The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-23
NO CREDIT TO ENGLAND
DID NOT PREVENT INTERVIEW
 TON AGAINST A1GERIOA.
Count 1uravieff, the Russian Min lister of Foreign Affairs, the Man Who Bluntly Rejected
 Spanish Proposal.

Paris Jan. 22-In view of the state- ment made by Lord Cranborne, tine Brit ish Under Secretary of State for Foreign day. on the subject of representations made to Great Britain before and after the outbreak of the epanish-American var and the dispatch of the Associated same subject, the corr ,spondent of the Associated Press made inquiries In an authoritative quarter here and received the following explanations which throw a somewhat different light on the sub ject. .-
 In the first place. in the Spanish ne gotiations at the end Of March, lSsS in her favor. Great Britain took the same attitude as France and the other powers. She neither refused nor con scented to join in collective action. All ascertained the intentions of the others. Russia settled the matter by the late Count Muravieff's blunt rejection or the proposal.
 conference with the Spanish Premier and Scn,r Gullon, the Foreign Minister, at which the latter indicated the extent ot the surrender Spain was willing to make to the United States demands, the Aus trian government. believing Spain's sur render was sufficiently complete to satis- fly the United States, instructed its Am bassadors to propose to the European
 
 Washington urging the United States to accept bpain's offer and avert war.
 The Spanish Ambassador in London Treasury, who must at that time have been acting as Secretary. of State for Foreign Affairs during the absence of Lord Salisbury at Beaulieu. F'rance), fote to act alone or with his colleagues with . view to maintain peace. No action was definitely agreed upon, though Rus. sia, France and Germany were disposed towards a movement which would avert an outbreak of hostilities.
 A few days before the war, however. 1t was declared that MT. Balfour had raised the objection to which Lord Cranborne alluded in the House or Commons Mon. the appearance of putting pressure on the United States or offering an opinion on the United States attitude. The Aus trian proposition then fell, and the sub eeouent joint resolution of Congress rem dered any further action out of the question.
 action in favor of the United States. The Office oficial quoted in the London dis patch to 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 in London confined himself to making an inquiry as to what view the British gov- ernment 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 tend- ing to put pressure on the United States nor at any time encouraged Spain to resistance. Her influence was always di- rocted, in the pour pariers of the powers. to maintaining peace. The exact value which should be placed on Great Brit aims leaning toward the United States can be gauged, 1t is declared. by the Gullon was furious firstly. against Ger many; second, against Russia. and only thirdly against Great Britain. His re- sentiment against Germany was due to the latter having encouraged Spain to resist and then having abandoned her at the last moment.