Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-23
The President Said to Be Not Pleased
With It.
SPAIN WILL Be GIVEN AMPLE TIME
How the Change in the Spanish
Ministry Affects Matters.
MURUAGA'S TION


altogether pleased with the haste displayed
by Secretary Gresham in the Alliance affair
with Spain, during his recent absence from
the city, and that the future conduct of
negotiations in regard to that incident will
be marked by greater deliberation and con-
servatism. According to the report, this
latter conclusion was reached at yester-
days meeting of the cabinet, and in some
quarters 1t explains why Admiral Meade S
fleet has gone to Kingston instead of con-
tinuing on its way to Santiago de Cuba, as
was originally proposed. Despite the as
sertion of naval officials that there is no
political significance whatever in the pres
ent movements of the fleet, the theory OBJ
tains among the gossips that the President
deemed it advisable to avoid any act cal
culated to irritate the Spanish authorities
under present strained conditions, and,
therefore, directed the American warships
to keep out of Cuban waters for the pres
ent.
Reports of cabinet differences are circu-
latfng with persistency, despite assertions
by one member Of the cabinet that the
President and his cabinet are harmonious
and even unanimous en- all questions Of
foreign policy.
The difficulty with Spain arose during the
Presidents absence on his ducking trip,
and Secretary Gresham, after much delib-
Grafton, mapped out his course Of proce-
dure. His note to Spain was sent before
Mr.. Cleveland's return.
1t is now rumored that Mr.. Cleveland has
taken exception to several features of the
Secretary Of States plans. Mr. Gresham
of course, refuses to say anything about
these various reports. and processes to be
amazed as to how they could have origi-
mated.
At any rate there Is good reason to be-
lieve that Spain will be allowed ample
time for investigation and reply to Secre-
tary Gresham's Allianca nltimatum. and
that no further action will be taken that
will prevent an amica5le settlement OF the
points in dispute satisfactory and hon.
orable to both governments.
The New Spanish Ministry.
The pending incident between the United
States and Spain may be very materially
affected by the action of the Queen Regent
of Spain last night in summoning Canovas
del Castillo to form a new cabinet. This
insures complete change of government
in case Canovas as is generally expected,
succeeds in forming ministry. 1t had
been confidently expected that the new
ministry would be liberal, thus carrying
forward the old policy with new leaders.
But Canovas is a conservative, which will
involve a change of policy.
1t is still too early to state what effect
the complete change will have on pending
affairs with the United States. No official
word has yet come in reply to Mr. Gres-
hams demand, although the accession of
the Canovas ministry will bring forward a
new minister of foreign affairs and make
an early response possible.
How 1t Affects MuruaRa,
Members of the diplomatic corps are dis
cussing the effect of the change on Senior
Muruaga, the Spanish minister here, who
has been so prominent in recent affairs
He is pronounced liberal, and with the
accession of Carovas his party goes out
of power. Under these circumstances the
minister's successor at Washington un-
doubtedly will be a conservative. The
Spanish diplomatic service is continuous
minister always remaining such or being
advanced, and in the case of Senior Muru-
aga lie has been forty years in the Span
ish diplomatic service. When, therefore,
his successor to the United States is named,
Senior Muruaga either would be assigned to
another post, probably in Europe, or else
remain waiting orders until the liberal
party, of which he is a conspicuous men,
Der, is again restored to power.
The minister's friends say the change
will be quite agreeable to him, and that
when Senior Muruaga'S successor comes it
will be demonstrated that he has constant
ly endeavored to maintain the most ami
cable relations between the United States
and Spain.
Will Have No Regrets.
The fact that Seror Muruaga rendered
his resignation week ago, before there
was any probability of change of gov
ernment is taken to evidence that the
coming of a successor will bring no per-
sonal regrets to him. There has been some
misapprehension as to the status of the
minister's resignation, owing to the silence
prevailing In all official quarters. 1t is
known, however, that the resignation was
not withdrawn, as the government refused
to accept it. This not only implied COM
pliment to the minister, but was an order
to remain at his post, which an official
could not do otherwise than observe
Whether the refusal is permanent or tenn
porary remains to be seen when the new
ministry Is fully organized.
LIVING RRONZE STATUARv