Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1897-10-30
BASIS OF SPANS REPLY
AS TO INTERNATIONAL
Alleges That the United states Has
Not Been Di'igent iii Opposing
Fiiibustering-Pert Facts on
the Other Side.

Washington. Oct 26.-It is not doubted
among officials here that the basis of the
Spanish reply TO Mr.. Woodford's note will
be the charge that the tinted States had
| not observed the requirements OF interna-
tlonai law III the matter OF preventing
tilibustering. In this case the state de
partment will have some pertinent facts
tn present, which its officials believe will
completely ALLEVIATE from Spain any sym
pathy she may have contracted from any
European nations on that score. 1t is
asserted. positively. that in no single case
where the Spanish authorities have
brought to the attention of our govern
nent 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 as to accept statements from
the Spanish officials not accompanied bv
proofs of the facts alleged, but mere sug-
gestions that they had reason to believe
that an expedition was formed In some
cases our government has proceeded to
lengths i'll the restraint of American COM
merce on insufficient evidence furnished
by the Spanish government that has re
suited in the preferment of large claims
by American vessels for illegal dcten-
ton.
An Expensive Patrol.
Then the expense of maintaining the
patrol along the Atlantic and gulf coast
has been heavy Every time the state
department has been obliged to call on
collector of Il port the result has been
a heavy bill of expenses for tugs, special
officials and other charges. while the at
tolmey generals office and in fact most
of the executive departments have been
put to more OF less trouble and expense
The navy department especially have
been embarrassed to the necessity for
diverting vessels from other places for
the disagreeable Florida patrol. On the
official estimates. the expense the United
States has been to protect the Cuba coast
for Spain is about S2,000,00O. This is
probably a large estimate, but one naval
officer, who is thoroughly cognizant of
eiiS o.i''iii Puo ul'oll tlic tt ID tIieilb ny
the patrol stated that it would really be
cheaper for the United States to send a
fleet to Cuba and blockade the coast there
against incoming filibusters than to try
to stop them on our own extensive coast
line
Altogether the officials here are conf
dent of their ability to show that the
government has more than complied with
the IeYdn ..ments of the ln,erna tional law
which, as laid down in the Alabama az
bitration, simply demands that nation
use due diligence to prevent the de
parture of hostile expeditions.
Up to the colse of office hours today
Spain's reply on the Cuban question had
not reached the president or state de
partment. It was stated in other quar-
ters that are in a position to know what
occurred at Madrid. that the answer had
not been delivered to Minister Woodford
up to today 1t has been approved by
the cabinet, however. and is to be com
municated to Mr.. Woodford late today or
tomorrow.