Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-26
SPAIN'S ANSWER
Is Awaited With Interest al
the Stale Department.
Interest Consists Wholly Of Desire to
See What Spain Will Say.
Because, II Looking for Trouble Shs Can ve.y
Soon Be Accommodated.

|
the state department that, up to noon
today. the answer of Spain to the
United States had not reached the
President or Secretary Sherman, nor
had they received the 1000 word cable
communication which it is said Minister
Woodford sent in CIPHER from Madrid,
| last Saturday
Under these circumstances it is i'm
| possible that any formal consideration
could be given by the executive au
thorities here as to the next move on
the part of this government. There
was an abundance of speculation in
| and about the White House as to the
issue presented by Spain's answer, as
briefly summarized in cable reports,
but from no authoritive source could
it be learned that the administration
had outlined any line of policy to meet
the situation now presented.
Secretary Sherman did not come to
the White House during the morning,
and Assistant Secretary of State Day
has gone to Ohio. so there was no OPP
portunity for conference on the Span
ish-Cuban situation. Attorney Cen
eral McKenna was with the President
for a quarter Of an hour, presumably
| in reference to the Union Pacific rail-
way affairs The attorney general said
after leaving the President, that there
We're no developments which he wished
to communicate to the public.
In other quarters it was stated that
determination might come at any
moment in the near future. and that
in all probability the next meeting Of
the cabinet, tomorrow, would bring
about a definite understanding and
probably a final conclusion on the gov
ernment's course.
1t 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 OBJ
served the requirements of intertation-
al law in the matter of preventing
| flibustering. In this case the state de-
partment will have some pertinent
facts to present which, it's officials be-
lieve will completely ALLEVIATE from
Spain any sympathy that she may
have attracted from other European
nations on that score. '"f
1t is asserted positively that in no
single case where the Spanish author
tiles have brought to the attention of
our government 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 re-
spect as to accept statements from the
Spanish officials, not accompanied by
proofs of the facts alleged, but mere
suggestions that they had reason to be-
lieve that an expedition was forming.
One official roughly estimated the ex-
pense the United States has been put
to to protect the Cuban coast for Spain
at about $2,OOO,OOO. This is probably a
large estimate, but one naval officer
who is thoroughly cognizant of the
strain put upon the department by 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 extern
sive coast line.
Altogether the officials here are con-
fident of their ability to show that the
government has more than complied
with the requirements Of international
law, which, as laid down in the Ala
bama arbitration, simply demands that
a nation use due diligence" to prevent
the departure of hostile expeditions.
On this phase of the case the cor
respondence may be kept alive between
the state department and the Spanish
government until Congress meets, but
it is expected that unless some results
in, hn diroctinn Of hn Of
Mr.. Woodford are Forthcoming by that
time, the President will refer the entire
matter to Congress and await it's order.
Up to the close of Office hours. today,
Spain's reply on the Cuban question had
not reached the President or state de-
partment 1t was stated also in other
quarters by those in position to know
what had occurred at Madrid, that the
answer had not been delivered to Minis
ter Woodford up to today. 1t has been
approved by the cabinet however. and is
to be communicated to Minister Wood
ford, late today or tomorrow.
An authoritative denial is made of the
report that Minister De LONE had init
mated to the state department that Spain
would resort to search and seizure of sus-
pected American vessels on the high seas
If filibustering expeditions continued to
leave this country.
The report. it is believed, grew out of
visits made by the minister to the state
department, last Monday and Thursday
At these visits he called the attention of
the officials to the circumstances of the
departure of the alleged filibuster Silver
Heels, after the authorities were put in
possession of explicit information Of the
plans of the vessel.
Regret was expressed by the minister at
this occurrence. as it was felt that 1t
would create a bad impression at Madrid
at time when the government was ma
turing its policy. Beyond this, however
the minister made no reference to retail
alton upon American vessels or as to
seizures on the high seas.
1t is said prerequisite to such action
would be the announcement by Spain of
the, blockade of all the ports of Cuba, and
certainly no step along such radical lines
has been proposed thus far.
The diplomatic procedure in connection
with Spains reply to the WOodford note,
is that it would be communicated to him
by the minister Of foreign affairs at Mad
rid. 1t will not be sent to Minister Dupuy
De LONE. as it is distinctly part of the
communications between Minister Wood
ford and the Madrid officials. and Is not
an exchange of negotiations between the
(Contfnuod m M ga ~