Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-21

The news from Spain is important and it
justifies ali those calculations respecting
General Woodfords mission which ascribed
to the administration definite Cuban pol
Icy and purpose to press il on Spain S
attention The first advances have been
made. and SPANS answer is likely 10 be
received before the snow flies. Meanwhile,
We shall probably hear a great deal by
cable about European sentiment on the
subject, keyed in the note of criticism of
the United States and from the stand
point of European misconception and mis-
information touching American policies and
interests
Accompanying the story, indeed, of Cen
eral Woodford's interview with the Duke
of Tetuan, comes a story from London to
the effect that Spain will lay the whole
case before the great powers of Europe in
an effort to enlist sympathy for her side of
the case. If that is done. Europe will find
her text ready to hand. But criticism of
the United States. which is often heard
across the water, and active sympathy
with Spain in her losing and unjust course
toward Cuba, are two very different things,
as Spain is certain to ind out.
But two countries are to be taken Sc
riously into account in this matter, and
they are France and Great Britain. France
has no other concern in the premises but
that of banker. French capitalists hold
the bonds issued to cover the expenses OF
the ten years war. and they have also
been putting up to help carry on the pres
ent war The sum is large but not at all
likely to shape the policy of the French
government in matter where war with
the United States is a feature to he con-
l. oil ban
war with this government would leave her
IN worse condition than ever to meet her
creditors. Putting the question. therefore.
purely in Ii commercial hight, it may be
supposed that France knows too much
about business to egg her debtor ON to
such additional helplessness.
Spain has much less 10 promise herself
from any appeal to Great Britain The
British government has full knowledge of
tue situation in Cuba, and of SPANS indie
fenSible conduct in the island. The Lon
don newspapers of enterprise nave had
correspondents on the scene, whose letters
nome have dealt unsparingly with Spanish
abuses and incompetency- Those CORE
Spcndents have repeatedly expressed the
opinion tnat Cuba is lost to Spain, and that
the war, in the interests of humanity,
ought to cease They have gone into de-
tails quite as extensively and as frankly as
nave the correspondents for American
newspapers. but with no part of the PEN
atty which their American colleagues have
had to pay The English writer has been
able to tell the truth and remain in the
ISLAND.
In the second place, Great Britain has
had experience of her own with the United
States as a neighbor. and she has every
warrant for saying to Spain: Give your
colony as good government as 1 give mine
in that latitude. and there IL be no Trouble
The United States has not tried to play a
grab game with any of my possessions 1
think it likely. from all 1 nave heard that
ner attitude in this Cuban matter is justi-
fed by the facts
The question. Spain will discover. is enc
tor settlement between herself and the
United States No other power has any
interest in it. nor can with reason be
dragged into it.