would make show of force by dispatching squadron either to American or. Spanish waters. or by some other demonstration give the inOSt StS tNlutHCt VI HSt ihbcitiOh to support the United States.
 With some reluctance on account of the confidential relations which existed be- tween President Mckinley and himself the gentleman today consented to make the following. statement:
 Tn view of the false and misleading statements which have been made re- garding the attitude of the powers prior to the declaration of war. the incorrect construction put on Lord Cranborne's re- ply to Henry Norman. and the attempt to induce the United States to forget her friends and give credit where it does not belong. feel not only am l justified in revealing certain condolences reposed in me, but it is duty I owe to our own people to let them know the facts in connection with one of the most import ant events in our national history.
 One reason why 1t would be embar- make public the confidential communica- tions that passed between London and Washington. is that the publication of these documents would show that Great Britain did more than she was really called upon to do. She avowed her pur- pose to use other means than diplomacy if necessary to prevent coalition against the United States. TSis intention was made known to President Mckinley: lat CT 1t became known to certain of the Eu- ropean powers.
 "The statement is now for the first time made public by one who had knowl- euBc OI IdCtb. II IS d IdcL ana cannot De disputed. Great Britain's purpose was not made incidentally, verbally or by irresponsible persons. The statement I now make Is sustained by documentary evidence and was made by persons who had the power to convert the offer into an actuaiity.
 Tn the early days. preceding the dec laration of hostilities, the fear of Flu ropean coalition against the United States caused President Mckinley the greatest anxiety If was well known in Wa aghinP- ton that Spain was trying to find an ally. It was only when the attitude of Great Britain became absolutely certain that President Mckinley felt satisfied Spain had been isolated. When that was known his last lingering fear vanished
 Of the utmost importance is it to bear in mind that up to that time the position of Russia was not definitely known to Russia was suspected of being friendly to Spain owing to the efforts then being made by her ally France to seek the in- terventton of European powers In Spains behalf. When the position of England was known to Russia and methods were taken. to bring this fact to her knowledge in such way that 1t could not be ques- tioned, Russia threw over France and States; But the Important fact-also a matter of record-is that Russia acted only after England had in effect made herself the ally of the United States" from equdlly good sources the follow ing information Is gained
 When the continental powers attempted to bring pressure to bear upon President Mckinley through their ambassadors here they sought the cooperation of Lord Pauncefote, the British ambassador The British ambassador refused to have anything whatever to do with the move ment save on the condition that every thing that was done should first be made known to President Mckinley and re- ceive his sanction. These terms were re- luctantly agreed to.
 Lord Pauncefote personally visited President Mckinley and submitted the alter to him. Mir. Mckinley was quite willing to have representations made by the powers. provided they were of harm less form. Tn fact, he welcomed the op- portunity to have such representations made, because they would afford an op- pcrtunity for the United States to serve notice that no sort of intervention or in- reference would be permitted.
 Lord Pauncefote drafted the note which the diplomats were to submit to the President and personally carried it to the White House and showed 1t to Mir Mckinley. It received the Presidents sanction. and was then signed by the diplomats: Meanwhile President McKin- ley had his reply prepared in writing. Then the ambassadors went through the solemn but empty form of marching up to the White House. presenting an eX- pression of their hope that peace might be preserved. received in reply the Pres ident's assurance that the United States was always for peace, but on this occa- sion had a duty to humanity to perform which it proposed to perform. and the in cident was closed.
 There Is further authentic information that the German government never gave its assent to the proposed coalition against the United States The attitude Of Germany was friendly but alert as to