The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-21
BRITAIN STOOD BY US
srcKETS OF SPANIsH-AMERICA
WAR REVEALED.
HER ATTITUDE MADE PUBLIC.
REFUSED TO JOIN IN EUROPEAN
INTERVENTION.

Lord CranbOrne Makes Interesting
revelations in House of Commons.
Austria Made the Move Through
Her Ambassador at LOndOn-Lord
salisbury Refused to BE "A Party
10 It-France, Germany and Russia
We're Doubtless Behind 1.-THE
commencement Has No Bearing on
Prince Hcnry's Visit, of Course.
London, Jan. 20.-Amid an absolute
silence that was a striking tribute to
the deep interest felt in the matter
Lord Cranborne, under secretary of
foreign affairs, in the House of Com
mons to-day made the first official
statement which has ever emanated
from the British government regarding
its private attitude toward the United
States in the war with Spain.
The subject of proposed European
Intervention in the Spanish-American
war was brought up by Henry Nor
man IiberaD in the form of a ques-
ton asking whether any communica-
ton proposing or concerning joint or
collective action by the European
states, in view of the outbreak, or ex-
pected outbreak, of the late war be-
tween the United States and Spain,
was received from the Austrian or any
other government, and if so, what was
the nature of the reply of her majestys
government.
Lord Cranborne, in reply, said no
such communication had been made to
the government after the outbreak of
the war; but that Immediately before
the war communications were received
from other Powers suggesting the pres
entation of a joint note to the Presi-
dent of the United States. Her Majes-
tvs government to join with the other
Powers in a note expressing the hope
that further negotiations might lead to
a peaceful settlement, accompanied by
guarantees acceptable to the United
States for the preservation of order in
Cuba.
Her Majestys government, Lord
Cranborne continued, declined to asso-
ciate itself with other subsequent pro-
posals, which seems open to the objec-
tion of putting pressure on the gov
eminent of the United States and Of
fering an opinion on its action.
This statement was received with a
burst of ringing cheers such as seldom
greetS the mere answer of Parlia-
mentary question.
Austria Made the Move.
Inquiries made by the Associated
Press concerning the subsequent pro-
posals' mentioned by Lord Cranborne
elected important informa ton from the
foreign office. The occasion upon which
Great Britain deliberately put down
her foot was, according to the foreign
office, when the Austrian ambassador
at London interviewed Lord Salisbury
and asked him if Great Britain would
be willing to join in a collective note
from the European Powers urging the
United States to deSist from war with
spain. Such a note was not to threaten
IepHsals of Intervention, but was tc
De in the nature of a strong protest
ard plea for arbitration. Lord Sal
lSDury, so the representative of the
associated Press was informed, re-
sarded this proposition as unwar-
Hntable interference in the affairs of
" IL lSHuiy country, ana frankly SdlQ
So declaring that Great Britain would
mol be party to any such steps, es-
pecally in view of the late President
Mckinley's attitude toward the ante
oelIum efforts of European Powers to
avert war. The foreign office heard
nothlng more on this subject. the mat
ter Of collective note apparently be-.
ing dropped.
regarding the much disputed point
oS 10 what Powers were previously
Ptpared to sign this note, had Great
pHldln acquiesced thereto. the follow
statement from a high official of
.ie M foreign office, through whose hands
el secret dispatches passed, had best
oe % gwen in his own language. This
ofhcial said:
Austria Was Not Alone.
we have no documentary evidence
w, prove that any power than the one
"nlch formally approached us was con-
eIned In this effort to send a collective
oe to the United States, the purport
VI which, however polite the wording.
threat
we had at the time, however, every
easoh to believe that this power was
msIely put forth as sort of muffer to
uld o us, and that France, Germany
a l Russia were behind her and only
noIuhs our assent formally to an