The times., 1897-10-29
A PUZZLING SPANISH NOTE
Text of the Document Grows
More and More Ambiguous.
THE CABINET TO DISCUSS 1T
II II Reported That in 1t Spain RE
fuses Mediation, But Does So in
Language Which Is a Perfect
Model of Diplomatic Evasion OF
Important Points.

The Cabinet viii meet today in regular
session, and VIII undoubtedly discuss the
Spanish note in reply to Minister Wood
ford on the Cuhan question. The Presi-
dent, last Tuesday, had the salient points
Of the nCte itfore the Cabinet, but it
appears that the text is growing more
ambiguous the more closely il is read.
Up 70 date 1t has all the ear marks of 4
deliveranoe Of the Dclphic oracle OF Of
treaty between Pizarro and the ancient
Pcruwans.
Nothing has been guarded more 2ealouay
from the public eye than this particular
note when it was being Transcribed
Chief Clerk Michacis retired behind an eX-
quisdUaly hand painted screen with au-
other cipherographe and had the no'c
in good shape for the President on Tues
CAY afteIncan, but too late to be dis
cussed in its entirety by the Cabinet.
There is therefore reason TO believe that
Tie Cabinet viii have interesting tire
today with Spanish syntaN and prosody
as done into English out Of Castilian and
r1bic numerals.
guessing la such various forms il all the
newspapers about the contents of the note
is an Indication that nobody has guessed
IL exactly, or even approximately. TO II
lustrate tie varict of opinion, some coteries
of papers declare that the President, or
the Administration, declares that the reply
accepts American media tion, while other 5
state point blank that such mediation has
> qrIa
c,slstraction II the language OF the note,
which, frani nearly an sources, is that
mediation is 20 be accepted, provided
America VIII use It's friendly offices to
terminate the war No one is insane
enough 10 believe that Spain meaas TO
invite or 70 allow America 10 use any
influence to end the war in any way ca
ccPt in favor OF Spain.
n was stated yesterday on the authority
of a CaldI.et officer Ihat The note was pleas
ing 20 tile Cabinet, and later iii tie day u
was reported Tint the impression produced
On the Presidential mind toy another peruSai
OF the text y ar that Spain had re 5ected
mediation. This was the construction Of
the document gathered from bits OF the Ian
ruaer which fiuated around the State De
partmant on the morning OF the receipt OF
the cahleeram.
The nots itself, il 5 learned from the few
STATE Depar tment officials who have read
IL, Is Il model or diplomatic evasion on i'm
portaut points while ab5undng in expr.-s-
sions OF regret and friendliness for tie
United STATES. Tie only harsh criticism
IN The nule j, tie charge that th. United
States has been the recruiting ground Tor
theff.ends of Cuha andth Mckinley Admin
isratIon has been unwilling or unable a.
prevent finbusUering.
Ia all the honeyed phraseolcgy there is no
proluf>e tnat SPAN is VIKING 10 give M
Cuba either % the Cubans or 70 tie United
States, snd tf'e AdmiIistra ton VIII there
fore b. compelled TO frame and announo,
an alternative Cutan policy which viii
hardly be agreed upon or announced before
the merting Of Congress in December.
II is very evident tLat If the President
view nT tie matter is correct, this nation
must fight or swallow the diplomatic
medicine furnished from the other side
in the Senate, or on the sidewalk, there
has never been any other view OF the
case but that this country was expected
70 take a hand In the war if Spain could
not end il, and she was, with Il great
flourish II trumpets, asked by Ministel
Woociord 10 name a reasona ble tinie within
which hJS;ilitirs might cease.
Now, If the reports be true, Spain ha'
declined 70 Consider America as a thirG
party in the contest, and there appears
to be nothing TO do but 10 help the Cubans
actively OF the Spaniards by snca kim
out OF UIe self-imposed dilemma On,
way OF accomplishing the latter feat i
10 wait on Congress, although when Con
gress was in session, the administration
l. e.. the pro Spanish Senators, inveigheC
with great bitterness against those lingo
Senators WHO would force the President
hand. The present situation, compared viii
the situation during the extra session, i
both picturesque and grOtesque-
Wiuie all this has been going on SPAN
has been building ana buying ships. an,
it would not be surprising il ia due time
there vas a revelation that she has be-I
inviting alliances Of several kinds, or d
least TO secure neutrality on the part o
European nations. So far SPANS over
tures in both directions have been answered
oniy diplomaticany Some weeks ago ther,
was evidence that this Government wa
making preparations for war, and ther'
was never time when, if war wai
wanted, il could not be more easily Ia.
and with better casus belh than today.
what Cafiuct officers VIII say tOda,
should be OF great interest, If II be tru'
that the President has come To the con
clusi9n that the great country he represent
has been 10 artisticaHy snubbed as thr
Spanish reply seems 10 Indicate.