The record-union., 1897-08-08
Secretary Sherman Says She Can
not Continue the Struggle.
Her Munsy Gone Saa She Has Reached
ihs Limit Of Borrowing.
Spain in No Condition to Wage
War Anywhere - Stopping the
Struggle by Withdrawing tne
Troops and by Repudiating Her
Debts Her Only Way to Recover

NEW YORK, Aug. THE World
publishes an interview said to nave
been obtained with John Sherman, Sec
retary of State, just previous to his re-
turn to Washington from Amagansett'
Ii In this interview Mr.. Sherman is
represented as saying:
Spain will lose Cuba. That seems to
me to be certain. She cannot continue
the struggle. Already the conflict has
cost her more than $500, 100000. Her
money is gone and she can get no more
She has reached the limit of her bor-
rowing capacity. She cannot pay back
what she has already borrowed. The
only thing left for her to do is to re-
pudiate her debts. We had to do that
after the revolution. Having repudi-
ated them, she can begin anew, but she
will have to begin without Cuba. That
country is devastated. The insurgents
have been fighting with only the hope
of ultimate success as their reward.
The Spanish soldiers have been bat
Ting for pay. The pay will stop and
then the conflict viii stop.
Spain is in no condition to wage war
anywhere. The burdens placed upon
her people to sustain the struggle for
retaining Cuba have been very heavy.
Widespread discomfort viii come soon
er or later within the Spanish domain.
Stopping the struggle by withdrawing
her troops from Cuba and by repudiat-
ing her debts is her only way to recov-
er. Sooner or later she must do this.
So far we have done nothing to arouse
the anger of the Spanish people. We
hT1-
ness, deaf to the distress of Cuba and
deaf to pleadings of our own people,
who wanted the Government to inter
fere"
The Secretary was asked as to
whether there was any truth in the re-
port that the American flag was to be
raised in Hawaii and a protectorate
proclaimed. He replied:
Il cannot divulge the instructions
given to Minister Sewall. Perhaps they
will develop as time passes. But I can
say that there will be no change in Ha-
wan until Congress reconvenes. There
can be no change, because the terms Of
the pending treaty, which have been
approved by President Mckinley, must
be observed.
There is nothing in this talk that a
serious disagreement between this
country and Japan will follow any in
terference on our part with the exist
ing system of Government in Hawaii.
Japan must certainly understand that
this nation has never objected to the
japanese, and that whatever trouble it
has had on this score was due to Of
ficials for whom we are not responsible
and over whom we had no control. If
we had Hawaii Japan would have no
reason to fear that her subjects would
suffer from unfair treatment.
While I believe that Japan is entire
ly innocent of any intention of assum-
ing toward us a belligerent or threaten
ing attitude, it may be well to remark
that her attitude, no matter what it
might be, would not affect our position
in the least.
I'VE have always believed that we
have more right to take a stand in the
management of the Hawaiian Islands
and the government of the other lands
similarly situated than of any other
country.
Hawaii is only about 1000 miles
from our shores. Whatever course we
see fit to pursue toward her will be
pursued without regard to any other
nation We consider that we have a
right to do this, and we viii insist upon
maintaining our rights at any cost"
Have you taken any interest in the
discovery of the new gold fields?'
Mr.. Sherman looked up in surprise.
You mean the Klondyke region? Of
course I have That is a matter that
would naturally attract the attention
of any man in my position.
'"The fact that International compli-
cations may ensue has, of course,
sharpened my interest in the subject
There may be questions as to bound
aries. It has always been customary to
consider the lines as running along the
main land. But occasionally it has
been contended that in laying the lines
to.deternaine the thirty-mile line meas
urement should be made from the
points of land extending farthest into
the water, or even from islands. When
ever these claims were made, the pur-
pose of them has been apparent. They
were made TO advance the interests of
the country making them. If a dis
agreement arises over such a question
it win probably be because some of the
islands prove to be of unusual value.
This Government is ready to maintain
the rights of its citizens. and to protect
its own interests to the last degree.