New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-14
"GOOD OFFICES" OFFERED.
SECRETARY OLNEY'S MESSAGE TO SPAIN
DID NOT SAY MEDIATION"
BUT THE MESSAGE WAS SURELY sENr-rHE
DOCUMENT NOT CONSIDERED sATIsFAC-
TORY BY CoNGREss-ITs TONE TOO

DOCUMENT NOT CONSIDERED sArIsFAC-
TORY BY coNGREss-ITs TONE TOO
FRIENDLY TO SPAIN.
rBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.1
Washington April 13-So persistent are some
OF the officials IL the Administration In giving
out denials OF the statement that the Secretary
OF State has sent proposals to Spain looking
TO a settlement OF differences between the Span
ish Government and the Cuban insurgents that
q positive statement in the case seems 10 De
called for
1t can be said most definitely that Secretary
Olney, as a result Of several conferences WIN
the President at the White House. prepared on
Tuesday last dispatch to be sent to Madrio'
The draft was submitted to the President on
Wednesday. The President made NUMBER OF
pencil memoranda on the manuscript. and FUR
ther discussed the subject with the Secretary OF
State On Thursday smooth copy OF the dis
patch was laid before the President. Again ne
suggested some notifications in the language
employed by Mr.. Olney. These alterations OF
the text were few and brief but a new copy OF
the dispatch was necessary. This was made on
Friday morning The dispatch was signed Dy
Secretary Olney the same morning II was put
in the foreign mail bag. and with other European
matter left the State Department that afternoon
II started for New-York not later than $3.50 D. m
to catch the steamer sailing on Saturday. Un-
less the Stat, Departments agent at New-York
was directed by telegraph to extract the dis
patch from the mail pouch. and did So there
can be no doubt that Secretary Olney's instruc-
tons to Minister Taylor are now on the high
sea, bound by fast steamer and rail for Madrid
This can be said with postiveness. and de-
malls. however numerous and emphatic. from Adj
,t.t,, oHic
Denials may. indeed do. to suggest bad
faith on the part OF those who make them witE
those who know the truth. They serve. more
over as a member OF the House said to-day. TO
strengthen a growing conviction that the Presi-
dent intends TO ignore practically unanimous
vote OF Congress on the Cuban question by IN
volving the subject in endless correspondence.
Diplomatic denials from the State Depart
ment usual. and are expected when news oi
important matters leaks out but II is the excep-
ton when they persisted In In the race OF the
truth The denials which have been made are
to tie effect that no mediation on the part OF
this country has been proposed to Spain looking
TO a settlement OF he. differences with CUBA, ana
that published stories on the subject are unwar-
ranted fabrications. From what was heard to-
day from trustworthy source the denial Is
purely technical 1t appears that In the earlier
days when the now famous correspondence be-
tween Secretary Fish and General Sickles was
going on, the Secretary Of state employed the
word mediation" on the part OF the United
States. The Spanish officials did not fancy the
use OF the word. and General sickies so Informed
Secretary Fish by telegram. Thereafter. through
out the correspondence. Secretary Fish said good
offceY" 1t f. now understood that Secretary
Olney. In writing 10 Minister Taylor propcsed
that the good Offices OF the United states DC
l.. t,Ax xtr- To Saff flayNa
differences between the mother country ana her
valuable island possession
There Is perhaps a shads os difference between
mediation and "gocd ofiicei The distinction
seems 10 be regarded iufc!c~t FOR the PURPOSE
o. members OF the Adm!nistra Ion to hang an
emphatic denial on proposition having been
made to Spain
As nigh be expected the policy Of proposing
good Offices to Spain is not regarded as salts
factory 10 members Of Congress. \ member OF
the HOus. Committee on Foreign Affairs said to-
day that the desire o. the Senate and House has
been, and still is TO recognize the existence OF
war In Cube and 10 extend belllgerent rights to
the contestants and maintain a course OF strict
neutrality between the two parties. Now he
said the United States was virtually the Span
ish bas- OF supplies, except as to ships. sailors
anl soldiers and this is wrong ana unfair TO
stru sgling people fghtirI for liberty. He ex-
plai:e. that Congress did not act impulsively on
the resolution passed 1t proceeded deliberately,
and acted only after every Senator and Represen-
tative learned through letters and telegrams from
his constituents that L t tide Of popula: opinion
among the people was strong In faYor or accord
Ing belllgerent rights to the contestants in Cuba.
The course Of Congress was not the voice OF mem
bers but the expression or the calm 1udg-
ment Of the people Of the country II now the
President intends TO ignore the practically unani-
nous wish OF Congress. the speaker said his ac
ton would be offence to both houses: also an
exhibition OF contempt tor the wishes Of the peo-
plc. The member added:
1--WE knew IL would require nerve on the part
Of the President 10 follow the recommendations.
We also knew that II would take more backbone
contcmptuousiy TO ignore the strong voice OF the
country. That Spain Is nothing to any Presi-
dent compared with his own country or ought 20
be was assumed. and many Of us had no doubt
that Mr.. Cleveland. confronted with two evils,
call H. would choose the lesser that Is. proclaim
bcllgcrency The President Is something OF an
enigma He has surprised us greatly In his
Cuban policy Besides. lie has disappointed the
people who elected him..