New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-12
rninistration officials. Some of II has come
from Minister Taylor, some from other sources
WEYLER'S FAILURE IN CUBA.


time that the struggle to suppress the revoiu-
ton H. Cuba will not be successful. General
Weyler has recently been urged on to more
energetic efforts by the Madrid Authorities, and
kilograms from Havana now announce tnat ne
has taken the field in person. But wei-m-
formed persons who have been In CUBA, anu
who know the situation there thoroughly, say
that Weyler and his nearly 100000 troops can
not put down the revolution and that ne mas
made decided progress since releying Zen
eral Campos. The Spanish Government Is en-
deavoring to, keep up bold front. But IL sees
the humiliating word failure" written on tne
wall Cuba is a Spanish province. and the Gov
ernment which shows that 1t Is incapable or |
putting down a rebellion in the island Is doomed |
to oblivion. This is grave question lot Fre-
mier Canovass Cabinet to face. 1t must race !
it. however. and 1t Is doing so with commend
able courage and determination But the nour
is approaching when 1t must stand before 'ne
people Of Spain and admit that 1t can no iohsei
hold Cuba. That will be disastrous admission
for the Government to make. but an adVah-
tageous one to Don Carlos. When made the
overthrow OF the present Ministry will certainly
and quickly follow II it appears that the Gov
ernment permitted the Cuban insurgents to win
their independence unaided by foreign assist
ance
But IL Cuba is lost to Spain as the result OF
war with the United States the Government
will not lose prestige at home. Spain wouid
certainly be vanquished In such a CONNECT But
the Government would say in the hour or oe-
feat and the Spanish people Will believe tha'
the Cubans would have been held In sup)ec'ioh
had not American arms prevailed over .hose y,
Spain. Therefore 1t would be good poncy' anu
from the Governments point OF view patr'o.ic'
to bring on hostties with this country Al
fonso would lose Cuba, but he would gam
popularity among his people-an advantage
dearer to him and his adherents than the queen
OF the Antilles.
REPORTS FROM MINISTER TAYLOR
It can be said definitely that Minister Tayior
has forwarded to the Secretary OF state many
dispatches showing that within the last year
strong feeling Of resentment against the ohi'eo
States has developed in Spain. This 1eehhs'
starting with the incident OF the Aiiiahca' III
which Spain made to apologize 10 ehiS
Government for an outrage upon vessei hyihs
the Stars and Stripes has OF late become IN
tense. The exact language OF Mr. Taylors 3 d's-
patches to the State Department has not oeeh
made public. Sufficient has been learned OF his
reports, however. to warrant the posltiVe s'a'e
ment that he has informed Secretary Olney that
much stronger than 1t was some time ago. IL
is said by those who know that Mr.. Taylors
DISPATCHES leave no doubt that he Is appre-
hensive that Spain Is bent on extreme meas
ures in the future.
MR. OLNEY APPREHENsIvE OF WAR
There are several facts connected with the
reno I OF Spain's probable course which are
particularly important. One Is remark OF
Secretary Olney to the effect that he was gravely
apprehensive Of a war with Spain. Mr. Oiney
said this to a friend few days ago. He added
that II war camo II would be the fault OF SPAIN
not Of this country The Secretary made the
statement in connection with SUMMARY ~. Ua
the present political conditions IN SPAN anu .e
existing Cuban complications. A hiehiy I'M
portant matter TO be taken into account IN con-
nection with the apprehension on the part oi .ne
officials Of Spain taking the aggressive asal'se
this country Is a report from Minister ta!Io,
showing that about three months ago the Madrid
Government not only seriously considered tne
idea of declaring war. but that 1t went so far as
to attempt to get from the European Powers an
expression as to what their attitude would De
in the event OF hostties breaking OUT Al
though this report WIS received at the Depart
ment three months ago. Information as 10 lts
contents has only now become public
II seems that one evening early in August Mr.
Tavlor was dining with the English Minister In
Madrid The English diplomat. In the course
OF conversation during the evening. inquired
OF Mr. Taylor II he knew that the spanish ror-
eIgn Office had sent out an important note or
inoury TO all European Ministers at Madrid: Mr.
Taylor was not informed. and he asked Tor
the fullest information on the SUBJECT
SOUNDING THE EUROPEAN POWERS.
The fact was communicated to him that the
English legation as well as the legations OF all
| European Powers having representatives at
| Madrid had that day received note from the
| Spanish Foreign Office. the tenor Of which was
| that Spain had just cause Of complaint against
| the United States on numerous accounts. Among
these were the facts that the American Govern
n,ent was not strictly carrying out its obligations
| under the neutrality acts: that In the United
| states there a strong sympathy for the
| Cuban Insurgents; that many Americans were
| assisting the insurgents. and that as a result
| Spain's efforts TO subdue the insurgents were
| being seriously interfered with. The note con-
| cluded with the significant request to be In
| formed as to what would be the attitude OF the
| Power addressed in the event OF Spain finding 1t
| nacassarv N resort to vigorous measures to en-
| force the execution by the United States Of its
| obligations under the neutrality acts.
| II was not said In the note that 1t was the
purpose Of Spain to go to war with the United
| States but the taking OF such extreme meas
| ures was clearly TO be inferred. Having learned
| the contents Of the Spanish note. Mirister Tay-
| lor II seems lost no time In seeking the Foreign
| Secretary Upon being received at that digni
| tarv's residence, to which he went. he mani
tested great surprise that an inquiry OF the
kind should be sent ont to representatives OF
the European Powers at the Spanish capital.
| To record the facts as they exist 1t becomes
necessary to say that the Foreign Secretary de-
MED having sent out any such note as that to
which the American Minister referred Inen
| Mr. Taylor said that he had seen copy OF the
note, He suggested. In firm language. that the
note be recalled. and said that II It was not 1t
would become his duty to demand his pass
norts Apologies and explanations by the Span
| ian secretary followed this: also the promise
that the cote would be recalled forthwith. The
promise he kept and the following morning. II
is related he had at his office all the notes
which on the previous day he had sent to the
Foreign Minister'S at Madrid.
novice In diplomacy would know that
vorhatim copy of the note was made by every
European Minister at Madrid before he re-
turned 1t to the Foreign Office. and that that
copy soon reached the capital the original was
,nterded for This step was taken unof1cially.
=. .o,,r.a MT n wos nevertheless taken.