Evening star., 1896-03-02
THE SPANISH MINISTER
Senior Dupuy de LONE Talks at Some
Length to Star Reporter.
He Says the Press Has Misrepresentcd
the Condition of Affairs
I'm Cuba.

According to the Spanish minister lie has
received no further news from his home
government than has already been publish
ed in the American papers He told Star
reporter this morning that he had received
no word dire 4 from Madrid with reference
either to the action of the Senate last week
or to the disorders in Barcelona yesterday
My position, as you can readily und er-
stand.' continued Senor Dupuy de Lorle
rs very delicate one just now, and it is
not within my province to discuss the mat
ter at all. Even if l knew great deal
more about things than has already been
printed it would be a distinct violation of
diplomatic customs to say a word 10 the
press. But l do not. II the Spanish gov
ernment should take any action with refer
ence to the stand that Congress has taken
1t would in all probability he communi-
Gated to this government through the me-
dunn of Mr.. Hanns j. Taylor. the Ameri-
can minister at Madrid. Furthermore, he
is on the spot and is able to speak know
ingly of the situation in Spain, while l, over
here. am in but little better position to
form just estimate than are you yoIr-
self.
Influence OF The Star.
For the last twenty-four hours l have
been overrun with Representatives of all
the prominent newspapers, who seem to he
under the impression that in some way
nave been made the repository of A tre-
nlendous amount of sensational news, while
in reality that is anything but the case.
Moreover, the press of the United States
has throughout the whole affair taken a
radically unjust position on the Cuban
question. The Star is about the worst of
all. You are within my house a gentle
man and l treat you such, but l speak
only as a man and not minister from
Spain. As such when your card was pre-
sentcd to me it would have been my duty
TO tell the butler that I must decline to see
you, for The Star has taken a thoroughly
biased and prejudiced stand and has done
the Spanish cause great deal of harm.
This was made possible by the tremendous
influence The Star wields at the national
capital
Effect ON the Cuban Rebellion.
The rebellion in Cuba never would have
been a serious matter at all had it not
been for the Interference of the United
States. 1t never would have passed the
limits of mere riot had 1t not been
for the money. supplies. arms and men
that We're sent from this country. Men
have gone from this country with the as
surance that the United States would eX-
tend beliieerent rights to the cubanS and
would in all probability send fleet to Gu
ban waters to support the insurgents. At
no time have the authorities in this coun-
try given the situation in Cuba a fair in
vestigaton to ascertain what the facts ac-
bans are actively Interested in the rebel
lion. but the truth of the matter is that
there are seven Cuban generals and sey-
eral hundred Cuban officers fighting in the
Spanish army in Cuba. In fact, I am sure
there are more Cuban officers in the Span
ish army than there are white leaders
among the insurgents.
similar Incidents in This Country.
''All this 1 am telling you from what l
know personally and not in my official ca
pacity. AS to the troubles in BARGE
lena I am net in a position to speak
for I know nothing about it now beyond
what l have read in the papers. The peo-
pie OF Spain are on occasion an excitable
Der that on several occasions Spanish con-
sulates have been attacked in this coun-
try. This was done during the riots at
Pittsburg, once in Philadelphia and in New
Orleans, where the building was looted. far
worse than anything done at Barcelona
Attacking coRSulates has never been re-
garded an international crime. for it Is
usually the work of an irresponsible mob
crazed by the excitement Of the occasion
Yet you will notice that far better police
protection given in Barcelona than
was ever done during similar incident in
this country. Whenever Spanish con-
sulate has been attacked in the United
States prompt reparation was made not by
way of an indemnity, but simply to make up
to the cor sui personally for the furniture
and windows that were broken. ! am con-
1dent that Spain will without delay take
similar action with reference to the Bar
celona incident