New-York tribune., 1902-01-26
SUPPLEMENT. 16 PAGES PRICE FIVE CENTS.
FRANCE AND SPANISH WAR
FULL FACTS MAY BE DISCLOSED IN
CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
Copyright; 1902: By The Tribune Association,

tBY CABLE THE TRIBUNE.l
faris' JAM 2o.-The explanations of the for
eign offices at Paris Berlin St Petersburg and
Vienna, ELECTED by Lord Cranborne's statement
regarding the alleged proposals of the Conti-
mental powers to intervene in favor of Spain
during the Spansh-American War published
to-day In the French papers. and it is deemed
probable that eventually the question will be
put in the Chamber of Deputies to NJ. Delcasse
Minister of Foreign Affairs. calling for the pro-
duction of the documents and dispatches show
ing exactly what the attitude of the French
Government toward the United States in March
and April, 1888. Some time must, however
elapse before making public the correspondence
because by diplomatic usage in such cases the
assent of those concerned must previously be
obtained
The various branches of the Organization ALI
ance Francaise express the desire that the full
official correspondence should be disclosed. in
the firm belief that the friendly attitude at that
period of the French Government toward the
United States will thereby be established beyond
any doubt
Notwithstanding the difficulty with which
French diplomacy is confronted namely. with
proving a negative-that is to say, in demon
stratlng that France party to any
Joint or collective proposal of intervention
those who originally selected the Paris cable
service of The Tribune as the medium of put
ting the Continental case before the American
public, and which has resulted in drawing from
Lord Cranborne and from the foreign offices
Of the European capitals so much light on this
point Of history. disclaim the endeavor to
prove too much. They admit that England's
friendship toward the United States in the spring
of 1898 unquestioned and patent to the
world. but what they object to is that the fire.
quently reiterated protestations of that friend
ship should invariably be coupled with asser-
tons that the governments of France and Rus
sia during the spring OF 1898 were unfriendly
toward the United States
They declare that General Porter at present
in st. Petersburg, is cognzant OF facts which, if
he deems the moment opportune to disclose
them. would furnish ample testimony to the
good will of the French Cabinet toward the
United States in the March and April previous
TO the Spanish-American War and while the
war lasted 1t is pointed out that in March and
April, 1898, there was extreme tension between
the cabinets OF France and England about the
Niger question. and also between the cabinets
OF Russia and England, owing to the occupati
OF port in China. The Austrian and Spanish
ambassadors at the Court of st. James are ac-
cused of proiting by this tension and making
Mr.. Balfour. who. conducted the negotiations in
Downing Street at the time, believe that there
really did exist coalition of the Continental
powers.
Anyhow the feeling in French diplomatic cir
cles is that at the present moment. when Eng
land and Germany acting in such Jealous
rivalry to win the smiles and good graces OF the
United States. II is unfair that France should
be made to appear having frowned upon her
sister republic during the critical period of the
Spanlsh-American War and when the noisy
barks and growls OF the Natonalists and the
Catholic reaction were mistaken abroad for the
voice OF the masses of the French people, whose
real feelings of friendship and interest toward
the United States We're represented by the
French Government C r