The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-23
FRANCE HEARD FROM
,vrs HER SIDE OF SPANISH WAR
NATTER.
THE POWERS ALL HESITATED.
,rssIA THE FIRST TO REJECT THE
PROPOSAL.

Austria Again Took the Matter Up
and Received Some Encourage
ucpt From Mr.. Balfour, Who La
,cr Took the Position Stated in
,he House of Commemorative
ouent Resolution of Congress
of the Question-EfOrt Is Made to
WinimiEe Great Britain's Friend
shin to United states.
Paris. Jan. 22.-In view of the state
uent made by Lord Cfanborne, the
British Under Secretary for Foreign
Affairs. in the House of Commons Mon
dav on the subject of representations
made TO Great Britain before and after
war. and the dispatch of the Assocf-
ated Press from London yesterday on
the same subject, the correspondent Of
the Associated Press made inquiries in
an authoritative quarter here and re-
ceiyed the following explanations,
which throw a somewhat different light
on the subject. In the first place, in
the Spanish negotiations, at the end
of March. 1898. to secure the interven-
tion 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
in collective action. All the Powers
were hesitating until they ascertained
the intentions of the others. Russia
settled the matter by the late Count
Mouravieff's blunt rejection of the pro-
posal.
subsequently,, after Gen. Woodford s
and Senior Gullon, the foreign minister,
at which the latter indicated the eX-
tent of the surrender Spain was will
ing to make to the United States de-
mands the Austrian government, be-
leving Spain's surrender was suffi-
GENTLY complete to satisfy the United
States, instructed it's ambassadors to
propose to the European governments
that a note be presented at Washing
ton, urging the United States to ac-
cept Spains offer and avert war. The
Spanish ambassador in London saw
III. Ddi4UuIs WIZ pIOlllSSO " iilShA ~
Lord Pauncefote to act alone or with
his colleagues with the view to main
tain peace. No collective action was
definitely agreed upon, though Russia,
France and Germany were disposed
towards a movement which would
avert an outbreak of hoStilities.
A few days before the war, however,
it was declared that Mr.. Balfour had
raised the objection to which Lord
Cranborne alluded in the House of
Commons Monday against any note
which would have the appearance of
putting pressure on the United States,
or Offering an opinion on the attitude
Of the United States. The Austrian
proposition fell through and the sub
sequent joint resolution of Congress
rendered any further action out of the
question.
Extent of Britain's Action.
This was the extent of Great Bri-
tains action in favor of the United
States. The statement of a prominent
British foreign office official, quoted in
The London dispatch of the Associated
Press regarding the alleged support by
France of the Austrian proposal, is
declared to be incorrect. France did not
back up the proposal, and the French
ambassador in London confined him
self to making an inquiry as to what
view the British government took of
Inc matter. Frances attitude through
cut was friendly to the United States
aS well as to Spain, her desire being
10 avert war. She took no initiative in
any suggestion tending to put pressure
OH the United States nor at any time
'ucouraged Spain to resistance.
iAe exact value which should be
paced on Great Britain's leaning to-
Wdru the United States can be gauged,
1t Is declared, by the fact that when
war was declared Senior Gullon was
tUlious' firstly against Germany, sec
o.uY against Russia, and only thirdly
asaihSt Great Britain. His resentment
eaInsl Germany was due to the lat
oer having encouraged Spain to resist
Iali '.u lhen having abandoned her at the
last moment.