The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-31
PRESIDENT ASKS FOR TIME
APPEAL TO SENATE FOREIGN
RELATIONS COMMITTEE.
Members Informed That Spanish Ne
EOtiatiOns Are Rapidly Approach
Ing u Crisis, and That Something
Will Happen by Friday Mt Latest
Senate VIII Not Accept an Ar
mistice as u Settlement.

WASHINGTON, March 30.-The SEN
ate committee on foreign relations held
two sessions today and adjourned a few
minutes before S o'clock without reach
ing any agreement.
Commander Bradford of the bureau
of equipment, was before the commit
tee for several hours giving expert tes-
timony as to the relative strength Of
the navies of the United States and
Spain, and also advocating the pur-
chase of the island Of st. Thomas Of
the Danish West Indies as naval sta
ton.
The committee, as result of it's SEES
sion, agreed to postpone the compile
ton of a definite plan on the Cuban sit
uation for a few days, in order to af-
ford time to the president to complete
his diplomatic negotiations with the
Spanish authorities.
This concession was the result of a
request made direct to members of the
committee by the president, and it was
granted by the entire committee with
out any murmur of dissent.
Previous to this action on the part
of the committee, the president had
been very frankly informed that neith-
er the committee nor the senate would
be disposed to acquiesce in any agree
ment for an armistice. This opposition
is understood to have been made clear
on behalf of the joint Republican and
Democratic steering committees of the
senate, and it is understood to have
been met by the president with the
response that this government would
not press the matter.
Crisis Coming.
The president freely admitted to the
visiting senators that the negotiations
with Spain were rapidly approaching
a crisis, and said that he felt quite
confident a conclusion would be reached
by Friday night at the latest He
asked that in view of this fact, no ac-
ton be taken by either house until
after that time, or until the present
negotiations could be brought to
close.
If he took any of the senators into
his confidence as to the basis upon
which he was proceeding. they did not
repeat the information in the senate.
Some intimated belief in the au-
thenticity of proposal to allow the
purchase of the freedom of the island,
but declined in all cases to state wheth-
er this belief was based upon state
ments made by the president.
The representations were, however, Of
character to satisfy the committee
and when it adjourned one Of its mem
ban sympathiZers, stated that the COM
nlittee was operating in perfect SYM
pathy with the president It's men,
bers feel that they will be free to act
when the president indicates failure,
of present negotiations with SPAIN
They think these negotiations are for
the freedom of Cuba, and if they do
net so result they expect to report very
promptly joint resolution looking to
that end.
Actual Work.
The actual proceedings of the COM
mittee today consisted of a general ex-
change of views concerning the situa-
ton and the proper course to be pur-
sued by the committee; Of the refer
ence OF the various Cuban resolu-
tons to a subcommittee: of the reading
Of part of the testimony of the Maine
court Of inquiry. and of an examina-
ton of Commander Bradford, chief Of
the bureau Of equipment
Commander Bradford was asked to
supply the committee with the infor-
nation at his command concerning the
relative strength OF our navy COM
pared with that of Spain, and was
questioned at length as to our torpedo
boats and the length of time necessary
to supply others.
Mr.. Bradford also made statement
of his views relative as to the import
ance of the purchase of The island of
st. Thomas, in the West Indies, from
Denmark, the ownership of which, he
said, would be of vast Importance to
this country for coaling station in
case of war with Spain.
There is a resolution pending before
the committee providing for the open
ing, of negotiations for the acquisition
of the island. and the disposition of
the committee after hearing Mr.. Brad
ford seemed favorable to early affirm
alive action upon it.
The committee was authorized to sit
during the sessions of the sonata opd