The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-03
SPAlN'S ATTITUDE
DEFINED BY A DIPLOMAT IN
TOUCH WITH CANOVAS.

Peaceable Surrender OF Cub8-Tho COuIso
Minister Woodford IL to Pursue-His Do.
mand to be Rejected-Real Altitude OF
Mckinley -Satisfaction In England Over
Prospect Of Seal Fishery Settlement-The
spe ct ator on American Trusts
London, July a1.-Much satisfaction
is expressed in official and merchantile
circles at the prospective settlement OF
the seal question by aid Of the Wash
ington conference, especially as such
an arrangement will remove cause OF
hot discussion between the United
States and Great Britain. Although at
the outset of Mr.. Fosters journey
diplomatists and newspapers ridiculed
the idea that there was anything nes-
essary to be done, Ambassador Hay
and Mr.. Foster have completely
changed this view; and Great Britain
is finally doing everything possible to
meet the views Of the United States.
Doubtless this is partly owing to the
support Mr.. Fosters idea received
from Russia and Canada. Sir Wilfrid
Laurier and Mr.. Davies have all along
favored a conciliatory attitude toward
the proposals Of the United States.
The conference will meet in the third
or fourth week in October, the exact
date being left to be determined by the
arrival of the British experts from the
sealing grounds.
Great Britain will be represented by
Sir Julian Pauncefote, the ambassador,
and Professor Darcy Thompson. The
Y~..x 49, x,,s11 DIxah h1uy 1<a
sented by John w. Foster; Japan by
the Japanese minister at Washington,
and Russia by a commission headed by
DR.. Martens, professor Of international
law at the university Of st. Petersburg,
who was delegated by Russia to hold
the pourparler with Mr.. Foster. Can
ada will be represented by Sir. Wilfred
Laurier and Mr.. Davies. The confer
ence will discuss the whole question as
raised by the United States, will draft
a scheme of protection for the seals,
with details for carrying out the same,
and will decide all open claims. It's re-
port will be adopted referendum; but
as Russia and Japan are entirely ia
vorable to the pretensiOns Of the
United States and as Great Britain is
Indifferent so long as Canada is sat
isfied the conference may be said to
be diplomatic triumph for the United
States and personal triumph for Mr..
Foster. Unless it results in a divided
report, which is not expected, the gov
ernments concerned will Immediately
embody the scheme in a permanent
agreement, either in the form Of an
agreement or memorandum so that
it can be executed in the season Of
1898
A Spanish diplomatist who is in close
touch with Senior Canovas del Castillo,
the Spanish diplomat, informs the cor
respondent Of the Associated Press
that it is useless longer to attempt to
disguise the fact that the Spanish min
istry is in very tight place. He says:
I'VE can keep up the war in Cuba
only SO long as our funds last, and the
time when they will fail is almost in
sight. When it comes we must give up
the struggle, Now we are too proud a
race to do so at anybOdy'S demand; /;
but we can do so by pleading force
maieure'' in a war with the United
States. Such a result naturally would
be very unpleasant to us; but in order
to prevent a revolution in Spain and
the overthrow of the monarchy, war
is the only way out The premier
knows from President Mckinley direct
that the president personally does not
want war and wishes to save us from
the cost and the blOOdShed. But his
cabinet only partly share his views,
while the senate, the house Of repre-
sentatives, the American press and the
people of the United States favor a
settlement with big guns. President
Mckinley, however, while first in
peace, has declared himself as not
shrinking from the war if peace meas
ures fail This is the position and nat
urally lends strength to the independ-
ent course which General Woodford
will pursue. His instructions will be
at the outset to attempt to obtain for
Cuba the peaceful means of Cuban in
dependence. He is destined to be de-
feated in his proposal the moment ii
is made; for Spain would infinitely
prefer war, with or without the encour-
agement of other nations, to any sur
render on the Cuban question. This is
the fact and the premier sees no other
way out of the present impasse in
Spanish politics. He win court wal
the moment the United States becomes
imperative in it's demands. The wave
of great emotion and patriotism such
as war would call out in Spain would
naturally sink all threatening domestic
questions and disturbances. The Car
lists, republicans and all others would
unite for the nation as they could be
united by nothing else, and when de-
feated, if Spain should be defeated
Cuba could be surrendered without i'm
periling all present political and mon
archal institutions
The engineers dispute has apparently
settled down to a prolonged struggle
Both masters and men are unyielding
The formers position has beer
strengthened by the fact that the
Northampton cycle employers have
Joined the employers federation and is
sued lockout notices to 25 per cent. OF
their employees. The engineers have
reSDOpGed by calling ont the other II
per cent. The masters held a meeting
on "Wednesday and declared that they
We're more than ever determined to re-
sist the action Of the engineers. 1t is
also announced, on the contrary, 10y
trade union statements, not signed.
that member of the employers feder-
2tion, in the vicinity of London, had
Welded to the demand for an eight
hour day.
The Spectator in a gloomy article
entitled "AggressiOns of American
Noo3ts1 rpforc tO tho rofiroy,ooSrf Of