The record-union., 1896-12-27

clafly to side with the rebels
Ihe very fact that the Times" dis
| patch is stated to have originated
IN Paris casts doubt on it, for officers
here state that news from Paris giving
1acts about Germany's policy is fully as
unreliable as are the stories of Cuban
| naval battles.
SOME GOOD ADVICE.
LONDON, Dec. 26.-The "Statist'
| this week publishes a comment on the
Spanish-American situation, in which
| 1t says that the Spanish Government
| and people, unless they are utterly blind
| to their own welfare, will accept the
recommendations anent Cuba contained
| in President Cleveland's message to the
American Congress. The paper adds
| that i'm the opinion of the Governments
| OF Great Britain, France and Germany,
| these recommendations ought to be ac-
Cepted.
! SPANS CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES.
NEW YORK, Dec. pa ''Herald's"
special from Washington says: Spain's
claim for damages against the United
States growing out of the Cuban fill
clustering operations has been strength
ened by the conflict between the al
legged filibustering steamship Three
| Friends and a Spanish coast guard yes
| sci.
The Madrid Government has long
coEtended through it's Legation at
Washington that the Federal authori-
ties have not used due diligence to pre-
vent the departure of filibustering ex-
| petitions in aid of the Cuban insur-
gents. This last voyage of the Three
| Friends will be submitted as the strong
est evidence yet obtained in support Of
the contention that the United States
Government has not exercised proper
diligence. The vessel was libeled last
May on a charge of having violated the
neutrality laws. She was released un-
der SlOOOO, in accordance with a pro-
vision of the neutrality laws, her own
ers and officers binding themselves to
appear for trial. The Spanish Minis
ter vigorously protested against the
vessels release, and insisted that she
should be held in custody until the
charge against her had been passed
upon by the courts
| The claim of the Spanish Government
for damages will be greatly strength
ened by the fact that Minister de LONE
had protested against the release of the
Three Friends on the former occasion.
The Spanish claim will also be strength
ened by the fact that the Legation had,
| just prior to the departure of the last
expedition, notified the Government
| that the Three Friends was about to
carry such an expedition to Cuba
! On behalf of the Government how
| ever, it will be argued that every pos
| stble precaution was taken to prevent
the departure of the expedition The
customs officials and the officers of the
| Department of Justice were notified
! that such an expedition was reported
to be forming, and they We're directed
to do everything in their power to pre-
vent its leaving the United States. The
| commanding officers of the naval yes
sells and of the revenue cutters on the
Florida coast were also notified to be
on the lookout for the Three Friends or
any other vessel that might attempt to
violate the neutrality laws.
The administration authorities believe
that every possible effort was made to
prevent the expedition getting away,
but such secrecy was observed that the
Three Friends was at sea with the ex-
pedItion before the officials knew of her
departure. Two naval vessels and a
| revenue cutter at once started in pur-
| suit, but failed to OVertake her
THE THREE FRIENDS.
| WASHINGTON, Dec 26.-T'he ONLY
| information received by the Treasury
! Department concerning the seizure Of
! the Three Friends at Key West was
/ contained in d telegram from the Col
| lector OF Customs at that port stating
! that the vessel was detained on sus-
! picion under the general instructions
circular issued by the department to
| detain any vessel suspected of violating
the neutrality laws.
! The officials of the department tele-
| graphed the Collector of Customs at
Fernandfa, from which port she is sup
posed to have sailed when her DEPART
| ure was reported in the newspapers
asking whether the vessel had cleared
| properly, but up to 4 O'Clock, when the
| inquiry was received, no reply had ar
/ rived.
The report of the Collector of Gus
| toms at Key West regarding the deten-
| tlon Of the Three Friends has been re-
/ ferred by the Treasury Department to
! tire Department 0f T11ctica