Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-20
He Suddenly Summons Cabinet Min
listers to a Conference.
TIE CUBAN RESURRECTION DISCUSSED
A Strict Enforcement of the Neu-
trality Laws Decided On.
THE SPANISH MINISTER HERE

CITY Yesterday without warning and start
ed all sorts of sensational rumors by hasti-
ly summoning all the members of the cabi-
net in the city to a secret conference at the
State Department. The efforts, however, TO
secure the attendance of Secretaries La
mont and Smith were unsuccessful. Secre-
tary Olney saw each Of those gentlemen
during the day and informed them of the
nature of his business in Washington. He
saw Secretary Smith during the day and
spent long time in company with Secre-
tary Lamont in the evening.
A Long Session.
Those present at the midsummer cabinet
meeting at the State Department were Sec
retaries Olney, Carlisle and Herbert At
torney General Harmon and Assistant Sec
retary Adee of the State Department AL
though Mr.. Olney arrived here early in the
day, the fact of his presence was SO well
concealed that 1t only became known when
the Presidents ministers Joined him In the
diplomatic room of the State Department,
shortly after o'clock. The session lasted
for two hours, and during its progress Mr.
Adee came out frequently In search of Off
cial documents needed for better under
standing of the subject under discussion
The exact nature of this subject was not
disclosed by any Of those who took part
in the deliberations Their manner upon
separating indicated an agreement to keep
the business close secret from the public.
at the present stage Of the proceedings at
least.
On the Cuban InsurrectiOn.
1t was clearly evident however, that it
was Of a grave and important matter, and
there are excellent reasons for the belief
that it relates primarily to the insurrec-
tion IN Cuba and incidentally to the set
tlement of the Mora claim of 81. 5O0,O 900 by
the Spanish government. There are said
TO be important questions to be Immediately
settled in fulfillment of our neutrality OBJ
legations toward Spain in its present trou-
bies in Cuba, and that they are responsible
for yesterdays cabinet meeting. This has
Some color from the fact that the particular
officers gathered at the State Department
were just those who would be charged
with the execution of the neutrality laws
The Secretary Of State would be Clothed
with general supervision, the Attorney
General would look after the enforcement
of the law ashore, the Secretary of the
Treasury, through the collectors OF Gus
toms and revenue cutters, would care Tor
the ports and coasts, and the Secretary CT
the Navy would maintain the sea patrol
In further confirmation of this theory the
Spanish minister, Senor Dupuy de LONE
suddenly arrived In Washington from Mas
sachusetts almost simultaneously with Sec
retary Olney.
Watching Cuban Sympathfxcrs.
The Spanish officials in this country have
been closely watching the movements and
proceedings of the Cuban sympathizers
who have been operating in the United
States. and it is believed that the open and
questionable operations at the New York
meeting lately, when a convention wen.
through the forms of ,electing presidents
for Cuba, has given rise to some doubt on
the part of our government as to whether
this was a proceeding that did not in itself
constitute, at least, in spirit, an infraction
of that principle of the neutrality laws
which forbids the use of the United States
as a base of operations against a nation
xxfth yxyhi iNt fhn INIT Tod Cfoto fc
of peace. If this view was taken of the
matter by the cabinet. it is likely that it
will be manifested by additional instruc-
tions to the officers of the government
that will summarily check any hostile
movements against the Spaniards in Cuba
from this country.
To Enforce Neutrality Laws.
1t is confidently asserted today that the
coincident visit to this city of the Secretary
of State and the Spanish minister, who
have recently been in personal negotiation
at Marion, near the President, is entirely
due to joint desire for strict enforce
ment of the neutrality laws. Secretary Oh
ney knows the Presidents Views on this
subject and came to Washington to impart
them personally to the officials whose duty
1t Is to enforce them. 1t Is said that the
Spanish minister has called upon the
United States government to suppress a
proposed expedition to Cuba, which it is
claimed by its sympathfzers is Of greater
magnitude than any party that has yet
left these shores to aid the Cuban insur-
gents.
Proposed Expedition.
Under the circumstances it is. Of course
difficult to secure details as to the proposed
expedition or of the steps which are being
taken to prevent it, but it is definitely
known that the Spanish minister has in
formation that the American sympathiZers
are preparing to send a large and we'll
equipped party to Cuba, and that the
%14 ,han t1np hat
the effect of this movement, if successful,
would be inspiriting to the insurgents. be-
cause of the size of the party proposed to
be sent out. 1t is also understood that the
instigat0rs of the enterprise are counting
very confidently upon the expeditions being
able to evade the vigilance of the United
States and upon getting off In good shape
at no very distant day.
Senior De LONE is devoting himself as
siduously to preventing the departure of
this party. 1t appears that he is without
definite Information as to the proposed
place of departure. He stopped in New
York and Philadelphia on his way to Wash
inston to visit the Spanish consuls at those
places for the purpose OF conferring with
them and urging them to renewed activity
In securing information as to the move
rnents of insurgents in this country. The
best information obtainable would indicate
that the expedition expects to start from
the Florida coast but it is considered prob
able that If it is foiled there it may collect
at almost any Atlantic port.
Belief That 1t Will Not Leave.
1t cannot be learned definitely whether
the minister has received any new assur-
ances from the administration of special
effort to prevent the departure of this or
ether expeditions in the future, but there
are some circumstances which would indI-
cate that he has received the desired as
surance. 1t is predicted very confidently
that the proposed expedition will never
leave the coast Of the United States. Senor
&c LONE will return tonight to Swamscott.
where he has gone for the summer.
Secretary Olney spent about an hour at
tho State Department this morning IN con-
ference with Assistant Secretary Adee, and
then returned to his summer home, at
Marion. Before settling down to rest, how
ever he will visit Gray Gables, in order to
promptly acQuaint the President with the
result of his mission to the national capital.