The state herald., 1898-03-25
THE COURTS REPORT
1T HAS BEEN FINISHED.
WIN Bo Published In "a Few Days--Prcsl-
dent Mckinley Calls Speaker Reed and
Others Into Conference.

Washington, March 22.--,rhe proceed
urc in connection with the submission
of the report of the Maine court of i'll
quiry by the President and Congress
Is now clearly outlined, and II Cabinet
officer to-day explained the general line
OF action at present Intended to be puI-
sued upon receipt of the report, which
Is expected to reach Washington next
Thursday. A copy of ii will be laid
before the Spanish government very
early, and us soon ms can be consistent
ly done, n report will be sent to Con
grcss and be made public at the same
time. The report TO Congress will be
accompanied by Il message from the
President, stating that after receiving
the report the conclusions were laid be.
fore the Spanish government and ap-
propriate action from that quarter
asked.
1t Is stated positively that no part of
the report aud no intima;ion of the
findings has reached the executive au.
thori,ies at Washington as yet. At the
same time II is II noticeable fact that
the current of official opinion is begin
ming 10 follow that of the unofficial
opinion expressed so positively ana per.
sistently at Havana and Key West,
that the cause of the explosion was eX-
ternal to the battleship.
The battleship Texas started north
ward from Key West to-day. thus set
Ting the question as TO the formation
OF second squadron mt or near Hamp-
TO Roads II is expected the Massa.
chusetts will follow in few days, but
the final orders for that move have not
been made.
10, NJ
circles thar the President has made IN
his mind 10 recognize the independence
of Cuba, hut II Is known that he does
not intend TO take up this matter until
settlement is reached with Spain over
the destruction of the Maine. This
morning he sent for prominent leaders
In Congress, among them being Speak
er Reed, and discussed the situation
with them.
To these visitors the President point
ed out the difficulties of the situation
which everyone admits are really
great. He said most positively that 1t
was his intention TO 20 ahead toward n
solution of the whole problem In a
way he hoped would he satisfactory TO
Congress and TO the country. but that
for the present he wished to deal with
the affair of the Maine alone and with
out complicatlng II with the greater
problem of the future of Cuba. The
President asked that Congress stay its
hand and take no action ill he was
ready. which he promised would be
very soon.
The correspondent OF the New York
Sun says:
The President does not now intend to
ask for reparatiOn or demand lndemnl-
~, but simply TO give Spain an oppor-
tunity to make amends for such meas
urc of guilt as may he laid nj her doors
by the report of the naval court.
Indemnity would he no satisfaction
for the loss Of the Maine. and the Pres.
idcnt will NOT waste time, therefore. in
asking for II, especially as he thinks
1t would NOT he granted II he did.
President Mcliinlcy fully appreciates
the fact that the American people will
not brook unnecessary delay On the
part Of Spain, and Congress would no
under any circumstances agree TO sub
nit to arbitration the question MS to
Spaln's responsibility for the blowing
up OF the Maine.
The Presidents idea Is that by an.
nouncing his Cuban policy. which con.
templates n direct recognition of Cuban
independence. the controversy involved
In the blowing mp Of the Maine, and the
progress of the court of arbitration
would bc swallowed up In events that
would follow. Spain. II Is thought
would Immediately declare war against
the United States or commit an Uvcl1
act that would compel the United
States to declare war against her, or
she would decide Ia avoid war by re-
linquishlng Cuba.
Very little time viii he given after
Congress shall have been acquainted
with the findings OF the naval court of
inquiry. and IL Spain is not prepared
al AN early date Ia accept the good
offices OF the United States n recognl-
iion of independence will quickly fol-
low.