The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-26
CIRCLES OF THE REPLY OF
SAGASTA.
UNCLE SAM is PRIMED.
MATTER OF FILIBUS-
TERING.
DISCUSSION MAY DRAG ALONG.
the Whole Matter to Congress
for Action.

LONDON, Oct. 26.-The Madrid cor
respondent Of the Standard, telegraph
ing yesterday (Monday), says: United
States Minister Woodford received
Spains reply today CMonday). 1t is
said to be a document of over thirty
pages. The Spanish papers assert that
the government will not send note
to the European powers on the ques-
ton until events compel. 1 understand
that this rumor must be received with
caution as when the idea of memor-
ardum was first mooted by Senor
Canovas and the Duke Of Tetuan, it
had to be abandoned under the per-
emptory representations of American
diplomacy Since then the powers,
though very friendly, have shown no
disposition to do anything more than
platonic simply. Financial circles in
Spain are more anxious than political
circles. The latter seem to expect
that the United States will hesitate
when they see Spain is in earnest.
WASHINGTON, Oct 25.-It was
stated positively at the White house
and at the state department that up to
noon today the answer of Spain to the
United States had not reached the
president or Secretary Sherman, nor
had they received the 2,00Oword cable
communication, which it is said Minis
ter Woodford sent in cipher from Mad
rid last Saturday. Under these cir
cumstances it is impossible that any
formal consideration could be given
by the executive authorities here as to
the next move on the part of this gov
ernment There was an abundance OF
speculation in and about the White
house as to the issue presented by
Spains answer, as briefly summarized
in cable reports, but from no authort-
tative source could it be learned that
the administration had outlined any
line of policy to meet the situation now
presented. Secretary Sherman did not
come to the White house during the
morning, and Assistant Secretary OF
State Day has gone to Ohio, so that
there was no opportunity Tor CONFER
ence on the Spanish Cuban situation.
It is not doubted among officials that
the basis of the Spanish reply to Mr..
Woodford's note will be the charge
that the United States has not observed
the requirements of international law
in the matter of preventing hl1bustef-
ing. In this case, the state department
will have some pertinent facts to pre-
sent, which, it's officials believe, Will
completely ALLEVIATE from Spain any
sympathy that she may have attract
ed from other European nations on that
score. 1t is asserted positively that In
no single case where the Spanish au-
thorities have brought to the attention
of our government the fact that an
Illegal expedition was about to start
from our shores for Cuba, has 1t neg
lected to use all the means permitted
by our laws, to prevent the start. 1t
has been so indulgent in this respect
as to accept statements from the Span
ish officials, not accompanied by proofs
of the facts alleged, but mere sugges-
items that they had reason to believe
that an expedition was formed. In
such cases our government has pro-
ceeded to lengths in restraint of Amerl-
can commerce on insufficient evidence
furnished by the Spanish government,
that has resulted in the preference or
large claims by American ship owners
for illegal detention of their ships.
Then the expense of maintaining the
patrols along the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts has been very heavy. Every
time the state department has been
obliged to call upon collector at a
port the result has been heavy Dill OF
expenses for tugs, special othcers ana
other charges, while the attorney gen
erals Office, and in fact, most OF the
executive departments have been put
to more or less trouble and expense
The navy department, especially, mas
been embarrassed, owing to the neces-
sity for diverting vessels from other
places for the diSagreeable Florida pa
troll One official estimated the expense
the United States has been put to pro-
tect the Cuban coast for Spain, at
about $1,000, 600. This is probably
large estimate, but one naval ofhcer
who is thoroughly cognlzant or the
strain put upon the department by the
patrol, stated that it would really be
cheaper for the United States to send
fleet to Cuba and blockade the coast
there against incoming filibusters. than
to try to stop them on our own exten-
sive coast line.
Altogether, the officials here are con-
fident of their ability to show that the
government has more than complied
with the requirements of international
law. which, as laid down in the Ala
bama arbitration, simply demands that
a nation "use due diligence" to pre-
vent the departure of hostile exped1-
tions On this phase of the question,
the correspondence may be kept alive
between the state department and the
Spanish government until congress
meets. but it is expected that, unless
some results in the direction of the sug-
eestions of Mr. WoodfOrd are forth
coming by that time the president will
refer the entire matter to congress and
await it's order.
Up to the close Of Office hours today
Spain's reply on the Cuban question
had not reached the president or state
department It was stated also in
other quarters by those in a position
to know what had occurred at Mad
rid. that the answer had not been de-
liyered to Minister Woodford up to
today. It has been approved by the
cabinet, however, and is to be COM
rnunicated to Minister Woodford late
today or tomorrow.
A denial was made by an authorita-
tive source that Minister Dupuy de
LONE had fntimated to the state de-
nartment that Spain would resort to
the search and seizure of suspected
American vessels on the high seas, II
fiIibustering expeditions continued to
leave this country. The reports, 1T is
believed, grow out Of visits made by
the minister to the state department
last Monday and Thursday. At these
visits he called the attention OF the
officials to the circumstances OF the
denarture of the alleged f1libuster, Sill
yer Heel after the authorities were
mt in possession of explicit informa-
ton of the plans of the vessel Regret
was expressed by the minister at this
occurrence. as it was felt that 1T would
create a bad impression at Madrid
at a time when the government was