Evening star., 1902-02-06
RCssIA,s PART IN WAR.
Spain's Hopes Were Shattered by th
Czar's Action.

Snain.s Hopes Were Shattered by the
Czar's Action.
dispatch from Paris yesterday says:
The following statement Is made by an Of
fetal who held high office during the early
days Of the Spanish American war, and 1t
is undoubtedly authentic:
The Spanish government believed that
Queen Victoria would support any step
taken with a view to preventing the war
and coming to the aid of the queen regent.
1t attributed at that time, perhaps, too
great an importance to the Intervention Of
the queen in the councils of the British
government. 1t was not ignorant OF the
fact that MI. Chamberlain was in agree
ment with Lord Salisbury in the desire to
endeavor to render to the United States
signal service, but information OF very
confidential character which reached 1t con-
yeyed to the Madrid government the Idea
that any mission Of paci1cation would be
well received by England. English society
entertained the most hostile spirit toward
the United States. 1t has not been able to
forget the Venezuela affair. and In London
it was thought the proper thing to support
the Spaniards.
Thus the principal diplomatic effort of
Spain was brought to bear on the central
European powers, and more particularly on
Russia. 1t was not thought that England
would take the initiative. in its favor, but,
bein convinced-and as 1t appears justly so
-IndI tNS1dIu "Oul0 ItOt udIS " SIdHu
aloof from a common action undertaken by
Europe to bring about peace. Spain thought
before everything else to win over Russia
to her cause.
leading diplomats of Spain, who took an in
innate part in the negotiations then pro-
ceeding, said: 'The key to the success of
our negotiations appears to be now at st.
Petersburg. We shall concentrate our ef-
forts there" The Austrian emperor, for
family motives. had taken the initiative in
proposing to the various powers an inter-
vention tending to induce Spain to grant
concessions and by averting war to
strengthen the dynasty. France and Ger
many were first well disposed to the Aus
trian proposal, and-an accord of the conti-
mental powers would undoubtedly have been
possible had Russia given her support. The
Spanish diplomats, of whom have already
spoken, told me that at Madrid those who
were in touch with the negotiations anxi-
ously awaited the upshot of the conyersa-
ton that the Spanish ambassador at st.
Petersburg was to have with Count Mura-
vieff.
When the result became known the dis
illusion was all the more bitter, because hope
had been so high. The step taken by the
Emperor of Austria appeared to be utterly
unknown to the Russian minister Of foreign
affairs. When he was made cognizant Of it
he did not seem to attribute any great eff
ficacy to 1t. IF such STEP said Count
Muravien, rs confined to a simple coun-
ell. 1T will have no result; and If it implies
anything resembling threat the result OBJ
tanned will be contrary to that desired"
This reply quickly undermined the friendly
disposition that France and Germany had
at first shown toward Spain, and the pacific
action of the powers, instead of being ex-
ercised collectively and of great moral au-
thority, reduced itself to individual advice
counseling Spain to make concessions.
England was not, therefore called upon
to declare itself. The sympathy of certain
statesmen In the conservative cabinet was
certainly for the United States, but they
were not required to display it. They after
ward fnsinuated that ,4-eir role had been
to hold Europe in check to the advantag ge of
the United States. AS Is seen from the fore
going, they did nothing of the kind
THE APPEAL AND REPLIES.
Text of Letters From Spain's Miuisters
mt Various Courts.
The Associated Press has been nut IN
possession of the following dispatches
which have never heretofore been published
and which are unquestionably authentic.
They comprise the circular telegram of the
Spanish government to her representatives
at several of the European courts, and ex-
cerpts from the replies:
The minister Of state to his matesfy,s
representatives abroad:
- Circular Teiegram)
Madrid March 25 1893
The Spanish representative in Washing