The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-11

CAdliN ~ Nv NAS
UNITED States during the wal with
Spain. The correspondent Of the Asso-
Iciated Press understands that the ar
ticle was prepared by Professor Schie-
mann. professor of history at Berlin
university. who enjoys special official
sources of information. The article
says:
Almost exactly o years G the
spanish ambassador here asked Ger
many whether Germany would lead III
faction against the United States for the
protection of the monarchic principle.
1.-The answer was a definite refusal.
and the same answer was given a month
later, or about the middle of March,
when the invitation reached Germany
to participate in the Intervention un-
dertaken upon the initiative of Austria.
This was in the weeks following the
sad catastrophe of the Maine, when il
was believed Intervention would facili-
tate an understanding between the
UNITED States and Spain. Nevertheless,
our government commissioned Herr Won
Radowitz. the German ambassador to
Spain. to inform the Madrid govern
ment that Germany was not in a posi-
ton to prevent the Spanish-American
war.
After that several attempts were
made to win Germany or the dreibund
for intervention. in which the pope was
Especially active. The final result was
that DR.. Won Holleben, German ambas-
lsador at Washington was instructed to
join in the step proposed by Austria,
only in case all the other five great
powers participated.
I'VE are unable to state the details
of how the united action came about.
lat any rate the collective note was
handed to the officials at Washington
April 7th, advising a ~peaceable settle
ment, and was signed by England,
France, Italy, Austria, Russia and
Germany. 1t was believed for a week
that war would be averted. General
Blanco received orders from Madrid to
loffer to Cuban insurgents an armistice,
for Spain was resolved to give them
~far-reaching autonomy and to arrive at
a settlement of the Maine question
through arbitration.
diplomatic circles, however, enter
tained no illusions, and when England,
April 18th through her ambassador,
proposed a new collective note. in which
the powers should declare that Europe
regarded Americas armed interview
ton in Cuba unjustifiable, the other
ambassadors ~telegraphed to their home
governments asking for instructions.
The step failed through Germany's
positive refusal. This gives, as it ap-
pears to us. a picture essentially differ
ent from the English legend"
London. February 5.-The Associated
Press has the highest official authority
for denying the story printed by The
kreuz Zeitung of Berlin today as to the
part taken by Lord Pauncefote the Brit
1sh ambassador at Washington, in the
ISpan1Sh-American war intervention, in
spite of the confirmation of the story
by the German foreign office.
New York, February 5.-The Asso-
clated Press has come in possession Of
the following dispatches which have
never been heretofore published and
which are unqu%estionabIy authentic.
They comprise the circular telegram of
the spanish government to her repre-
~sentatives at several of the European
courts and excerps from the replies:
The Minister of State, to His Males
tvs Representatives Abroad.
Madrid. March rs, 1897.
1.-The Spanish representative in Wash
1ngton has just reported that he is in
formed by the United States govern
ment that on Monday next the report
OF the American commission on the
Maine catastrophe will be brought be-
fore congress without previously COM
AioiaiSdlluS lIS SdIIl6 u us, or naVl0g
the Spanish report communicated to
them.
For the reason stated in my tele-
gram OF yesterday. and in view of the
fact of h submission of that matter
to a popular chamber. thus taking it
out OF the Jurisdiction of the executive
power-a step which, in our opinion,
may provoke a conflict between the
two nations-the Spanish government
deems it a duty and considers it to be
in accordance with the principles gov
Ierning international relations between
ChriStian~ powers. to communicate the
facts to that government and to re-
Quest its friendly offices Ito induced
the president of the United States to
maintain within the jurisdiction of the
Executive everything bearing on the
Questions OF differences with Spain in
torder to bring them to an honorable
settlement. And so convinced is Spain
that reason is with her and that she
is acting with prudence, that if the
Iabove mentioned end is not attained
she does not hesitate to ask the advice
Iof the great powers. and in the last
term their arbitration for the settle
lment of differences now pending and
lof those which may. in the near future,
disturb the peace which the Spanish
nation wishes to preserve as far as
compatible with her honor and the in
ltcSIIty VI ucT tcTTlloIy, lhlS not only
for her own sake. but also for the con-
SEQUENCES which the war. once begun.
might have for the other countries of
Europe and America. "GULLON."
To this Leon Y. Castillo. Spanish am
Ibassador at Paris. replied March 25th
that he told h French minister for
foreign affairs "the most ~effcacious
thing in these moments would be that
France should address England invok-
ling the traditions Of international poll
tiles regarding Cuba from the beginning
LOT the century, and proposing that both
nations act in common with a view to
peace"
The French minister asked for time.
Ambassador Merry. at Rome, report
led that Cardinal Rampolla approves
LOT the answer which o intend to give
Ito the American government. praises
1.-THE calmness and moderation of our
government. and recomreen6s that we
~Iendeavor to induce the European cab
Iinets to nse their influences in Wash
lington to avoid q var