Evening star., 1895-04-02
Uncle Sans Interests Suddenly Be-
come Conspicuous.
FOREIGN COMPLICATIONS CONSIDERED
SPANS Explanation of Her Delay
Not Made Public.
TODAY'S CABINET MEETING

There was very small attendance at to-
days cabinet meeting, and the session was
of shorter duration than usual The alb
sentees were Secretary Smith, who is ill.,
and Secretaries Carlisle and Morton and
Attorney General Olney. who are out of
the city. Our many foreign complications
are understood to have engaged the atten-
tion of the President and his advisers
There is great lack of definite informa-
tion as to TIE exact status Of the varioua
foreign incidents in course of diplomatic
negotiation. The recent excitement over
the British-Nicaraguan controversy has
subsided, and the affair with Great Britain
over the shooting of a subject of that
country in the New Orleans labor riots
and the affair with Italy over the killing
Of several Italians at Walsenburg. Colo, if
not already "closed Incidents are appar-
emily very near that much-desired stage
The alleged illegal imprisonment of Waller,
an American citizen, in Madagascar, by
tine French authorities, is in course of de-
lberate investigation and ii the facts are
as have been represented will necesstate
remedial action on the part of this gov
ernment. Negotiations for proper repara-
tion by the hondurGr authorities for the
murder of Renton, the American, at Brew
er's Lagoon, about year ago, are said to
promise satisfactory results. The British
Venezuelan boundary dispute is also de-
manding attention.
Spnfn's Answer Not Known.
The Allianca affair with Spain is still
far from settlement. Spain has so far
failed to comply with Secretary Greshams
demands for prompt apology, and, so
far as known, no steps have been taken
to show national resentment at the alleged
delay. There is good reason to believe
that the Spanish authorities have officially
stated their position in the matter. The
Secretary of State has not thought it ad-
visable to make public the Spanish re-
sponse, however, and, by some diplomats
who have watched the case, this single fact
Is accepted as an indication that it is not
satisfactory and conclusive. The pre-
sumption is that the Spanish government is
conducting the investigation with great de-
liberation, and will be in no hurry to ad-
init itself entirely at fault, espeo tally as
there is weIl-defined suspicion that the
United States government is not doing Its
whole duty for the enforcement of the
mestic hlibustering expeditions against
Spanish rule in Cuba. The latest report on
this point is that a torpedo boat is now
in course of construction in this country
for use against Spanish naval vessels in
Cuban waters. 1t is said that the Spanish
minister has made this report the subject
OF formal protest to the State Depart
ment, with a view to prevention of the
proposed expedition.
The Prisoners Mt Santiago.
prehensive about the treatment of two cit
izens of the United States now in prison at
Santiago de Cuba.
According to the advices which Consul
Hyatt has transmitted to the department,
these men-August Billion and Gustave
Richahin-both naturalized Americans, put
In at Santiago de Cuba in small boat.
They were at once arrested and put in pris-
on. They called for the American consul
and told him the circumstances surround
Ing their arrest.
ment and. acting under Instructions. made
demand for their release. Immediate
compliance with this demand made,
but the men were rearrested and returned to
prison. This was in defiance of another
protest from the consul.
Instructions of the most explicit charac-
ter have been sent to the consul of the
United States in Santiago de Cuba, direct
ing him to exhaust every effort to obtain
the release of the men, provided, of course,
their arrest was, as it seems to have been,
to report at once, and the authorities will
then decide upon further steps to insure a
compliance with their demands
The Hawaiian Matters.
No new developments in the Hawaiian
affair are expected until the next steamer
arrives at San Francisco from Honolulu
1t may then become known what criticisms
Secretary Gresham may have made against
the official conduct of Mr.. Thurston, the
Hawaiian minister, and also whether the
Hawaiian government has given Mr. Will
lis. the United States minister. his pass
ports as a persona non grata. These
things are generally discussed as strong
probabilities. The rumor has been revived
that Mr.. Willis is soon to be relieved of
duty at Honolulu. One authority has it
that he is coming home on leave of absence
and another predicts that he is to be trans
ferred to another diplomatic post.
The NIcaraguan Canal COmmissiOn
One of the questions considered at to-
days meeting was the appointment of the
Nicaraguan canal commission authorized
by Congress to survey the canal. 1t is said
that Secretary Lamont has nominated Col
w. p. Craghill of the corps of engineers
or the army, and that Secretary Herbert
has recommended Civil Engineer NJ T.
Endicott of the navy for membership on
the commission, and that the commission
VIII be appointed as soon the President
decides upon the civilian member