The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-10-26
THE CUBAN SITUATION
UNITED STATES MAY PRESENT SOME
PLAIN FACTS TO SPAIN.
This Country Has Already Expended 81, 000,-
600 in Preventing Fbustering Expedi-
tons From Aiding Cuba.


Washington, d. c., October 25.--It
was stated positively at the White House
and at the State Department that up
to noon to-day the answer OF Spain to
the United States had not reached the
President or Secretary Sherman, nor
had they received the 1000 cable COM
Imunica tons which it is said Minister
Woodford sent in cipher from Madrid
last Saturday. Under these circum-
stances it is impossible that any formal
cons idera ton could be given by the exc
cutve authorities here as to the next
move on the part OF the government.
There was an abundance of speculation
in and about the White House as to
the issue presented by SPANS answer, as
briefly summarized In cable reports, but
from no authoritative source could it be
Learned that the administration had out
4 lined any line Of policy to meet the stu
Iation now presented.
1t 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 the international law in
the matter Of preventing flibustering.
In this case the State Department will
have some pertinent facts to present
which, its officials believe, will complete
ly ALLEVIATE from Spain any sympathy
that she may have attracted from other
European nations on that score. 1t is
asserted positively that in TO single case
where the Spanish authorities have
brought to the attention of our govern
ment, the fact that an illegal expedition
was about to start from our shores for
Cuba has it neglected to use all the
means permitted by our laws to prevent
the start. 1t has been so indulgent in
this respect rs to accept statements form
the Spanish officials, not accompanied
by proofs of the facts alleged, but mere
suggestions that they had reason to be-
lieve that an expedition was forming. In
case our government has proceeded TO
lengths in restraint of American COM
, merce on insufficient evidence furnished
by the Spanish government that has re-
suited in the preference of large claims
by American ship owners for Illegal de-
tention Of their ships. Then the expense
of maintaining the patrols along the At
lantic and gulf coasts have been very
, heavy. Every time the State Depart
ment has been obliged to call upon col
lector at a port the result has been
heavy bill of expense, for tugs, special
: officers and other charges. while the At
Itorney Generals office and in fact most
Iof the executive departments have been
: nut to more or less trouble ami expense.
The Navy Department especially has
been embarrassed, owing to the necessity
for diverting vessels from other places
for the disagreeable Florida patrol. One
official roughly estimated the expense
Of the United States has been put 70
| protect the Cuban coast for Spain at
about 100000. Altogether the officials
here are confident OF their ability to
show that the government has more
than complied with the requirements of
international law, which as laid down
in the Alabama arbitration simply de-
: mands that nation use due dilgence
to prevent the departure of hostile ex-
lpeultions. On this phase Of the case, the
correspondence may be kept alive he
: tween the State Department and the
: Spanish government until Congress
meets, but it il expected that unless
some results in the direction Of the sug-
gestions of Mr.. Woodford are forthcnm-
ling, by that time, the President will re-
fer the entire matter to Congress and
Iawaits its order.
Washington, ID. c., Oct. 25.-Up to the
close of office hours today Spain's reply
on the Cuban question had not reached
the President or State Department. 1t
was stated also in other quarters by
those in position to know what had oc-
Cured at Madrid that the answer had
not been delivered to Minister Wood
ford up to. noon today.
A denial was made by an authoritative
| LONE
had intimated to the State Department
that Spain would resort to the search
and seizure of suspected American yes
sells on the high seas If filibustering ex-
petitions continued to leave this coun-
try. The REPORTS, it is believed, grew
out of visits made by the Minister to the
State Department last Monday ana
/ Thursday. At these visits he called the
/ attention the officials to the circum-
| stances Of the departure of the alleged
i flibusterer Silver Heels, after the au-
thorities were put in possession or ex-
plicit information of the plans OF the
| vessel Regret was expressed by the
Minister at this occurrence, as 1T was
i felt that it would create a bad impress
sion at Madrid at a time when the gov
eminent was maturing its policy. Be
yond this, however, the Minister made
no reference to reclamation upon AHerl-
can vessels, or as to search on the high
seas. 1t is said a prerequisite to such
action would be an announcement by
Spain of the blockade of all the ports
of Cuba, and certainly no step along
!, such radical lines has been proposed
Tins far. The diplomatic procedure in
, connection with SPANS reply to the
Woodford note is that it will be com
, municated to him by the Minister OF
Foreign Affairs at Madrid. 1t will not
be sent to Minister Dupuy De LONE, as
: it is distinctly part of communications
between Minister Woodford and the
Madrid officials, and is not an exchange
of notes between the State Department
and the government of Spain. AS mt
5 nations have been made that the IN
! structions to Minister Woodford would
be made public at Madrid, the statement
l., hat h.