St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-07
SPAIN,S ATTITUDE TOWARD AuER.
lCA is SET FORTH by THE
PRIME MINISTER.
OUR GOOD WILL is DESIRED
DECLARES THAT THE AUTHORS OK
RECENT RIOTS WILL BE SENT
TO PRISON.
WILL ALLOW CUBAN REFORMS,
nut NOT Until the Island Is Pacified
Approves Gen. WeyIer,s Con- !.
duct.

NEW YORK, March 6.-The World
Will print tomorrow the following au-
thentic statement Of the policy of Spain
as to Cuba and congress, from Prime
Minister Castillo. 1t is ACCOMPANIED
by personal message to Joseph Pu4
liter from the president Of the coun-
Gil of state at Madrid, authorizing its
publication The statement is as fol-
lows: e,
Madrid March 6-We have as vet no off,
ciai hotlncatlon OF the intentions of the Amer
lcan government, and cannot therefore take
cognlzance of, or protest by note against any
Oh the proceedings of the senate and house o.
representatives of the United States We
have taken no official notice whatever of the
proceedings and speeches In Washington DUR
ing the past week. Nor have we sounded the
european powers or courts regarding their
support, IN any form. All we have done is
70 snow to the American government and to
Minister Taylor that we have endeavored to
enforce respect for the American legation and
consulates' repressing so sternly the disturb
alCes tnat we have ordered the Madrid Gram
ada, Barcelona and Valencia universities
closed, and we will close all universities
schools and establishments whose students
care TO make demonstrations hostile to the
United States. We will send to prison and
prompt trial all the authors and promoters Of
sucn dlsturbances. We believe they are
prompted by the advanced Republicans. Moth
deslre to preserve cordial relations with
America. am convinced we possess suf1-
clent means to quell any hostile demonstra.
tions. The government of Spain regrets and
has made all the amends possible for the
manifestation already made of the indgna-
ton which the speeches at Washington nat
urally excited among the ever loyal people Of
Spain.
SITUATION IS DELICATE.
The situation now is one of extreme DELI
cacy. Indeed, l cannot define how far il Is
possible for the government of Spain to per-
NIT amicable and careful mediation of for
elgn power however honorable and disinter-
ested 1t may be- without mourning the grave
FISK OF being accused of submitting to outside
interference. pressure and dictation in the
MIDST OF civil war. The United States are
great power and until they recognize the
| object and encourage the aims of the insur-
rectlonists in Cuba, they are friendly to
Spain. After the recognition of the belIiger-
ents in Cuba, by the United States it would
be impossible for the government of Spain to
| accept the good offices of President Cleveland
or to permit any interference whatever.
Nevertheless, still hope some means will be
found by the president to avoid alternating the
friendly relations with the United States
which Spain has shown this week that she
prizes highly. /,
1 am fully alive to the significance and the
possible consequences of the vote of the
United States congress to the rebels as we'll
as to Spain in her relations with the right
to search on the high seas and in the matter
VI piiFdteeTS anu H1DuSCerlQR expeditions. :
The only new and seemingly warlike prepara-
tons yet made by Spain are made simply
with a view to equipping a fleet of war ships
and transatlantic steamers to chase ilibust-
ers and to guard the coasts of Cuba That
is the sole object in view Cen Weyler hav /
ing said that he has had enough troops only
the usual reliefs will be sent to Cuba until
autumn, and no naval demonstration is con-
templated.
FAIR ELECTIONS '"
The riH
tlon OF the government as 1t intends to con.
duct them in tolerant spirit for all parties
Ialr representation being arranged for even
the West Indian constituencies. Besides in
every imperial and International question the
Spaniards have always shown a patriotic
spirit The misrepresentation concerning Gen.
Weylers character and methods as a soldier
originated in a misstatement of facts in his
career and of his assignments and instruc-
tions. Both in Cuba twenty years ago and in
the Philippine Islands since then Weyler
has only carried out the orders of his chiefs
Before ne left for Cuba the last time l saw
and spoke to him and approved his views
consequently he has simply acted in harmonY
with the requirements of this war in which
the insurgents have not only set at defiance
the rules of civilized warfare, but have vio-
lated the provisions of the treaty of 1895 be-
tween Spain and the United States and of
the protocol of 1877 respecting the lives and
the property of all real and alleged Ameri-
can citizens in Cuba. I am determined to
carry out the administrative political reforms
already voted by the Cortes as soon as the
paclncaton or the islands permits, and even
such economical tariff reforms as may be con.
sistent with the interests of both the colony
and the mother country But it is impossible
to attempt reforms during a civil war or un+
der any foreign pressure in the present con-
dition of the island. When Marshal Campos
was sent to Cuba governor general. the
government would certainly have allowed him
to institute the reforms If he had deemed
them advisable. But he soon discovered that
1t impossible to do so. J
We cannot admit that the slightest ground
exists for the recognition of the belligerency,
of the Cuban insurgents. whose so-called pres
ident, the Marquis of Santa Lucia and the
members Of his executive council are nomads,
like the rebel bands. ever on the move For
instance, they nearly surprised and cap
tured this week by a Spanish column in the
province of Las Villas.
(Signed) -Canovas del Castillo. e.