The record-union., 1898-05-23
Knows That the Powers Will Insist
on SPANS Submission.
He Wants TO Utilize the PrOpitiOus Moment
for Concluding Peace So That
Spain Can Retain the
Islands.

LONDON, May 23.-The Madrid corr
respondent of the Daily Telegraph'f
says: One point of interest in the re-
construction of the Cabinet lies in the
obstinate refusal of Senior Leon Y Cas-
tillo, the Spanish ambassador to
France, to accept the Secretaryship.
Every consideration has been brought
to bear in vain. His reply to the Pre-
mier's request expressed the conviction
| that the interests of Spain would be
best served by his remaining in Paris.
Senior Sagasta answered, pointing out
that the head of the Government was
| the best judge of the interests of the
fatherland, and insisting upon the EN-
bassador's acceptance To the surprise
of everybody, the ambassador persist
ed in his refusal, and promised in per-
sonal interview to prove to Senior Sa-
gasta that it would be a grave mistake
for him to leave Paris.
1 am enabled to state that the EN-
bassador's motive for refusing was the
following: Senior Sagastas Cabinet is,
by its own formal declaration, deter
mined to carry on the war with all pos
sible vigor, whereas Senior Leon Y Cas-
tillo is aware that SPANS friends
among the Powers, France e. partcu-
lar, are resolved to insist upon her
suing for peace at the first favorable
moment. France possesses a twofold
interest in having peace concluded
oil
would be severely damaged if Spain
were ruined, and the latter would suffer
if the United States retained permanent
possession of the Philippines
The leading idea which actuates the
statesmen responsible for the political
scheme favored by Senior Leon Cas-
tillo is that as Spain must be defeated
in the long run, it is advisable to save
as much as possible from destruction.
and that the sooner peace is concluded
the more tolerable will be the terms
acquiesced in by the United States.
The most important of these terms, in
the eyes of SPANS friends and protect
ors, is the possession of the Philip
pines, which can be utilized for further
political combinations later on
To become a member of a war cabi-
net, therefore, at the very moment when
the friendly great Powers are resolved
to press upon Spain speedy peace
appears imprudent to Senior Leon "
Castillo, who is in possession of all the
threads of the negotiations. Senior Sa-
gasta's Cabinet is certainly DESTROYS of
regaining popularity with the country
by prosecuting the war to the bitter
end, but it is highly improbable that.
heretofore having followed the advice
of the Continental Powers. that it will
refuse to accept counsel of peace prof
fered under the promise of future help,
and especially If the United States
valves all claims to the Philippines.
SPANS importance as a political factor.
in the Far East is now thoroughly I'M
derstood, and everything possible will
be done to gain time and profit by it.
Her position as q Mediterranean Power.
her influence in Morocco. her well-dis-
ciplined land and sea forces, and, above
all, her possession of the Philippines,
constitute the political aspect of the
question The first and most impor-
tant step at present, therefore, is to
utilize the most propitious moment for
concluding peace on the basis of SPANS
retention of the Philippines. When that
time has come-and it is believed to
be very near now that the Spanish ,
squadron is at Santiago de Cuba-Spain
will be asked to propose pour parleurs,
and friendly efforts will be made to in
duce the United States to rest satisfied
with Cuba's independence or with an
nexation, and to abandon the scheme OF
ruling permanently or occupying tenn
porarily the Philippines. These are the
grave considerations which determined
Senior Leon Castillo, who is a party
politician and usually submissive TO the
head of his party, to insist upon re-
manning an ambassador to Paris.