The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-06-20
Called From London in Regard to
General Woodford's Instructions.
The Minister Will Come Again TO
Washington to Confer at Length
With Commissioner Calhoun and
Learn All That He Can About the
Situation in Cuba Before Going to
His Post.
His Post.

WASHINGTON, June 19.-It can be
stated on the best authority that all
published outlines of the Cuban policy
of President Mckinley up to the present
time have been in disregard of the fact
that the United States Government has
not made up its policy and that even In
the discussion of the subject of our re-
lations to Cuba in Cabinet circles where
point has not as yet been reached where
it could be said that the Executive had
finally determined upon any certain plan
of action. At the State Department an
authoritative denial is given of the
statement cabled to London that Gen
eral Woodford, the newly appointed
United States Minister TO Spain, has
been instructed to intimate to the Span
ish authorities that if Spain refuses to
grant freedom to Cuba she must be pre-
pared to yield to force.
Mr. Calhoun, who was the President 5
special Commissioner to visit Cuba and
learn the plain truth as to the situation
there, is still here in daily conference
with Assistant Secretary Day upon the
subject of our general relations to the
Cuban question as we'll as upon the Ruiz
case in particular. and it is desired that
General WoodfOrd also be given an OPP
portunity to confer with Mr.. Calhoun.
Therefore in the course of two or three
days, the Minister will come again to
Washington and begin serious study
of the history of the present insurrec-
tion from it's very beginning. OF this
General Woodford knows very little
more than the average reader of the
newspapers, and it is of course very
important that he 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 he goes to Spain, be-
cause it is the intention of our Govern
ment that our Minister shall carry with
him the complete case Of the United
States There is no expectation that
General Woodford viii start for Madrid
until the expiration of the thirty-day
period allowed by the State Department
to all United States Ministers on their
appointment within which 20 study their
. instructions before going to their posts.
General WoodfOrds instructions, of
course. from the peculiarities of the sit
uation. will be much more compleXed
than are usually gwen to American Min
listers. Not only will he be charged with
all the details of the Ruiz case. which in
itself promises to present most form
liable legal problem, but he will also
take with him all the evidence necessary
To establish the losses suffered by United
States citizens in Cuba from the con-
tinuance of the war, and with much
other data in support of the suggestion
of our Government that it can scarcely
continue to countenance a prolongation
of present conditions.
Upon the answer returned by the
Spanish Government to these represen-
tations of General Woodford viii de-
pend the course to be followed by the
United States. While willing to
gather all information pertinent to this
issue and listen to all proper represen-
tations. the Administration is firmly de-
termined not to be unduly hurried in its
treatment of the case, realizing that if it
should permit itself to be carried away
by temporary excitement mistakes of
the gravest character might result that
in the end would weaken our position.