Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-02-08

Paris. Feb. G.-The following state
ment is made 10y IN official who held Il
very high position during the early days
of the Spanish American war aud it Is
undoubtedly authentic:
THE Spanish government believed
that Queen Victoria would support any
step taken with Il view to preventing he
war and coming TO the aid of the queen
regent. 1t attributed at that time prv-
hnps. too great IN Importance 10 The in
trrvrntion of the queen in the 'incilS
of the British government. II waS not
ignorant of the fact that Mr.. Chamber
lain was in agreement with Lord Sails
bury in the desire to rndcaror to render
the United States II signal service. but
Information of II very confidential char
acttr which reached ii conveyed TO the
Madrid government the i,ica lli;.t amy
mission of paciticntion would he well
received by England. English :pcicly
entertained the most hostile spirit
been able to forget the Venezuela af-
fair and in London it was Thought he
proper thing to support the SlaniardS.
s''rhuS the principal diplomatic effort
of Spain was brought to bear on tie
central European powers and more PAL
tcularly Russia. 1t was not thought
that England would take he initiative
in its favor. but being convinced that
England would not dare to stand alOof
from Il common action undertaken by
Europe to bring about peace, Spain
thought before everything else 10 wn
over Russia to her cause.
Towards the end of March. 1898, one
of the leading diplomats of Spain who
took an intimate part in the n"golia-
tions then proceeding, said THE key
to the success of our negoliH ions ap-
pears TO be now at st. Petersburg. We
shall concentrate our efforts there
THE Austrian emperor, for Family
motives. had taken the initiative in pro-
posing to the various powers an inter
vcntion tending to induce Spain to
grant concessions and by avcrliny war
to strengthen the dynasty. Francrand
Germany We're first well disposed to the
Austrian proposal, and an accord OF The
continental powers would undoubtedly
have been possible had Russia given hrr
support.
"rhe Spanish diplomat OF whom |
have already spoken told me that at
Madrid those who were in touch with
the negotiations anXiouSly awaited The
upShot of the conversation that the
Spanish ambassador at st. Petersburg
was to have with Count Muravirtf.
When the result became known the
dsilluSion was all the more bitter he
cause hope had been SO high. The step
taken by the emperor of Austria ap-
pcarrd to be utterly unknown to the
Russian minister of foreign affairs.
When he was made coguzant of il, he
did not seem to attribute any great eff
ficacy it.
"'lf such step said Count Mura-
vieff. ''is continued to n simple council
it will have no result, and If ii impl IS
anything resembling threat the re-
suit obtained will be contrary to that
desired.
THIS reply quickly unuerminrH the
friendly disposition that France n d
Germany had at first shown towards
Spain. and the pacific action of the
powers. instead of being exercised col
lectvely and Of great moral authority.
reduced itself TO individual advice,
counselling Spain to make concessions.
"England was not, therefore. called
upon to declare itself. The synlpathics
of certain statesmen in The Conservative
cabinet We're certainly for ti,e United
States, but they We're not required to dis
play them. They afterwards insinu-
ated that their role had been to hold
Europe in check to the advantage of the
United States. AS is seen from The fore
going they did nothing of the kind