Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-27
Minister Woodford Has Cabled Its
Full Text,
is REGARDED As A DEFIANCE
Relolnder to Be Made Before Con-
gress Meets.
THE PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE

Secretary Sherman received the full text
of Spain's reply to Minister W-oolfori,s
| re .resentations in regard to the Cuban in
surrection today, and made it the subject
OF conference with the President at the
White House. The communication was
sent in cipher. and being quite long, IT took
considerable time to prepare it for submis-
sion to the President
In accordance with an agreement sail
| to have been made with the Spanish gov
ernment, the contents of the note will be
withheld from the public for the present,
| and it is probable that it will not be Off
cially announced until the President conf
| rlunicates it to the Senate. together with
copies of all the correspondence on the
subject of Cuba.
There is an impression, however. that
the general character of Spair's reply has
been already substantially forecasted by
the press dispatches from Madrid during
the past few days. to the efrsc, that Spain
holds the United States indirectly respon-
stble for the continuance of the troubles in
cuta, and rejects the offer of this govern
ment to aid I'm the amelioration of the con-
citions On the islands, on the ground that
Spain is capabe of settling the matter
without assistance.
The State Department is even more secre-
tive than it has been heretofore with re-
lation to the Cuban matter. Inasmuch as
the l'recaution has been taken to enter into
an agreement with the Spanish officials to
withhold the recent correspondence from
the public until after the reassembling of
Congress, it is not likely that the exact
character of the correspondence will be
known until then. But this extra precau-
| ton is in itself significant.
E,Qougl has h..n given ptl. off ll.r M
Madrid TO indicate that the reply to Min
lister Woodford, in whatever phrases
couched, is substantially defiance.
This being the case, the existence of an
agreement between the two governments
! that the correspondence shall be kept
secret is interpreted to signify that its
character is such as to excite popular
sentiment, and that its publication would
precipitate rupture OF friendly relations.
President Mckinley desires to maintain
peace If possible, and If anything can occur
between now and the meeting of Congress
to lessen the gravity OF the situation he is
willing that that time shall be given and
at all events if there is TO be a rupture
between the United States and Spain he
wants to act with the cooperation of Con-
gress.
Will Await Full Text.
This delay in taking the public into it's
confidence does not mean that The admin
istration will be tolerant of Spanish ins tits.
AS stated in The Star heretofore, such a
reply from Spain as the official announce
ments from Madrid indicate will meet with
a sharp rejoinder which is likely to be fol-
lowed by the breaking off Of diplomatic re-
lations. But the Department of State will
wait for the full text of Sagdsta's letter,
and will take such time in making reply
as to guard against hastiness of action. If
Spain should actually attempt 10 enforce
the threat of searching American vessels it
would, of course, precipitate conflict at
once, but in the absence of any overt act
on the part of Spain there Will be no dispo-
sition on the part of the administration to
proceed further than necessary in the mat
ter until Congress has assembled.
Conflict Regarded as Probable.
The feeling is practically universal IN
official circles that the contention has
reached an acute stage and that a conflict
with Spain is extremely probable, if not
almost certain This will result. however.
only from the aggressive attitude and
spirit Of defiance manifested by Spain.
1t is expected that Immediately upon the
assembling of Congress the President will
communicate the correspondence to that
boGy. consisting not only of the communi-
cation sent to the Spanish government
through Minister Woodfcrd. and Sagasta's
reply to that communication, but also of
the rejoinder TO that reply, which will be
case in situation for Congress to act, and
the sentiment of Congress is well known.
Any communication 10y the President to
Congress on the Cuban question which
cCeS not show a settlement of the con-
troyersy, will be accepted as an invitation
for legislative action, and will surely lead
to such action. The recognition of the
belligerency of the Clban insurgents is
the least aggressive act that can be ex-
pected from Congress, and if the
respondence transmitted to Congress proves
to be of the character at present indicated.
its transmission is sure to be followed by
preparations for hostilities with Spain. In
fact II is believed that the rejonder TO
Sagasta's communication will be delayed
until just before Congress meets. and that
it will be CT such a character as 10 result,
in the present temper of the Spanish gov
in the recall of the Spanish min
lister.
The Proposed Cuban Autonomy.
The Spanish minister Senior Dupuy de
LONE, consented for the first time today
to speak concerning the policy of autonomy
which the Spanish government proposes to
apply to Cuba. This has been referred 10
in general terms since the advent of the
Sagasta ministry. but there has been lack
of authentic details. Before leaving for
New York today. where the minister and
his family will spend several weeks, Senior
Dupuy de LONE gave the evolutions
through which autonomy had passed. lead
ing up to the present policy, and the gen.
eral outline of the policy itself.
Under the provisions of the treaty of
Zanjon, concluded in 1878. at the close of
the last Cuban disturbance, ii provid-
ed that Cuba was to enjoy the same liber-
ties those accorded to the Island of
Puerto Rico. This latter island had the
same liberties as those of any province o.
Spain. This brought the autonomist party,
so called, into existence, its essential prfn-
ciple being that of self-government for
tsv,er fstrl..a
of Spain, as was the system in Puerto Rico.
That party adopted platform, and in 1885 -
offered a complete program of autonomy
for the consideration of the country. A
peaceful agitation of this autonomy pro-
gram was then inaugurated. In 1888, for
the first time, minister I'm a liberal cab
met Senior Maura, presented a plan Of re-
forms This was strongly opposed, and
after two years of discussion IL was found
impossible to put the plan through the
cortes.
Then a compromise reform measure was
framed which acknowledged the PERSONAL
ty Of Cuba as a separate body, but under
the Spanish nag. These reforms having