Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1896-03-18
SPANS POSITION.
Prime Minister Canovas Talks of the COun-
try's Attitude to the United States,

Prime Minister CanOvas Talks of the COun--
try's Attitude to the United States,
NEW YORK, March 6.-The World will
print tomorrow an aut hantic STATE
ment of the policy of spain as to CUBA
and Congress from Prince Minister
Canovas. 1t is accompanied by per-
sonaI message to Joseph Pulitzer from
the president of the council of state at
Madrid authorizing its publication.
The statement follows:
1--WE have taken no official notice
whatever of the proceedings and
speeches in Washington during the past
week. Nor have we sounded the Eu-
ropean powers or courts regarding their
support in any form. All we have done
is to show to the American government
and to Minister Taylor that we have
endeavored to enforce respect for the
American legation and consulates.
I'VE have repressed SO sternly the
disturbances that we have ordered the
Madrid, Granada. Sarcelona and Va
lencia universities closed, and we will
close all universities, schools and estab
lshments whose students dare to make
demonstrations hostile to the United
States. We will send to prison anC
prompt trial all the authors and pro
| motors of such disturbances. We be
| lieve they are prompted by the adyanc
ed republicans. Nothing will be omit
ted on our eide to show our desire te
preserve cordial relations with America
1.-THE situation now is one of extreme
delicacy. Indeed, I cannot define how
far it is possible for the government OF
Spain to permit amicable and careful
mediation of foreign power, however
honorable and disinterested it may be
without mourning the grave risk of be-
ing accused of submitting to outside
interference, pressure and dictatiOn ii
the midst of civil war.
| 1.-The United States are a great pow
er, and until they recognize the object
and encourage the aims of the insur
rectionists in Cuba, they are friendly
to Spain After the recognition of the
belligerents in Cuba by the United
States it would be impossible for thu
government of Spain to accept the goot
offices of President Cleveland or to per
NIT any interference whatever.
Nevertheless, still hope some mean
will be found by the President to avoi(
alternating the friendly relations will
the United States, which Spain ha
shown this week that she prizes highly
1.-The only new and seemingly war
like preparations yet made by Spail
are made simply with view to equip
ping fleet of warships and trans AT
lantic steamers to chase fillbusters ant
to guard the coasts of Cuba. That il
the sole object in view. General Weyle
having said that he has had enough
troops, only the usual reliefs will b
sent to Cuba until autumn, and n
naval demonstration is contemplated.
1.-The Misrepresentation concerning
General Weyler's character and meth
DDS of a soldier originated in misstate
ment of facts in his career and of hi
assignments and instructions. Both il
Cuba twenty years ago and in tn
Philippine Islands since then, Weyie
has only carried out the orders of hi
chiefs.
Before he left for Cuba the last tim
l saw and spoke to him and approve
his views. Consequently he had sin
ply acted in harmony with the require
ments of this war, in which the insul
, gents have not only set at defiance tn
!. rules of civilized warfare, but hav
. violated the provisions of the treaty c
1895 between Spain and the Unite
States, and of the protocol of 1877, re
|
all real and alleged American citizen
in Cuba.
Il am determined to carry out tn
administrative political reforms a
ready voted by the Cortes as soon a
the qualifications of the island permits
and even such economical tariff RI
forms as may be consistent with the il
, terests of both the colony and tn
mother country. But it is impossibl
to attempt reforms during a civil wa
, or under any foreign pressure in tn
present condition of the island.
I'VE cannot admit that the slightes
!, ground exists for the recognition of tn
belligerency of the Cuban lnsurgent
; whose So called president, the Marqu
of Santa Lue.a, and the members
his executive council, are nomads, lik
the rebel bands, ever on the move. Fo
I instance, they were nearly surprise
=, and captured this week by a SPANS
column in the Province of Las Villas.
"CANOVAS DEL CASTILLO"