The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-13
BEAR TRACKS DlSCERNED
SURPRISING FEATURE OF RECENT
REVELATIONS OF DIPLOMACY.
Russia's Attitude Preceding the War
with OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Talk
with Count MuravieG.
New York Press.

New York Press.
What a Berlin newspaper, the Kreuz
Zeitung. has to say about the attitude of
the powers of Europe at the outbreak OF
the Spanish American war is probably of
less consequence than anything else OF the
much that has been said upon the subject
TO date. The modern German newspaper is
not a vehicle of information. 1t is simply
partisan broadside, printing what II
thinks will help its own and hurt its ad-
versary's side of a controversy, and sup
pressing truth and expressing falsehood
in accordance with this polemic principle
The Kreuz Zeitung says now that on
April IA. 1898. the British ambassador to the
United States proposed a new collective
note. in which the powers should declare
that Americas armed Intervention with
Spain. was unjustifiable." It also says that
Ito no power was American encroachment
in the Pacific more annoying than to Eng
land" But the Kreuz Zeitung, in common
with all the Berlin newspapers, on May
1-2. 1885, denied or ignored the fact that the
American squadron had fought and won
the battle of Manila, though the news was
from official Spanish sources and was pub
lished as such by the newspapers of Mad
one of the Berlin newspapers which for
months and almost years published forged
news from Cape Town concerning British
outrages in South Africa. One of these
stories which found their way into German
print and into German illustrated period
icals was that which represented Queen
Alexandra as decorating the youngest sol
der in the British South African forces
for having feloniously assaulted eight BOer
women. The wonder is on the whole that
this relation of British activities and pred
Elections is not more highly favored. to be
in keeping with its companion pieces of
Berlinese art. The Foreign Office confir-
nation Of the substantial accuracy OF
the story can be looked into when 1t is
made by Count Won Buelow as Lord Gran
borne made the statement OF the position
of the powers-openly and definitely. Sub
stantial accuracy is far too loose a term
to cover such an extraordinary tale, even
were ii not employed, as 1t is, anonymously
and fmpersonally.
FACTS IN THE CASE.
But a far different matter from this bit
of historical novel writing is the collocation
of the dispatches of Spanish diplomatic
agents to their home government, describ-
ing the reception by the various European
ministers of foreign affairs of the Spanish
request for friendly offices to induce the
President OF the United States TO maintain
within the jurisdiction of the executive ev-
erything bearing the question of the diff
ferences with Spain," for advice of the
great powers and sin the last term their
arbitration" This gives a picture abso-
lutely accurate as the eye and hand of man
could transmit at the time and on the spot
of the position of every power in Europe,
with the exception Of Germany. The Kais-
ers government has been somehow left of
the list, but we can spare the omission In
view of the surprising information we gain
about the Cars. This shows either that
the testimony so recently and frequently
offered by NJ HanotauX Count CaSsini and
others to Russia's active sympathy for
the United States and chilling dissGasion of
attempts in aid of Spain has all been of
afterthought manufacture or else that
Spain was most cynically deceived as to
the actual Russian position This is the i'm
preston which the Spanish ambassador at
st. Petersburg got of the Russian attitude
on March n, 1898:
81 have just held long conference with
the minister of foreign affairs. He
expressed great sympathy for Spain and
enthusiasm for the Queen, and assured me
that the Emperor of Russia was animated
"vILLAGONzALO."
The ''miniser for foreign affairs with
whom the long conference was held was
the late Count Muravieff. But of his atti-
tude toward the Austrian Emperor's efforts
to support the Queen Regents throne one
of the anonymous official statements
now going the rounds and proceeding in
this case from Paris has this to say: IF
such a step" the enthusiastic" count is
quoted as remarking, lis confined to simple
counsel IL will have no result. and If it inn
plies anything resembling a threat the re-
suit obtained will be contrary to that de-
sired"
EASILY ANSWERED.
1t is this reply which is said to have
undermined the friendly disposition which
France and Germany had at first shown
"A ic w ma
reply which NJ. Hanotaux had in mind in
averring that Russia checked the move
ment for Intervention. But which are we
to believe-the report of the Spanish am
bassador made contemporaneously, under
every inducement to relate the exact
truth and without regard to the effect on
international relations, or the unofficial
recollections of eX-ministers given four
years after the event, under the necessity
Of correcting" history and supported by a
newspaper interview with an official who
is not Eek" but is anonymous? There is
no need of long pause for an answer to
the question.
1t is one Of the rarest international oc-
currences to detect the track of Russian
diplomacy through any series of negotia-
tions upon which 1t has exerted an indirect
influence. The find is therefore a most
formation that has been impaired since
Lord Cranborne's statement. And, unlike
that contribution TO the discussion, 1t
throws new light on the situation. We be-
leved before the English under secretary
spoke that the Salisbury Ministry had been
friendly toward the United States; but We
had scarcely fancied before the publication
of the Spanish ambassadors note that the
Car and his foreign minister had been
animated not only by sympathy with Spain
but by enthusiasm for her Queen 1t
was for her cause. in the preservation of
the Spanish dynasty and the monarchic
principle, that the intervention Of the auto
cratic powers was especially sought The