The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-26
SPAIN'S REPLY STILL OUT.
Nothing Authoritative, but an Abund.
anCe Of Speculation.
PROBABLE BASIS OF SPAINS REPLY
Thought To be the Charge That Due Fffor
"a Has Not Been Made To Prevent Fni-
bustcrine--An Answer l.
Ready for This.


State Department; that the reply Of Spain
10 the United States had not been received
up 20 o'clock To-Day, Notwithstanding an
reports to the contrary.
a specific denial IS made OF tho report
that 2o0o-word cipher message from
Minister Woodford was received Saturday
or since
Under these circumstances. IL IS unlikely
that any conclusion has yet been reached
by the executive authorities here as to the
next move on the part Of this government.
| There was an abundance Of speculation
i'm and about the State Department to-day
as 10 tho issue presented by Spain's reply.
as briefly summarized In cable reports.
hut from no authoritative source could IL
be learned that the administration had
outlined any line Of policy 90 meet the sit
uation now presented.
Secretary sherman did not 20 TO the
White House during the morning. and
Assistant Secretary of State Day has gone
to Ohio, so that there was no opportunity
for conference with the President OF the
Spanish-Cuhan situation.
PROBABLE BASIS OF SPANS RE-
PLY.
10 Is not doubted among officials that
the basis of the Spanish reply to Mr..
Woodfords note will be the charge that
the United States has not observed the
requirements Of international law I'm the
matter of preventing nlihugtering In
thi. case the state Department will have
some pertinent facts 10 present that II is
I hfff ltts ttfft
alicrate from Spain any sympathy that
she has attracted from other European
na ati0ns ON that score. ~ Us asserted
positively that in no single case where
the Spanish authorities have brought 10
tho attention of our government the fact
that an Illegal expedition was about 10
start from our shores for Cuba has ~
neglected To use am the means permitted
Dy our laws 10 prevent the start.
Do has been so indulgent In this re-
spoct us 10 accept statements from tho
Spanish officials. not accompanied by
proofs Of the facts alleged but mere
suggestions that they had reason
to believe that am expedition was
forming I'm cases our government
has proceeded 10 lengths In re-
straint of American commerce on IN
sufficient evidence furnished by the Span
ish government that has resulted In the
preference Of large claims boy american
ship owners for Illegal detention OF their
ships Then the expense ~ maintaining
( patrols along the Atlantic and gulf coasts
has been very heavy. Every time The
State Department has been obliged 70
/ call upon q collector at port the resnit
| has been a heavy bill of expenses for
tugs spcclal officers and other charges.
while the Attorney Generals office ana.
IN fact. most or the executive depart
! ments. have been put 10 more or less
trouble and expense.
THE GULF COAST PATROL.
The Navy Department especially has
been embarrassed. owing 10 the necessity
for divorting vessels from other places for
the dsagrceable Florida patrol. one Off
clal roughly estimated the expense the
United states has been put 20
10 protect the Cuban coast 20
Spain al about 100000 This is
probably large estimate. but one
naval officer who is thoroughly cognizant
OF the strain put upon the department by
the patrol stated that n would really be
cheaper for the United States 70 send
| fleet 10 Cuba and blockade the coast there
against incoming niibustcrs than g. try
| 10 stop them on our own extensive coast
line.
Altogether the officials here are conf
| dent of their ability 10 show that tho gov
ornment has more than complied with the
! requirements of international law, when
as laid down I'm the Alabama arbitration.
siuf,Iv demands that n nation "use due
| diligence" 10 prevent the departure ot
| hostile expeditions.
ON this phase OF the case tho correspon-
donco may be kept alive between the state
Dpartment ana the Spanish government
untn Congress meets. but % IS expected
| +bot unless some results I'm the direction
| og tho suggestions 81 Mr.. Woodford are
| forthcoming by that time the President
will refer tho entire matter ~ Congress
and await is order.
In 10 the close of 0fice hours to-day
Sp9in's reply on the cuban question ha'
NOT reached the President nor the Sta'e
Donarfment n was stated also IN other
nnartcrs bv those I'm n position 10 Know
o,bat bad occurred NJ Madrid. that t1e
answer had not been delivered 70 MIN
ister Woodford mp n noon to-day.
\ DENIAL.
A denial was made by an authoritative
sonrce that Minister Dhpuy DeLome had
intimated 10 the state Department tnat
spain would resort 20 the search ana
seizure Of suspected American sesseis on
| the high seas III nlibustering expeditions
continued 10 leave this country. The re-
I ports. 10 IS believed. grew out or visits
| made by the Minister 10 the state De-
| partment last Monday and Thursday. At
\ these visits ne drew the attention OF the
officials 10 the departure OF the alleged
| dlbuster silver Heels after the authori-
/ ties were put in possession of explicit In
/ formation of the plans of the vessel
Regret was expressed by the Minister
/ az this occurrence az II was felt mat u
would create bad impression af
| at tho time when the Government was
maturing it's policy. Beyond this. however.
| the Minister made no reference 10 re-
taliation upon American vessels. or az 20
search on tho high seas It is said a
prerequisite to such action would be an
/ announcement by Spain OF the blockade
I OF an me ports Of Cuba. and certainly no
step along such radical lines has been
proposed thus far.
THE REPLY.
! The diplomatic procedure In connection
with Spain's reply 10 the WOodford note
! Is that IL would be communicated 10 him
| by the Minister OF Foreign Affalrs az
Madrid.
! II viii not be sent 10 Minister Dupuy de
LONE. as IL is distinctly a par, of the
COMMUNICATIONS between Minister Wood
ford and the Madrid officials and IS not
an exchange Of notes between the state
DEPARTING nj and the government ~ SPAN.