The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-06-22
THE CURAN QUESTION.


Our Governmeae Net Yet Decided Upos
tho Cou1se to PsrsSs-ro Flint Give Mat
ter Thor ough sssAy.
Washington, June l9.-It can bc
stated on the best authority that all
publications purportinE tD outline the
Cuban policy of President Mckinley
that have been made up to the present
time have been in disregard Of the fact
that up to this moment the case Of
the United States government has not
yet been made UP. and that even in the
discussions OF the subject of our re!a-
tions TO Cuba that have taken place in
the cabinet circle, the point has not
yet been reached where II could be said
that the executive had finally deter
mined upon any certain plan OF action
AT the state department an authorita-
tive denial is given " the statement
cahled TO London tO the effect that
General WoodfOrd, the newly appointed
United States minister 10 Spain. has
been instructed to intimate to the Span
ish authorities that IL Spain refuses 10
grant freedom 10 Cuba sh. must ne
prepared TO yfed to force.
Mr.. Calhoun, who was the presidents
special commissioner to Cuba IL still
here in daily conference with Assist
ant Secretary Day uIon the subject VI
our general relations to the Cuban
question, as well as uTOn the Ruiz case
in particular, and II Is desired thai
General WoOdford also be given an op-
portunity to copfer with Mr.. Calhoun
Therefore, in the course OF the mex
three days the minister will come
again to Washington from New York
and begin a serious study Of the his
tory of the present insurrection from
its very beginning. or this, General
Woodford al present. knows little more
than the average close reader Of the
newspapers and ii is. Of course, highly
important that ne should have in his
possession all the information that is
in the state department, besides that
which Mr.. Calhoun may be able to add
verbally. before ne goes to Spain, as 1t
is the intention of our government that
the new minister shall carry with him
when he goes the complete case Of the
United States. This necessarily will
consume some time and it can be stated
positively that there rs no eXpecta-
tion that General WoOdford will start
for Madrid until the expiration OF the
thirty day period allowed by the state
department to all United States min
listers upon their appointment within
which 10 study their instructions be-
fore going to their posts
General WOodford's instructions. of
course, from the ps-culiarities OF he
situation, will be much more complex
than are usually given TO an American
minister. Not only will ne be charged
with all OF the deaHs Uf the Ruiz case.
which in itself promises to present most
formidable legal problems. but he will
also take with him all the evidence
necessary to establish the losses SUI
fered by United States citizens in Gu
ba from the continuance Of the war.
with such other data in support OF the
suggestion OF our government that IL
can scarcely continue to countenance
a prolongation OF present conditions.
Upon the answer returned by the
Spanish government tO these represen-
tations by Mr.. WoOlford will depend
the course 10 be followed by the United
States. While perfectly willing to
gather all information pertinent to tins
issue. and listen to al proper represen-
tations. the as1mmistratton IL firmly de-
termined not to be unduly hurried in
its treatment Of the caSe. reAlizire that
II IL should permit itSeK to be carried
away by temporary excitement mis-
takes Of the GEave9t character might
result, that would in the end weaken
our position