Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-11
TROUBLE NOT LIKELY
Discussing the Recent Escape Of
Miss Cisneros.
SPAIN CANNOT CLAIM HER
Public Opinion, at Any Rate,WouId
Prevent Her Surrender.
RETURN OF GENERAL LEE

Consul General Fitzhugh Lee arrived here
last night, and was at the State Depart
ment early this morning in conference with
Assistant Secretary Day, leaving later for
Warrenton, Va, to attend the funeral OF
friend. He will return tonight to advise
further with officials here as to the Cuban
situation. 1t is understood that the State
Department is going over with General Lee
ard Mr.. Hannis Taylor, ex-minister to
Spain, the effect of the recent cabinet
changes, the result of General Weyler's
withdrawal ard his succession by General
Blanco, and other new phases developed
by the accession of Sagasta. The escape OF
Miss Cisneros from a Havana prison,
through the efforts of a representative of
the New York Journal, has been talked
over also, the prevailing view being that 1t
will not lead to an international complica-
tion. General Lee said today that he did
not think any serious question would arise
over the incident. EX-Minister Taylor,
when asked if international complications
were likely to arise, answered:
Il think not and the probable result will
be that Sagasta will give royal decora-
ton to those who have been good enough
to rid Spain of this troublesome subject
The Policy of Delay.
Mr.. Taylor will not discuss the present
situation at Madrid. He is engaged, how
ever. in writing a review of the political.
economic and diplomatic phases of the
Cuban problem, with his own views drawn
from experience at Madrid, and refuses
to make any comment in advance of his
carefully prepared review of the case.
Senator McLaurin of South Carolina.
speaking of the possibility of complication
between the United States and Spain
growing out of the escape of Senorita Cis-
neros, said that no matter what the legal
aspect of the case might be the people Of
the United States would never permit the
young woman to be returned us prisoner
to the Spanish authorities should she come
to this country.
There would be an uprising of the peo-
pie against such an act he said. If
the army of the United States was called
into service to deliver the prisoner to Wey-
Ter il could not be DONE
The talks of administration officials with
Mr.. Taylor and Gen. Lee have resulted in
giving an accurate view of the situation on
both Havana and Madrid resulting from
the change of Spanish cabinet and policy.
There Is good reason to believe that the
view communicated TO the State Depart
ment is that the accession of SagaSta
means a Fabian policy of delay not only
for the present, but for many weeks to
come, and that no definite policy for Cuba
will be announced for some time. AS evil
dence of this it is pointed out that Gen.
Blanco, the new captain general Of Cuba,
will not leave for his post before the 18th
instant. Officials believe his departure is
more likely to be deferred until the Goth.
The trip from Barcelona to Havana will
take about eleven days, so that the new
captain general will not reacn Havana
before the early part of next month. This,
it is said. will permit all pending Cuban
questions to be held in suspense at least
until the new official reaches his post.
After that it is anticipated the Spanish
cabinet will desire that Gen. Blanco be
given time to familiarize himself with the
cft nd NC 1t,tiA ND to
the policy he is to apply to the island. The
execution of that policy, an allowance of
time for it's fair trial, &c, according to
those in a position 10 accurately judge the
situation, will lead to protracted delays on
those subjects to which the United States
already has invited the attention of Spain.
Senor Du Bose, secretary of the Spanish
legation, has returned and is the only
tains strict reserve concerning the present
situation of affairs.
Cannot Retnke the Young Lady.
The State Department officials make
light of the prospect of any international
trouble following the escape of Miss Cisne-
ros They say that presuming that the
girl and her rescuer have reached the
United States, they cannot be surrendered
even if claimed by the Spanish authorities.
1he case IS covered by two principles Of
law that are never deviated from, accord
ing to the State Department people. Miss
Cisneros, being political refugee, cannot
under our organic law be surrendered, and
there is no clause in the Spanish extra
dition treaty that would serve a basis
for claim for her surrender. The cir
cumstances uEder which she may have
reached the United States can in no manner
affect the force of this doctrine.
AS for the American agent who secured
the escape OF the girl, his case is expressly
following nj he
tradition treaty between Spain and the
United States concluded in 1877:
Article VIII. Neither Of the contracting
parties shall be bound to deliver up its
own citizens or subjects under the stipu-
lations of this convention
This treaty was amended in 1882, but
this particular article VIII was not touched
and remains in full force. Moreover, it has
been the general policy of the United States
to refuse TO deliver UP its own citizens to
a foreign state. even when they were ac-
cused of crime IN such state.
At the last session of Congress PreSi-
dent Cleveland sent to the Senate the draft
of tao treaties which he had negotiated
and submitted for its approval. These
were the eXtradition treaties with the Ar
gentine Confederation and with the Orange
Free State. In each case an article was
inserted permitting the surrender of the
citizen of one state to another upon charge
of crime. These articles were inserted by
express direction Of the President.
When the treaties were taken up in the
Senate the new form was discovered, and
the Senate promptly cut out the two arti-
cles, the debates very strongly asserting
the decision of the government to counte-
mace 10 such principle.
President Cleveland was SO firmly con-
vinced of the value of the articles and so
determined in his opinion that this country
should no longer be permitted to shield
criminals, even though they were Ameri-
cans. that he refus ed to complete the ne
gotiations, although neither of the other
contracting parties cared particularly for
the retention Of the articles.
SENORITA CISNEROS.
Information Received That She VIII
SOjOurn in Georgetown.
1t is stated that Senorita Cisneros. who
was recently freed from a Spanish prison
in Cuba, will come to Washington and will
enter the Georgetown convent. 1t is under
stood she will retire from public life, and
It Is thought she will remain at the George