Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-04-14

ment WOOdfOrd conveyed II as piece
Of news in which the country 1t vltally
interested, but not as an Official COM
nunication from the Spanish govern
ment to this government. None the
less it conveyed the essential fact that
Spain has conceded what the powers
of Europe and the pope had for many
days been urging upon her, and that
the concession has dispelled Tor the
moment the darkness of the war clouds
and brought instead what is regarded
as at least a faint hope of a peaceful
solution of the pending difficulty. The
receipt of this news has not, however,
resulted in any change in the admins
tration's program relative to the send
ing of a message OF congress. 1t Is
authoratatively announced that 1t is the
intention of the president to send his
message to congress tomorrow.
Whether he will make any addition to
the message referring to the proposed
armistice by Spain could not be ascer-
tanned definitely. 1t can scarcely be
doubted, however, that a development
of this character would receive atten-
tention at the presidents hands, al
though it could not be learned last
night that this attention would be
more than a recital of the facts.
After the conferences at the white
house last night, a gentleman who is
in the confidence of the president ex-
pressed the belief that the grant of an
armistice would not materially change
the policy already matured. One gen
:leman who had long conference
with the president last night expressed
the opinion that the proposed armistice
tended materially toward peaceful
solution of the Cuban question, al
though he declined to venture even
suggestion as to how the proposition
would be received by congress. THE
Maine incident would still be left for
solution" said he, ''and that is the
question upon which congress and the
country are at the present moment ex-
ceedingly sensitive"
Word that an armistice had been
granted by Spain aroused great inter-
est and activity throughout the even
ing. The first word as to SPANS con-
ession came to Mgr. Martinelli
papal delegate, at $50 o'clock which
announced from the vatican the papal
nuncio at Madrid had been advised
nat an armistice had been granted.
Martinelli sent for Archbishop Ireland
nd shortly afterward the message
from the vatican was repeated by tele-
phone to the white house. About the
anne time a despatch from Woodford
was received.
The Spanish minister had received
no advices from Madrid up to mid
night. At all the embassies and lega-
ions, however, the armistice was &C
epted as an accomplished fact with
an expression of the belief that it was
an augury of peace. The exact terms
Of the armistice are felt to be the most
essential feature of SPANS conces-
ions. At the outset it was supposed
be an unconditional armi-
ice. Later, however, the press
dvices from Madrid and London
tated conditions of a very material
haracter. If these conditions prove
ccurate, they will doubtless compli-
ate the situation and leave the crisis
quite as acute as at any time hereto
ore. A cabinet officer said recently
hat the administration never consid-
red the proposition of withdrawing
he American fleet from Key West,
nd while this was some days ago. it
not believed that such proposition
would meet with any serious consid-
ration.
The fact that Spain has granted an
rmistice as the result of the influence
xerted by the powers and the pope
eads to much conjecture as te now far
he material influence of the powers
will be given in support of Spain, now
hat she has yielded to their earnest
olicitation. 1t has been understood
hus far that the movement of the
overs was purely disinterested and
leutral, but the press dispatches from
broad indicate that SPANS yielding
o these continental influences has es-
ablished a closer bond than hitherto
Xisted
A leading republican member of the
house committee on foreign affairs ex-
pressed the opinion that the armistice
offered by Spain, instead of relieving
the situation, only exaggerates it. He
said: 'There is every reason why
/ Spain should want an armistice now
and it might be significant as central
| motive that the rainy season, with all
the horrors it has to unacclimatized
Spanish soldiers, will set in within
] three weeks and continue until Novem-
ber''
Paris, April 10.-A dispatch. the
filing time of which is not ctated, has
been received from Madrid, saying
that an armistice has been arranged
and war between the Spain and United
States has been for the moment avert
ed. Diplomats are very much pleased
with this result. The dispatch also
said that Patenotre, French ambassa-
dor to Spain. had long conference
yesterday with United States Minister
| Woodford.