Evening star., 1896-04-06
ANXIETY AT MADRID
Awaiting the Vote on Cuba in the
House of Representatives.
SPANISH HAVE ABOUT COOLED CFF
Little or No Talk of War Now to
Be Heard.
WEYLER A DISAPPOINTMENT

MADRID Spain April 6.-The result of
the vote on the question of the attitude of
the United States toward Cuba, which,
1t is understood here, is to be taken on
the United States Senate's resolutions in
the House of Representatives today, was
anxiously awaited here.
In any case, it Is pointed out, hostilities
in Cuba must soon cease on account of
the approach of the rainy season, and no
further reinforcements worth mentioning
will be sent until the month of September.
But the war department is making extern
sive preparations in this connection. and
four ironciads and several torpedo boats
are ready to sail al short notice from Fer
roi in order to take part in the blockade
of the coasts of Cuba shouli the insurg-
ents be recognized as belligerents. The
general opir ION here, however, is that the
question as to how and when the United
States will intervene in Cuba will be left
for President Cleveland, and it is believed
that the latter VII only, at least as a pre-
Ininary, offer the friendly OFFICES of the
United States in the matter, while intimat-
ing that other steps may be taken should
the offer be refused.
Spanish, Cabinet in Session.
The Spanish cabinet will be in session to-
day from about the time the United States
Congress assemblies until the vote in the
House of Representatives is taken. Later,
1t is understood, the ministers will be sum-
moned by the queen regent and the whole
matter will be discussed.
Although some of the newspapers declare
that crisis is at hand. the fact remains
that the people are almost entirely Gained
down, and that little war talk is to
be heard rh" military and naval prepara-
tons being made by the war department
and admiralty mere in the nature of
MI f;rna TO H.
ject Of which is the further and still more
energetic prosecution of the campaign
against the insurgents. There is no inten-
tion to defy the United States or to do
anything calculated to inflame popular
feeling, although should it bee ONE neces-
sary TO do so, 1t is understood that the
Spanish people will respond with enthu-
siasm to the call to arms in defense of
Cuba, and that Spanish blood and treasure
will iiow to the utmost in the efforts which
will be made to uphold the honor of the
country.
Havana Defenses strengthened.
The defsnses of Havana have been great
ly strengthened recently by the addition to
Ore armament of that place of number of
the heaviest guns, additional earthworks
have been thrown up on the land side and
everything possible has been done to make
that place capable of withstanding COM
bined attack by sea and land. The Spanish
troops in Cuba now number about 10000
men of all arms, all the important towns
and ports are strongly garriSoEed, and
insurgents have not been able to capture
a city of any note, although the war has
lasted over year.
Disappointed With Weyler.
In spite of the fact that 1t has been Off
cially denied here and at Havana that
Capt Gen. Weyler has rendered his resig
nation. or is to be recalled, all classes of
people express surprise that the general
has been able to accomplish so little since
he as sUmed command in Cuba. Most peo-
p!e here, however, in view of the outcry
against Gen. Weyler in the United States,
would look upon his recall under the pres
ent circumstances as being very much in
on the part of Spain, and this might lead
to serious results here.
Reform for Cuba.
But amidst all the clouds there is feel
irg struggling for official recognition that
In arbitration there is way out of all such
difficulties, and that with mutual conces-
sions and the use of diplomacy of high
order some arrangements may be arrived
at which will give satisfaction to all con-
cerned.
Cuba, It Is asserted all claims to the con-
trary. could hardly, under any circum-
stances, enter the sisterhood of the United
States in this generation, and it is not ad-
mltted here that the people of the United
States would be willing to declare war on
Spain in order to bring about such an addi-
ton to the number of states in the Union.
There remains, therefore, the plan of Civ
Ing Cuba some measure of self-government
which may lead to a settlement of the in
ternal and external troubles which ruined
Cuba for the time being, and which bid
fair to drive Spain into bankruptcy.
Under these circumstances the feeling of
apparent calm. mingled with anxiety, with
which todays vote of the United States
House of Representatives has been awaited
can readily be understood.