Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-11-29
VA.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1878
THE CUBAN DIFFICULTY.
PROSPECT OF PEACE.
From the Washington Republican.

sraspipg him warmly by the hand, remarked,
"Thank God, everything is all right He sub
scqucntly read portions Of dispatch which
had been received by him from Madrid, au-
nouucipg the acceptance by President CASTELAR,
Of thc full terms of our demand for PREPARATION.
No other result than this has been expected
from the outset, but surrounded, as Castelar,
has been and still is, by influences which de-
uiauded delay in the settlement OF the penu,ns
difficulties, the prOmplncss with which ne mas
Welded the acceptance IS gratifying. II Is re-
ccivcd by this Government most cordially as
convincing evidence Of the determination OF The
young republic of Spain to place itself !ipmedl,
ateiy upon record as the advocate OF just aud
euultaUlc relations between the great treaty
king powers of the world. =.
The negotiations preceding the assurance OF
peacc given by Admiral Polo last night have
been characterized by the most Sedulous desire
ON both sides TO reach an amcable settlement.
The demands made by this Government were:
FIRST. The surrendered the Firgluius to the
Limited States authorities, the restoration OF her
flag 70 her uasts, and salute to the Uuled
States colors as they are raised by Spanish
mcn-oi-war.
Second The release Of the surviving mem
bers of the Firginlus crew.
Third. decentralization tor personal losses to
the American citizens and their heirs who were
either the victims of or sufferers by the outrage
IN the capture of the Eirglnlus aud the suoSe-
ouent slaughter of i portion OF her crew.
Fourth. The punishment OF the persons Gu
gagged in the Santiago slaughter.
The point embraced in the first dcmaud was
based upon the assumption, persisleu,y malu-
raincd throughout the controversy, that the
Nirsiuius was prima facie an American vessel.
In other words, it was held that lnasuuch as
she carried an American flag, was possessed OF
an American register, and had last sailed under
American papers, the Spanish Government
had no right to interfere with her progress
upou the high seas 1t was admitted that II
she had been captured or overhaulcd 10 Span
ish waters, the case would have presented a
different aspect; but it now seems evident that
Ter commander carefully avoided entering
Spanish waters, because, no doubt, ne felt the
necessity of the protection which the nag he
carried accorded TO him: while the vessel re-
manned unnn the high seas. 1t Was further
held that submission by this Government to
the interference with the ,Virgiuius would be a
virtual abandonment Of our rights under treaty
stipulatio1ls which prohibit the right OF search.
When this point was submitted this Govern
ment stipulated that definite reply should be
made on the Doth Instant. The iutlmatlon Of
this stipulation was virtually that relations
would cease between the two Governments on
that date unless dcfuite reply was previously
received The Spanish Government replied
that having no information regarding the char
actcr Of the Eirgiuius except that which prov
ed her to be the property of fllibusteriDg agents
of the Cuban insurgents they could not recog
nize her as an American vessel. AT this juno
ture the situation was immiuently grave, and
the serious results threatened were only reliey
ed by the assurance of the Spanish Govern
ment that it was anxious to preserve amlcabe
relations Notwithstanding Its belief that the
Virgiuius was not entitled to the protection OF
the United States. Admiral Polo, the Spanish
Minister, being convinced from the official rec
ords placed before him by this Government
that the registry Of the Virginius was correct
at the time of her capture, aud that she was
entitled thereby, prima tacie, to carry the
American flag, probably advised his Govern
ment to accept the terms offered. The Span
ish Government then proposed that the time
for definite answer should be extended, and
that 10 return for the favor of such an extern
sion recognition of the Virginius as prlma
tacie an American vessel was accorded. Here
the prospects of peace, so far as diplomacy can
secure it, began. The admission Of the prima
facic case was all that the United States re-
quired as basis on which to rest a demand
for rcparation The extension Of time was con.
ScqucutIy agreed to. The second point, as well.
as the third and fourth, were then readily ac-
corded as the natural consequence OF this ad
mission 1t will be readily perceived that this
Government gained such an advantage by this
admission as to preclude the introduction Of
evidence showing the equity IF the Spanish
case or any proof to show that she Was not en-
Titled to American protection.
In this connection. 1t is proper to add that
the release of the survivors of the slaughter ln
cludes the release of British as we'll as Ameri-
can subjects Although the protest of the Bri.
fish naval officer was received in due time
by Burrel and by Captain General Jovcl-
lar, it is not officially known here that any subsc-
qucut action has been taken by Great Britain,
except to increase the number OF her gunboats
iu CUBAN waters. 1t seems plain from this
that the English Government has cautiously
avoided the result OF the negotiations between
Spain and the Uuited States, and undoubtedly
was in readiness at any time to take advantage
of any contingency that might arise from which
she could gain advantage. The interest natur-
ally felt by her in the probability Of war be-
tween two republics may be accepted as an ex-
pauation of her course.
At no time during the negotiation was the
idea of arbitration entertained except as appli-
cable to the question of indemnity mentioned
in the third point. This Government held
that the atfront received by it was of such
character as not to admit of interference by
outside parties 1t was held 10 other words,
that the affront was akin to az insult placed
upon one man by another, of kind which
honor demanded should be instantly resented.
The arbitration of the question of indemnify is
therefore yet to be settled, and WILL as stated,
be applied only to the losses sustained by the
victims and sufferers by the outrage and
slaughter.
Having completed the preliminary negotia-
tons, the details of which are preserved in the
form Of kilograms and diplomatic memoran-
da,'' it now becomes the duty of the two Govern
ments to put them into the more substantial
and definite shape of an agreement or protocol.
This will be done as rapidly as the circum-
stances of the case will allow. What length Of
finn NAV ho consumed in the work is of course