The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-12-31
SECRETARY FISH'S RESIGNATION.
The Premier Saying His Resigna.
tiOn is in Allegiance, but Mean
ing q Great Deal More.
What He Thinks About tho Recall Of Minister
Roberts and Captain General Valmaseda-
Looks Gloomy About tho
New Spanish Ambassador.

The public have grown sceptIcal on the subject or
Secretary Fishs resignation, but ir Is once more
for the one hundredth time SON the tdpis, and
in a more tangible shape than ever In fact, hiS
final retirement In a day or two Is no longer
matter Of conjecture but one Of Almost absolute
certainty. The truth IS that Mr.. Fsi's mind has
been tossed and buffeied between two opposing
currents-between his personal desire to remain in
Office until the Treaty OF Washington Is brought to
final conclusion and the entreaties OF his family,
who have urged him and begged OF him, with scarce
an interval for breathing time, to exchange the
bleak, homeless existence OF Washington with the
comforts or his capacious mansion In New York.
The difficulties lately arisen between the United
States and spain, with regard to Cuban matters,
have matured his resolution TO withdraw as soon as
possible from affairs which threaten to assume a
black and stormy aspect. From these clrcum-
stances and from mis- remarks, stated further on,
1t is safe say that Mr.. Fish has virtually already
resigned his Office and Is now arranging affairs for
his successo or who will be either Mr.. PicrrepOnt or
Mr. Curtis, but mosG probably the former His for-
nal ana final letter OF resignation may already be
in the hands of the President.
Secretary Fish being now In this CITY, n HERALD
reporter called him last evening" and the follow
ing conversation took place concerning his retire.
and the recall OF Minister Roberts and Captain
General Vamaseda:--
REPORTER-What do you think, Mr.. Secretary,
about these Spanish cnangeSi
Secretary FISH, don't know exactly what to
make OF them. am sorry about the recall or tho
Spanish Minister, Tor | have yet TO know the
Spanlard who Is a better man than Senior Roberts.
He has been invariably courteous and KIND. When
ever he possibly could he advocated humane
policy IN Cuba, and endeavored to mitigate the
severity OF the Spanish rule In that island. do
not know how his successor will turn out to De
Mr. lrvlp IuN. hnt MIN n
can say, spain has sent a better representa-
tive to Washington than Senior Roberts.
REPoRTER-Has Senior Roberts been superseded
because he was, perhaps, too cOnciliatory for his
governments
Secretary FIsH--He has been c0nciliatory, bus
also firm and dignifed; not more conciliat0ry
than his instructions warranted him to be. His In
slructions may have been wrong but. whether
right or wrong he was bound to follow them.
DO your dispatches state whether the recall OF
Minister Roberts and OF Valmaseda means change
OF policy towards CuDai
REPoRrER--It Is scarcely safe to say that the re-
placement OF valmaseda by Concha will have for
| result a more humane regime In Cura Perhaps
| quite the reverse. The massacre OF o party Of
young Americans IN Cuba under the former rule OF
Concha Is still remembered BY our people But
was going to ask you the same question, SIR.
SECRETARY FISH, do not know any more about
IL than you do.
REpoRrER-It is said that AFFAIRS In the state De.
partmsnt very much unsettled on account OF
the uncertainty about you SIR. l mean as TO
whether YOU will shortly resign or remain In ONCE
for any length vi time.
Secretary FISH Observation-Disclosures, the matter y
In allegiance. do not wish 10 say anything about Il
at present. put the facts will come out IN very
short time
The mysterious and hesitatmg manner Of Mr..
Fish, more than his speech, gave tho Impression
that the mncil-talked-of contlngency-hfs resigna-
tlon-has at last come OF.