The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-01-21
ENGLAND WAS
FOR UNCLE SAM
Diplomatic Secrets Revealed
Showing Attitude of Powers.
SALISBURY PUT FOOT DOWN
REGARDED INTERFERENCE AS
UNWARRANTABLE.

ACndOn, Jan. 20.-Amid an absolute
silence that was a striking tribute to
the interest felt in the matter, Lord
Cranborne, under secretary for foreign
affairs in the house of commons today
made the first official statement which
has ever emanated from the British
government regarding its private atti-
tude toward the United States in its
war with Spain.
The subject of the proposed European
Intervention in the Spanish-American
war was brought up by Henry Norman
libertD. nj the form OF a question
asking whether any communication
proposing or concerning joint or collect
i've action by the European states in
view of the outbreak or expected out
break of the late war between the
United States and Spain was received
from the Austrian or any other gov
eminent, and if so what was the ma
ture of the reply of her majesty's gov
eminent.
Wants to See the Papers.
Mr.. Norman further invited Lord
Cranborne to lay the papers in the
case on the table, but il was declared
1mpracticable-
This statement was received with a
burst Of ringing cheers such as seldom
meets the answer of a parliamentary
question.
Inquiries made by the Associated
Fress concerning the subsequent pro-
posaIs' mentioned by Lord Cranborne
elected important information from the
foreign Office. 1t was stated that
Great Britain had been twice formally
approached on this matter. but onlv
once after the commencement of hos
uhties between Spain and the United
states. Lord Cranborne's references to
more than one proposal were evidently
CONGRATULATIONS which include the initi-
nized.
The occasion upon which Great Rri+-
ain deliberately put down her foot was.
according to the foreign office
when the Austrian ambassador at Lon
don interviewed Lord Salisbury and
asked him if Great Britain would be
willing to join in a collective note from
the european powers urging the Unit
ed states to desist from war with
Spain Such a note was not to threat
en- reprisals or Intervention, but was
10 be in the nature of strong pro-
test and a plea for arbitration.
Lord Salisbury Objected.
Lord Salisbury, so the representative
Of the Associated Press was informed,
regarded this proposition as unwar-
rantable interference in the affairs of
a friendly country and frankly said so.
declaring that Great Britain would not
be a party to any such step, especial
ly in view of the late President McKin-
leys attitude toward the antebellum ef-
forts Of European powers to avert war.
The foreign office heard nothing more
on this subject, the matter of a COL
lectlVe note apparently being dropped.
Regarding the more disputed spirit
as TO the powers who were approached
to sign this note had Great Britain ac-
qUiesced thereto, a statement of a high
official Of the foreign office, through
which all secret dispatches passed. had
best be given in his own language.
This official said
we have no documentary evidence
TO prove that any other power than
the one which formally approached US
was concerned in this effort to send a
collective note to the United States.
the purpOrt of which, however polite
the wording, must naturally have been
that of a threat.
I'VE had at the time, however. every
reason to believe that this power was
merely put forward as a sort of buff
fer in order to sound us, and that
France, Germany and Russia were be-
hind her. and only awaiting our as
sent formally to announce their own.
We have never had reason to change
that belief which, in +Ne case of
France, amounts TO moral certainty.
Fear It VIII Strain Relations.
There are a hundred and one diplo-
matte secrets which, pieced together,
cOnvinces US that our estimate Of tine
situation was correct and doubtless
there are documents in the European
chancelories which detail the negOtia-
tons that occurred prior TO our being
approached, as subsequent diplomatic
reports convinced US that not only was
the collective note dropped on account
of our refusal. but that we incurred
not d little enmity because of our ac-
ton. sufficiently patent to obviate all
necessity of our actually having pos
session of copies of those diplomatic
interchanges which resulted in our be-
ing asked to sign the second protest to
America"
Opinion in the foreign office is some
what divided as to the adVisabiIity of
today's announcement in the house Of
commons. several high officials of this
Office believing it will only tend TO
Ct he r.ela ffone betzx-aar. C.roaf Tlrit-