Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-18
AN INVESTIGATION
To be Madc oil the Allianca Affair Says Span.
ISL Minister.

Washington, March 1i.-Spain purposes
making thorough Investigation into tho
| Alliance incident before replying to Secre-
tary Grcsham's demands.
From hints dropped by state department.
officials, am led to believe that informa-
ton TO this effect has been received from
Minister Taylor, tho diplomatic representa-
tive OF the United States Mt Madrid. The
officials are extremely reticent about tho
matter since the publication Of the in
struotions to Minister Taylor, and they
will not acknowledge that they have re-
ceived' any communications from him
since the dispatch that came, Friday, an
nouncing that he had laid the secretary of
states demands before the Spanish au-
thoritics.
There Is no doubt, however, despite
their silence, that dispatches have passed
between them and that they are fully
aware of the manner In which Secretary
Grcsham's communication was received
| by the Spanish authorities. What further
| indicates that the Spanish government IL
making haste slowly Is the fact that tho
| Spanish minister, Senior Murugua, will
| leave Washington, tomorrow, morning to
investigate for himself tho Allianoa
affair, so far as such investigation can be
made in New York city.
Senior Murugis, the Spanish minister,
has received no information from the gov.
ernor general of Cuba regarding the Al.
lianca affair.
What construction do you put upon
the governor generals sllcnce?" the minis.
ter was asked.
1T is capable of but ono construction"
he said "If the commander Of the ves-
sci alleged to have fired upon tho Alliance
has made his report 1t would be i'm
mediately photographed to me. Hearing
nothing from the governor general, IL IL
fair to assume that he himself is as yet
officially ignorant Of the so-called out
rage"
Are you still sceptical as to the state
mcnt that the vessel which fired upon the
Alliance is Spanish man of war;"
Il am, was tho minister's emphatic
reply. What reason has Captain Gross
man to believe that the vessel which be
claims fred shots across his bows was
Spanish gunboat? Could she not have
been yacht purchased In this country
and commanded by Cuban flibustcrs9
Would 1t not be easy for the fllibusters 70
procure Spanish flag and fly 1t at their
masthead? Nothing could be easier.
Equally easy would It he to procure
small rifle cannon and make the assault
upon the Alliance ostensibly as Spanish
cruiser, but in reality 10 create public
sentiment in this country unfavorable to
Spain. The Spanish authorities In Cuba
will investigate this matter thoroughly.
Let us keep cool and await their side Of
the story
81 scr,' continued Senior Murugua,
that four Of the passengers on board Of
the Alliance have made statements SINH
lar to those Of Captain Crossman. Who
are these people They may be Cuban
fllbustcrs for all that know. had
hoped that some Of the sailors on board
the Alliance were Spaniards. Had they
been such. / should have procured their
affidavits, but do not find that any of the
sailors are natives Of that country"
What is the Spanish government likely
to reply to Secretary Gresham's telegram.
and will their reply be communicated to
the state department through you?"
1.-THE reply is likely TO come through
the channel which was employed for the
communication OF the sccretary's tele-
gram. That Is to say, whatever reply the
Madrid foreign Office may make will no
doubt be sent to Mr.. Taylor, and by him
forwarded to Secretary Gresham. can
not however, speculate as to what my
government may do. Upon that point
my mouth is sealed "
This is far from being the first time
that the United States has had trouble
with Spain on account Of the extreme con-
tentions Of that nation. Not only has
Spain contended that she had jurisdiction
over the waters around the island Of Cuba
10 distance of ak miles from the shore.
but she has also claimed right to stop
and search suspicious vessels on the high
seas.
The right has never been conceded by
the United States, and will not be adj
mittea in this case If Spain claims 1t un-
der the treaty of 1895. 1t Is claimed that
the right which was claimed In under this
treaty has long since been abrogated. and
that Spain has no more right to search an
American vessel on the high seas than
has any other nation.
cROSSMAN IS EMPHATIC