Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-03
The Case of the Former to Be Settled
First.
PRESIDENT ALIVE TO THE SITUATION
A Large Naval Force in the Pacific
Desirable.
KNOWN ATTITUDE

The opinion expressed by Senator Morgan
In an interview in The Star yesterday that
the situs tion of the Spanish in Cuba is be-
coming desperate is sustained by number
OF circumstances. Moreover, it is certain
that President Mckinley is thoroughly
alive to the situation, and that he is not
going to disappoint those sympathizers
with the Cubans who have been willing to
trust the matter to his wisdom without try
ing to force his hand. AS is well known,
Senator Morgan is one of the most earnest
advocates in the Senate of vigorous for
eign policy, and he has done more probably
than any other senator in efforts to bring
about the recognition of the Cuban bellig-
erency.
Wise Foreign Policy.
Senator Morgan now expresses the most
perfect confidence that President McKin-
ley is going to. carry out a wise foreign
policy, sufficiently vigorous and firm to
do credit to the administration. 1t is
known that since the adjournment of Con-
gress, and Immediately prior to the ad
journment, Mr.. Morgan has had two or
three interviews with the President with
relation to foreign matters, and though he
will say nothing about these interviews, 1t
is known that the subjects of Cuba, Hawaii
and the Alaska boundary were quite fully
discussed, and Mr.. Morgan himself Is au-
tnOllty lne statement tIdt HIS mp "
Hawaii is chiefly for the purpose of making
a personal investigation of the condition of
affairs on those islands.
1t may further be stated that It the COM
ing session of Congress, when t'.e Hawaiian
question comes up for consdt alton by the
Senate, there will be a comp lie co-opera-
ton between the President and MIR. Nor
gan in relation to the annexation treaty
These facts, together with the great inter-
est and earnestness which Mr.. Morgan has
shown in these foreign questions, give
peculiar weight and significance to the ex-
pressions of confidence in the President
which the Alabama senator makes. In
speaking of the President and his foreign
policy, Mr. Morgan expressly disclaimed
any knowledge of the Presidents plans.
Il think he said, that the President
does not disclose his intentions in such
matters to any one. He keeps his own
counsel. and is wisely silent about what
he intends to do. But 1 do know that he is
remarkably well informed on these ques-
tions, not only as to generalities, but to
details. His knowledge of the Hawaiian
question extends to the most minute de-
tails and his silence seems to be that of a
man who would think and act for himself,
and who has confidence in himself"
Confidence Not Misplaced.
There are reasons to believe that this
confidence of Mr.. Morgan in the Presi-
dents wisdom and firmness is not mis-
placed, and also that there Is no mistake
as to the drift of affairs in the Cuban mat
ter. The association of the two questions
Cuba and Hawaii-is due to the fact that
they appear to be Intimately related to
each other at this time. 1t seems that the
developments in the Hawaiian question
render 1T important that the other matter
should be settled speedily.
1t is thought desirable. not in the spirit
OF menace nor in the belief that we are
to have war with Japan about Hawaii but
ON the contrary, as Il peace measure to
prevent trouble, that we should have sew
eral American navy vessels in the Pacific
AT present our naval force in the Pacific
is limited in number and strength. 1t is
desirable that number of the vessels
now in the Atlantic should be sent to the
Pacific station, and this cannot be safely
done while the Cuban troubles still exist.
1t is believed that Spain is already so
much weakened in her resources that she
has no hope of conquering the Cuban revo-
lutioniStS, and is disposed to resort to the
desperate expedient of provoking direct
conflict with the United States, acting I'M
der the theory that she could surrender the
island to us with less loss of dignity and
prestige than she would suffer from hav-
ing to abandon ii to the Cuban insurgents.
No doubt is felt therefore, that If
number of our naval vessels were trans
ferred from the Atlantic stations to the
Pacific, Spain would hesitate no longer, but
the design of making a r. brilliant dying
struggle. With this situation confronting
US in Cuba, it is impossible to establish the
force which the administration regards as
desirable in the Pacific. Both Spain and
Japan are aware of this. To correct this
condition is believed to be the purpose of
the President and il is expected that a
course will be pursued in relation to the
Cuban question which will bring it to an
issue between Spain and the United States,
SO as to end the matter as speedily as pos
sible After this is done our naval force
in the Pacific can be SO increased to
render it entirely probable that Japan will
abandon any purpose she now may nave of
making trouble when the annexation treaty
is ratified by the Senate.
Why the Treaty Was Postponed.
One of the important considerations in
pos tponing action by the Senate on the
annexation treaty was an appreciation of
the fact that before this final action was
taken it was wise, in order to guarantee
peace, that there should be strong naval
force in the Pacific bearing the American
flag and the design Is to have such a force
there by the time the treaty is ratified,
japan will in three months ha' e in COM
mission the new battle ships which she
contracted for Immediately after her VIC
tory over China, and she Is also construct
ing two armored cruisers of superior
type. While in all official communca tions
the japanese disavow any hostile senti-
ment toward the United States, it is known
absolutely by American officials that the
private utterances Of the japanese officials
are unfriendly and hostile, and the opin-
ion is entertained that the safe way to
prevent serious conflict with Japan when
the treaty of annexation is ratified is to be
prepared to meet It,