The record-union., 1895-07-20
CABINET OFFICERS CONFER.
Secret Consultation Between the
Presidents Advisers
CUBAN AFFAIRS THOUGHT TO BE
THE SUBJECT DISCUSSED.
Serious Encounter Between American
Citizens and Canadian Officers on
the Michigan Boundary Line
Three Men Arrested and Confined
I'm q Canadian Prison-InternatiOna
COMPLICATIONS Likely to Follow.

WASHINGTON, July 19.-Secretary Oh
ney arrived suddenly and unexpectedly
in Washington to-day, and summoned
council of the Cabinet officers in town.
which lasted for two hours.
MIR. Olney left Falmouth, bis summer
home, yesterday morning tor Boston, and
departed from that city for Washington
late in the afternoon. He reached here
about noon, and went almost imme-
diately to.the War Department, where he
had an hours talk with Secretary La
mont. Shortly before o'clock Mr.. Oh
aey called on Secretary Herbert at his
office, and the two walked over to the
State Department, when Secretary Car
Isle and Secretary Harmon. who had
been summoned by telephone, joined
them.
For two hours the four Cabinet officers
were closeted with Mr.. Olney, and during
that time rumors OF many sorts and con-
ditions tloated about the corridors OF the
State, War and Navy buildings. One
rumor, which one of the Cabinet officers
promptly stamped as unfounded, was
that MIR. Cleveland was Ill at Gray
Gables, but neither confirmation nor de-
NAL could be secured To other stories
which sought to give an explanation Tor
the suddenly summoned meeting.
1t was known that about the time Mr..
Olney reached the State Department,
Senior Depuy De LONE, the Spanish Min
isler, had arrived in " Washington to-day.
and this, in connection with Mr.. Olney's
appearance, is the basis for report that
the conference concerned some new and
serious turn in Cuban matters, or related
10 the Mora claim, which the Spanish
Government has decided to pay without
delay.
But Mr.. Olney frankly disposed of
these rumors, so far as they concerned
Senor de LONE. He said he did not know
that Senor De LONE was In town, and
appeared surprised when told it was SO
reported. Inquiry early in the afternoon
at the hotels and the Metropolitan Club,
of which Senor De Lone is mem her,
threw no light on the Minister'S where
abouts, and both the offices of the Span
ish Legation and Senior De Lome's house
were closed tightly.
MIR. Herbert left Mr.. Olney's Office after
the conference, and Mr.. Carlisle followed
soon after. Mir. Olney and MIR. Harmon
remained together until $50 O'Clock.
All the members of the Cabinet who
were present at the conference declined
10 say anything about the subject until a
decision was reached, and ii is evident
that they decided to keep silent. One
memb Der spoke in a manner that indicated
that the cause OF the conciaye was OF a
serious nature, but he declined to say
one word concerning it, or even to make
q denial of any of the many rumors that
were prevalent, except that Mr.. Cleve-
land was not Ill.
While all discussion of the alleged
reason for the conference will be mere
speculation, most confidence can be
placed in the report that Cuban affairs
brought Mr.. Olney to Washington than
in any of the rumorS circulated, for the
reason that Cuba is now the most en-
barrassing problem 70 be solved by this
Government, and, with the exception of
the Mora claim, Is the only question OF
immediate seriousness that confronts the
Administration.
Statements concerning the origin Of
the filibustering expeditions in places on
Southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts have
been prevalent during the past week, and
the revenue cutter service and the navy
have been doing all that can be done TO
prevent such expeditions from leaving
this country for Cuba. The " ashington
Government has been much embarrassed
by the frequent complaints OF Spanish
diplomatic and consular officers In the
United States that expeditions wore form
ing with hostile purpose toward Span
ish rule in Cuba, and it is not improbable
that it bas been decided by the President
to take action that will prevent claims by
Spain against the United States for viola
tions OF the neutrality laws. and that Mr..
OlneV's visit and the Cabinet conference
was for the purpose of devising ways and
means of protecting this Government III
that regard seems reasonably certain.
Mr.. Olney will leave Washington for
Falmouth at II o'clock tomorrow.