San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-09-27
FRIENDLY CORRESPONDENCE is
THE CARD AT THE.
PRESENT TIME.
Spain More Inclined To Listen To U.
S. Than FOrmerly-Cuba Will
Not Accept Anything Short Of
independence And Spain Will
Not Grant That.

New York, Sept. ga special to the
Herald from Washington, says:
The possibility of rupture between
the United States and Spain growing
out of the representations recently
made to the Madrid authorities by Mr..
woodford, is regarded as very remote
by state department officials.
At the time Mr.. Woodford's instruc-
tions We're written it was the opinion
of the administration officials that
tender Of the good offices of the United
States would be rejected by Spain.
Their views have changed on this
point. 1t is said that the authorities
are now confidently expecting that
Spain will accept the offer of medi-
alton in the same conciliatory spirit in
which it was made, and express a
willingness to consider any suggestion
which this government may choose to
make in the direction of a restoration
of peace in the island.
The optimistic view which the au-
thorities take Of SPANS prospective
reply to Mr.. Woodford's note is based
upon the belief that there will soon be
new ministry in Spain composed Of
Liberals with Segasta as the premier,
But even with Segasta in power, the
authorities here do not anticipate that
Spain will be in humor to entertain a
proposition for the purchase of Cuba,
which is now considered by everybody
as the only peaceful way in which the
thafr fndanan-
dence.
They do expect, however, that the
new ministry will cheerfully accept
whatever assistance the United States
may be able to render, which will give
the Cubans a more liberal government
than that which they now enjoy, but
which will not result in the loss Of
Spains sovereignty of the island.
And then will come the rub.
1t is a very easy matter to tender
good offices and a comparatively easy
one to get them accepted, but, as 1t is
argued in certain quarters, with the
Cubans declaring they will not accept
anything short of complete indepen-
dence and Spain firmly adhering to
her reiterated declaration that she will
not withdraw her flag from the island,
the administration will probably find
IL is as difficult to end war peacably as
Spain has her efforts to close it by
force of arms.
Should the Spanish government re-
ject the offer of the good offices of the
United States rendered by Mr., Wood
ford, 1t will then be necessary for
President Mckinley to consider what
shall be the further course of this gov
eminent.
The statement from Madrid that he
will make an ostentatious proclamation
to the world of the disapproval of the
Cuban regime by suspending diplomat
ic relations with Spain and withdraw
ing the United States minister, cannot
be confirmed here and it is believed to
be premature at least.
A member of the cabinet last night
gave your correspondent to understand
that the president would not act has
tily in such an event. 1t is probable,
according to my information, that
there would be further correspondence
between Washington and Madrid, and
that unless some solution of the diff
Guilty should be reached in the mean
time, the president would commune
cate full Information to Congress at
the beginning of the session in Deem
Der and be guided by the action OF that
body.