The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-14
ANGLO.GERMAN CONTROVERSY
INTEREST IN REVELATIONS OF
BERIIN FOREIGN OFFICE.

That the Antl-lntcrNeh'ioh rr"p''ea
was Submitted ~ the Request OF the
Austrian Minister and Lord Paunee-
tote Did Not sanction or Indorse II.
WARRINGTON, Feb. Is.-While the Gov
eminent has regarded with a mixture OF
curiosity and amusement the controversy
between Germany and Great Britain as
IN which showed the greater friendliness
toward the United States in the efforts
70 preserve peace between this country
and spain. the new turn which the incident
has taken. through the publication by the
German Foreign Ofioe OF documentary
.vidence tending to place Lord Paunce-
fote and the British Ministry in an en-
barrsssing position. has aroused a keener
interest among officials here.
Government authorities with whom THE
Sry reporter talked to-day expressed
great surprise over the revelation OF the
Berlin Foreign Office. and they were utterly
AZ a loss to explain the specific statement
Of Mr.. Won Holleben, the German Am
bassador in Washington. and the written
testimony TO support it, that Lord Paunce-
fote lad initiated the proposal that the
Powers unite to dispel the error that armed
Intervention in Cuba IL sanctioned by the
civilized world. From what was said
bv these authorities. il il evident that the
American Government had understood
that the proposal Of Lord Pauncefote was
submitted to his diplomatic colleagues
a. the request of the Minister OF Austria
hungary, Mr.. Ladislaus Hengelmuller von
tengervar, and that the British Ambassador
did not sanction or indorse II. Lord Paunc
fote. il was Understood, had acted merely
in his official capacity as Dean of the Diplo-
matte Corps.
Lord Pauncefote's position In this matter
would be less embarrassing and uncertain
we're il not for the statement made by
Lord Cranborne. the British Under Secre-
tary Of State for Foreign Affairs, Oh Feb.
II that Her late Majesty's Government
never proposed, through her Majesty's
Ambassador or otherwise, any declaration
adverse to the action Of the United States
in Cuba. On the contrary the Under
Secretary added. -her Majesty's Govern
ment declined 20 assent to any such
proposal" Lord Cranborne's disclaimer
places Lord Pauncefote in the attitude
Of having taken the responsibility, without
consultation with his Government. of max
ing the proposal, which, according to the
German Ambassador, was initiated by
the British representative.
Every feature OF the controversy has
been discussed infinitely in official and
Diplomatic quarters to-day without bring
ing any solution OF the mystery surround
ing the action of Lord Pauncefote as in
terpreted by his colleague from Germany.
The friends Of the British Ambassador
maintain, despite h seeming proof to
the contrary produced by the Berlin foreign
Office, that the proposal cabled TO his Gov
eminent by Ambassador Won HOlleben
originated with the Austrian Minister and
not with Lord Pauncefote. who was, it il
contended, merely the official medium Of
communication to the diplomatic body.
Others, while not attempting to deny
this. insist that a prima facie case OF a
display Of ~unfriendliness TOWARD the United
States has been made against Lord Paunce
fote, which he should not lose any time
in explaining. Leaving aside the details
Of the discussion, however, the present
aspect of the incident may be sifted down to
a single question, Was Mr.. Won Holleben
mistaken or not in his assertion that Lord
Pauncefote initiated the movement aimed
against American Intervention In Cuba?
w Nfchllk all dIl-NtT 10 TINS question,
the most competent witness would nat
urally be Mr.. Hengelmlller, the Minister Of
Austria. He is in a position TO say whether
the Government and Lord Pauncefote's
friends were right in their understanding
that the proposal submitted to the Amhassa-
doris in Washington on April Il, 1898. by
Lord Pauncefote was prepared by MIR.
Hengelmuller or the British representa-
tiyn Rnt Nv Han galpntIlar l...r.u-u =
clear the mystery. He was at the State
Department to-day, and while there was
asked by newspaper reporters TO say some
thing concerning his alleged part in the
movement Of April IL. Il decline to discuss
history" was all he would say. No infor-
nation could be obtained as TO his bust
ness with Secretary Hay.
Lord Pauncefote il equally circumspect.
He has not changed his opinion that any
statement concerning the part pla we'd bv
England or himself in the affair should come
from the British Foreign Office. When
TIE SUN reporter called at the British
Embassy to-day he was informed by one
Of the Secretaries that the Ambassador
would say nothing on the subject. In
behalf Of the German Embassy the explana-
ton was made that IL would ba useless 10
attempt TO interview Ambassador Won
Holleben.
Some little evidence Il at hand in Wash
ington, however, bearing on the part PLAYED
by Lord Pauncefote in the d%iplOmatic con-
ference ~ April II, 1905. bu' Il should be
sald n the outset of any statement on the
Subject hat this evidence is merely sug-
ges,ive and not direct. The notes to the
Ambassadors inviting them to the confer
ence az which the anti-intervention pro-
Posal was submitted were signed by Lord
Pauncefote. He asked the Ambassadors
10 meet al the Br. l,h Embassy tomorrow
lnoruing at 10 o'clock" the notes being
dated April IL, 70 consider a proposition in
regard 70 the trouble, bel tween tho United
States and Spain. IL was not stated in
these Identical communications that the
proposition had been prepared by the
Austrian Minister. IL is asserted that
Lord Pauncefote did not at the conference
say that the proposal was submitted at tie
request Of tine Austrian Minister. The
further assertion was made to-day that
Mr. Won HOlleben was not alone among his
diplomatic colleagues In supposing that
me proposal emansted with the British
Ambassador, and that some, if not all Of
them, telegraphed their Governments in
much the same language as that used by
me herman representative who said.
The British Ambassador to-day took, in
a very surprising way the initiative in a new
collective step on the part Of the Minister"
Even more Interesting and important
man any OF the above assertions Is another