Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-04-05

4
weight. If the president should sim
ply report that diplomacy is at an end
and leave the determination of the flu.
ture course with congress, it is probable
that immediate intervention will be
recommended.
| Spanish Flotilla at Porto Rico.
Madrid, April e.-The Spanish tor.
pedo flotilla has arrived at Porto Rico
Preparing to Leave Madrid.
London, April IA special dispatch
from Madrid says United States Min
ister Woodford is making the neces-
sary preparations to leave Madrid i'm
mediately in the event of diplomatic
rupture.
Substance of Spain's Reply.
Washington, April 2-The reply of
Spain is said, in effect, to be:
Neutrality-suspicious. of Cuba means the part
Ing or cesson of Spanish territory which
| cannot be done without the consent of the
| Spanish cortes, which Is not In session and
| will rot be in session until April "a, and
| consequently no definite answer can be re-
| turned 20 the demand of the United States
| until the cortes assemblies.
| Then counter proposition Is submitted
that the Cuban matter shall be settled upon
a basis equitable among nations.
| The United States is asked to give Spain
time to treat with the insurgents and as
| certain what can be done in the nature of
| a peaceful settlement.
Senators who know the nature of the
reply say it is very shrewd piece of
diplomacy and made for its effect upon
the world at large.
Will Remain at Hampton Roads.
The flying squadron is to remain in
Hampton Roads, for the present at
leust. This announcement was made
late Friday afternoon by Secretary
Long, and set at rest the reports which
had been current throughout the day
that a movement of the squadron was
imminent. The secretary stated that
the department believed that the pres
ent rendezvous of the squadron was the
most available one from which the ships
under Commodore Schley could operate
in carrying out the purpose for which
it was formed, that is the protection of
the North Atlantic seaboard. He added
that no orders had been issued to Com
modore Schley and that none were in
immediate contemplation.
1t is stated on reliable authority that
the department discussed the question
of ordering the ships to sea, presuma-
bly,, though not officially SO stated, in
connection with the approach of the
Spanish torpedo fotilla, which has
since arrived at Porto Rico. 1t has
been an open secret for some days that
the naval authorities have regarded the
approach of the Spanish hotilla with
apprehension, and their feelings in this
regard were strong enough to call the
matter to the attention of the authori-
ties. After considering the matter,
however, it was decided that no orders
would be issued looking for movement
of the squadron. While the decision is
understood to be based primarily upon
the fact that it would be unwise to re-
move the ships from their present valu-
able strategic position, yet 1t is be-
, lieved that diplomatic considerations
also had some weight.
Cubnns Protest.
Washington, April 2.-The Cuban
government (meaning thereby the
present home rule authorities in Cuba
and not the insurgents) have appealed
to the president of the United States
to respect the will of the majority
of the people OF Cuba.
| The appeal declares that the ma iority
represents those in favor of home rule UNI
der Spanish sovereignty; that the insur-
gents are In the minority; that the ma or-
| ity has right to rule its own destinies:
hot nt1lI h1 1T.
eign Will, meaning the United States, to
impose upon this majority a political
| regime contrary to its will: and that It
would be great wickedness to dispose OF
Its lot without Its own consent. The APP
peal to the president does not in terms pro-
iest against the United States securing the
independence of Cuba, but its tenor Is to
protest against any form of Cuban govern
ment other than that now being carried on
by the Cuban authorities. The appeal Is
signed as follows:
Jose Maria Galvez. President Of the
Honorable Government Of Cuba"
The appeal was placed in the hands
of the president Friday morning, and
the statement was made that 1t was
the direct expression of the Cuban
government itself, without the ms pira-
ton or knowledge of the Spanish gov
eminent either at Madrid, Havana, or
elsewhere.
Madrid, April 2.-The message which
the Cuban colonial government has adj
dressed to President Mckinley through
Senior Policy Bernabe, Spanish minister
at Washington, the full text of which
has been published here, has caused
feeling of deep emotion throughout
Spain, since 1t represents the oninion
not only of "a large majority of the
Cubans," but also the unanimous feel
ing of all political parties, whose lead
ers were consulted prior to Its dispatch.