The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-23
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SITUATION CRITICAL.
President Mckinley confers with
Prominent Senator's.
THE CLIMAX IS EVIDENTLY NEAR.
An End Is Soon to lic Brought to
Present Conditions.
GENERAL PLAN is OUTLINED.
Messu9c to Congress Will Accompany
ths Maine Report.
THAT The. EXPLOSION WAS EXTERNAL B
In the General pelicf-Rccourse to
Intervention In Cuban Annirs
liz Being Considered.
b = L
Message to Congress Wili Accompany
ths Maine Report.
that The EXPLOSION WAS EXTERNAL

Washington, March 2g,-Semators Allison
and German saw tho president today by
appointment The president decided to
consult them regarding the present, Cuban
situation, as ho has been consulting others.
Little could be, learned concerning the
pature of tho conference. but 1t is known
that the precedent desires the Views OF
leading men or both parties at this time
on the situation, which is considered very
critical.
No official information ae 20 the nature
OF The Maine report has been received. hut
Il is believed that the assumption Is that
the board viii say 1t was an outside explo-
sion without fixing the responsibility.
Washington, March 20. The cabinet
meeting today lasted something over an
hour and was devoted exclusively TO tho
Spanish situation IN general and the forth
coming report OF the Mime court OF In
curry In particular. The tone of the dis
cusslon was very firm and determined that
there must come an end to the PRESENT
state OF affairs in Cuba
Secretary Long authorized the state
rnent that the understanding before the
cabinet was that tho report would reach
Washington on next Thursday or friday;
that IL vas very vuiumlnots. and that its
| publication and transmission to consfess
would not occur Until Monday or Tuesday.
as the president would require that mucn
time 10 give the document the mature
consideration that its momentous character
required
Other cabinet officers stated that Too
general plan included the sending OF .
presidential message along With 10 re-
port, stating that Spain would be called
upon to make suitable response to the case
presented by the court OF inquiry,
While the cabinet associates If the prcs-
ident maintained their usual reserve as to
the exact character OF their delibcfations.
vet IL was conceded that the discussion
proceeded on the theory that tho coming
report would show that the Maine aynlo-
sion was not the result Of an accident. but
Was due to an external cause. There Is no
doubt that substantial unanmiiy exists on
the part of the president and all his cioi-.
net. both as TO the Maine and the general
subject Of Cuba.
The possibility OF a recourse TO inter-
vention In case Spain declined TO make
suitable response to the representations
we will make after receiving the Maine
report regarding the situation In Cuba has
been fully discussed, although necessarily
| II has been an abstract discussion thus
| far, and no conclusion has been reached
nor Is 1t possible until the question ~
to the courts findings Is before the presi-
dent and cabinet. At the same time there
is very evident Intention to eonsiher
all cyentuaities including tho recourse
to Intervention, the recognition OF tnde-
pendence and other methods which appear
10 suitably meet the requirements OF such
a condition. II Is believed 10 be the In
tention OF the president TO bring about
a very material and satisfactory condition
In Cuba. by means which shall seem to be
the best and most practicable method OF
obtaining this end. II is the hope or tho
administration that Spain will so far real
lie the situation as TO see the necessity
for such radical action on her part with
respect to Cuba as shall command the ape
probation OF this country. and thus at once
put an end to all differences.
Pending decision on the governments
final policy. no overturcs or intimations
| have been conveyed to thu Spanish govern
ment and there Is no official knowledge
as TO how Spain would regard intervention.
| Spanish Minister Polo requested today that
| n statement be made that reports attrihnt-
| ing To him expressions on tho subject Of
| Independence were unwarrantsd and un-
| true aenor Polo says he has not discussed
this or any other Of the pending questions