The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-10-12

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-THE state
ment cabled from Madrid to the effect
that the United States government had
intimated to the Spanish minister here
that there is need of prompt action on
the part of his government in putting
down the Cuban insurrection, cannot
be confirmed at the state department..
The officials would neither confirm nor
deny the report, though their manner
indicated disapproval of its accuracy.
1t is believed to be quite probable
that representations may have been
made to Spain of the wisdom of an ag-
gressive and active operation against
the Cuban insurgents, but it is thought
the United States government did not
make these suggestion and, if made
they came from Minister De Lone and
were based on his personal observation
of the trend Of sentiment in the United
States and his knowledge of the pur-
pose of the friends of the insurgents
to press their cause vigorously, soon
after the assembling of Congress.
Senior De LONE left here today on an
early train, and no information could
be gained from him.
While it is true that President Grant
did, as indicated in his message to Con-
gress, entertain a belief that interven-
ton in the then progressing rebellion
in Cuba would be justifiable, it is also
true that this view never was ac-
ceptable to Secretary Fish, and it has
not secured the adherence of interna-
tional lawyers. The whole weight of
authority is decidedly adverse to the
assertion by a neutral nation of q
right to say when war between two
combatants has progressed to a point
where it must be stopped.
1t may be recalled that some such
proposition was made during the last
stages of the China-Japan war but it
never went further than the exercise
of the good offices of the interested ma
tons to bring about peace, which func-
ton is entirely distinct from direct in
terVention. The question is also separ-
ate from that of the recognition of the
delinquency of the insurgents, which,
according to our policy and practice
must be determined purely by the facts
in each case.
It is pointed out here also that the
circumstances at present are different
from those surrounding the last Cuban
rebellion when President Grant took his
stand. That rebellion dragged along
for nearly ten years, While the present
insurrection has been in progress less
than a year or not nearly as long as
our own rebellion.
Whatever may have been the inspir-
ing cause to Spanish activity against the
insurgents (whether through Minister
De Lome's representations, or the pre-
viously formed determination of the
heads of the Spanish government, it
is known officially that Spain is about
to open campaign of far greater
energy than any thus far taken.
The wet season has prevented the
movement of loops and the mainten-
ance of an aggressive campaign But
the dry season begins about three
weeks hence and this will be the Signal,
it is said, for an extensive movement.
A Gordon, consisting of a double line
of gun boats, will surround the islands
to prevent the landing of arms or am
munition for the insurgents and with
out arms from outside sources, it is
believed they soon will be helpless.
The new boats about to arrive in
Cuba will not be far short of twenty.
Several of them We're recently sent
from the United States. About twelve
built in England are now on their way.
Several more We're constructed in
Spain. They are very small, not much
larger than steam yacht, but are
well armed and are of such light
draught that they can run in the Keys
that surround Cuba. They will form
the inner Gordon around the island.
Outside will be the second Gordon, made
up of the Condo de Venadito and other
large ships which Spain has in Cuban
waters.
With the island thus cut off from
without, General Campos will look
after the fighting within. alt is ex-
pected by the Spanish officials that
this forward movement will change the
entire aspect of the conflict from one
of minor skirmishes to extensive bat
ties. The sentiment among Spanish
authorities is that a decisive forward
movement is essential, and the coming
campaign is relied on to meet fully the
requirements Of the situation.