Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1898 — GIVEN A HARD BLOW [ARTICLE]

GIVEN A HARD BLOW

Mediation Offered by th) Pope Is Dediaed by the President. ENGLAND WON’T ACT WITH POWERS. In Response to' Spain's Request the Pope Is Said to Have Asked tor an Armistice—Unele Sam Not a Party. Rome, April 6.—The pope has received a telegram from Archbishop Ireland saying that President McKinley declines the offer of his holiness to mediate between the United States and Spain. The message also contained what was virtually a declaration of the president’s policy. Mr. McKinley said that he was extremely sensible of the initiative taken by the pontiff. The dispatch added that President McKinley was opposed to war now, as he had been in the past, and would still do all that was possible to avoid recourse to such a lamentable expedient. Britain Holds Aloof. London, April 6. —The movement of the powers of Europe for a joint offer of mediation between the United States and Spain has received a severe, and probably fatal rebuff in the form of a definite refusal upon the part of Great Britain to participate in it. Communications looking to mediation are stilt being exchanged between the continental powers, but they recognize that Great Britain’s refusal to cooperate will rob the movement of much of its weight. s Active Exchange of Telegrams. ; Rome, April 6.—There was an active exchange of telegrams Tuesday afternoon between the Spanish minister for foreign affairs, Senor Gullon, at Madrid and Mgr. Merry Del Vai, the pope’s private chamberlain, with the view . of drawing up, with the consent of the pope, the exact terms of the armistice

for Cuba, which will be proposed, it is said, by the pope immediately after the terms are drawn up, and the hope is expressed at the Vatican that it will be agreed to by the authorities at Washington. In clerical circles it appears to be understood that President McKinley may bring pressure to bear upon the insurgents to induce them to accept an armistice, and it is understood the holy see will then exert similar Influence through the episcopacy in Cuba. It is hoped here that the armistice proposed will be definitely drawn up to-day or Thursday. The Vatican authorities absolutely refuse to furnish any information relative to the dispatch which President McKinley is said to have sent to the pope on the subject of the latter’s mediation with Spain, and in which the president was represented as having outlined his views on the Cuban situation. The Pope’s Terms. Rome, April 6. —It is authoritatively said that the pope’s proposed terms at e such as can be accepted by Spain and supported by the United States minister, General Stewart L. Woodford, in forwarding them to President McKinley. The pope’s initiative is based wholly on the fact that Spain, when she asked for the good offices of the powers, also asked for the pope’s good offices. The Interposition of the pontiff has thus far been confined to efforts to bring about an armistice between Spain and the insurgents. Spain’s Hope Is tn the Popo. Madrid, April 6. —The minister of foreign affairs, Senor Gullon, in an interview just obtained, said the Spanish government is expecting the speedy arrival of a note from the Vatican, in which the pope would indicate the plan he hoped to terminate the present sit- 1 nation.