The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-02-08
ATTITUDE OF POWERS
BEFORE THE WAR

Berlin, Feb. 5.-The German foreign
office confirms the substantial accu-
racy of the subioined statement,
which the Kreuz zeitung prints today
relative to Germanys course toward the
United States during the war with Spain.
Tho correspondent of the Associated
Press understands that the article was
prepared by Professor Sche1mann, pro-
lessor of history at the Berlin univer-
sity who enioys special official sources
of information. After preface quoting
the statements made by British for-
eign office official to a representative OF
the Associated Press Jan. q last, it says:
Almost exactly four years ago the
Spanish ambassador here asked Germany
whether Germany would lead in action
against the United States for the pro
lection of the monarchtC principle Inc
answer was a definite refusal. and the
same answer was given month later, or
about the middle of March, when the
invitation reached Germany to participate
in the Intervention undertaken upon the
Initiative of Austria. This was in the
weeks following the sad catastrophe OF
the Maine when il was believed interven-
ton would facilitate an understanding
between the United States and Spain.
Nevertheless, our government commiS-
stoned Herr Won RadowitZ, the German
ambassador to Spain. to inform the Mad
rid government that Germany was not
in a position to prevent the Spanish
American war.
After that several attempts were made
to win Germany or the dEiebund, for in
terventon. in which the pope was es-
pecially active. The final result was that
DR.. Won Holleben German ambassador
to the United StatesD was instructed TO
Join in the step proposed by Austria,
only in case all the other five great pow
ers participated.
eve are unable to state the details of
how the united action came about. AT
any rate the collective note wds handed
to the officials at Washington April Z,
advising a peaceable settlement, and was
signed by England. France, Italy, Aus
tria Russia and Germany. 1t was be-
lieved for a week that war would be
averted. General Blanco received orders
from Madrid to offer the Cuban inSur-
gents an armisticc, for Spain was re-
solved to give them far-reaching auton-
o.ny and arrive at a settlement of the
Maine question through arbitration
Diplomatic circles, however, enter
tanned no illusions, and when England
| April IA. through her ambassador, pro-
| posed a new collective note, in which the
| powers should declare that Europe re-
| garded Americas armed intervention 1T
| Cuba as unjustifiable the other ambas-
sailors telegraphed to their home govern
| ments asking for instructions. The STEP
| failed through GeTmanys positive re-
! fusal. This gives. as it appears to US. a
! picture essentially different from the
| English statement. A fortnight later war
| was declared.
! Afterwards in June and July, while the
| United States was making great progress
in the Philippines. England tried to in
| duce the Spanish commission in England
| to ask for peace proposals. for to nc
power was the American encroachment
| in the Pacific more annoying than &C
| England.
The above is the historical connection
of events. We hope that in giving the
same we have thoroughly exposed the
absurdity of the English legend.