The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-03-23


Washington March z.-The cabinet
meeting To-Day lasted something over an
hour and WAS devoted exclusively 10 the
Spanish situation In general and the
forthcoming report Of the Maine court Of
inquiry.
The tone of the discussion was very
firm and determined that there must come
an end 10 the present state Of afairs In
cuba. Secretary Long authorized the
statement that the understanding scfore
the cabinet was that the report would
reach Washington next Thursday or Fri
day. that il was very yolumlnous. and
that the publication and transmission Of
Il to congress would not occur until next
Monday or Tuesday, as the president
would require that much time to give
the document the mature consideration
which It's momentous character REQUIRED.
other cabinet officers STATE that the
general plan included the eendiag of the
presidential message along with the re-
port stating that Sp,in mad been called
upon 10 make suitable response TO the
case presented by Che court Of inquiry.
While the cabinet associltes Of the pres
ident maintained their ususl reserve as TO
the exsct charaGer,of their dcli5e-ations,
yet It was conceded that the discussion
proceeded on the theory ;hat the coming
report would show that the Maine ex-
plosim was nG the result OF accident,
hut wgts due to an external cause. There
Is no doubt that substantial unanimity
exists on the part Of the president ana
hts cabinet both as 20 the Maine question
and 70 the general subject Of cuba. The
possibility OF recourse to Intervention in
case Spain declines to make suitSble re-
slOnse 10 the representations We will
make after receiving the Maine report
has bean fully discussed. although neces-
sarily ii has been an abstract discussion
thus far and No conclusion has been
renched nor is h possible. until the vital
question as to the courts findings Is he
forc the president and the cabinet, At
IN, same time there is a very evident in
tens ion t. consider all the erentualities
of the case. including recourse TO later
veution AMI the recognition OF Cuban in
dependence. and other methods which APP
pear suitable to meet the requirements
of such a condition. II Is believed TO be
the Intention of tn president. however.
10 bring about a very material and salts
factory condition in cuba by what shall
scem 20 be th- best and most practicable
method Of obtaining this end. 1t is The
hope IS the administration that Spain
herself viii so far reaiize the situation as
to see tBs necessity Of such radical action
on her part with resp ct 10 Cuba az
shall command ,hc appreciation of this
country and thus al once put an end ia
all differences,
Pending the decision on the govern
ment's final policy. no overtures or init
nations have been conveyNi to the Span
ish government and there is no official
as to how Spain would regard
the recognition of Cuban Independence OF
Outside OF the cabinet meeting the day ,
was exceptionally quiet Secretary Long I
was able to clear his desk at $50 o'clock
,or the first time since the Maine disas-
er occurred and left the department. be- /,
'ore Office hours closed to enjoy walk,
The cruiser Brooklyn was at Newport
News and the monitor Puritan was under
,rders to proceed there, so that these YES
sells will be near Hampton Roads to rem
lezvous II 1t is determined to establish
squadron there orders for this move
nave not yet been given or has Commo-
iore Schley received any information
from the officials that he would be placed
in command of the squadron,
The navy department continues to keep
informed as to the Spanish torpedo fleet
now stopping at the Canaries. Word of
It's departure has not yet reached the de- /
partment. 1t can be stated positively
that the report that President Mckinley .
has protested against the coming of the
notllla is unwarrantcd There has been
no such protest
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