Evening star., 1898-03-07
do all iii his power to keep down the i'm
hammable material of the country.
Congress Will support the President.

gress will support his every move. Not
Only Were these assurances given by those
with whom he conferred, but by numerous
prominent legislators who called later.
Secretary Long went to the Navy De-
partment Immediately after the conference
hut returned a few minutes later. About
this time Representative Boutelle, chair
man OF the naval affairs committee of the
House, arrived, al d was closeted with the
President good while, he and Secretary
Long being together for a few minutes.
Mr. Bou.elle feels, it is said that he has
been misrepreseEted in newspaper state
njents up to this time, and declined to
have anything 10 say as to his conference
In talking with Mr.. BoUtelie the President
would be in petition to ask Congress for
Certain war material ard have 1t granted
without unnecessary delay. For no one at
the White House today doubled that while
the President wants peace. so long as it
can be had With honor he is determined
tEat everything shalt be in readiness for
quick work i'll case war comes.
al me s,:te Aepnr,ment.
TEere was Il good deal of consultation
this morning betweSp tne President and
Secretary Long and Assistant Secretary
Day, devoted to the consideration of the
very latest phase of our relations with
Spain. Assistant Secretary Day also had
half hours conference with Senor du
Bose, the Spanish charge here, and mar
aged to find tine TO talk f'r a few minutes
with Gel. j. j. McCook, whose interest in
Cuban affairs is well known.
Notwithsta ndi?g all these conferences,
however, it was stated by all concerned
that there has been no change in the sit
Uation since yesterday, and that the ad-
mlnlstration mas no statement to make
1Iitner than that given out by Judge Day
yesterday. 1t is still maintained that there
has been no demand on the part of the
Spanish government for the recall of Con-
sui General Lee, but this denial does not
take the form of a complete assertion that
an lnt1natlun has not been given that the
Spanish government would bs pleased were
Cen Lee relieved at Havana. Still there is
a wide and substantial difference between
these two propositions-an official state
ment, and an unofficial intimation-and
therein may be found loophole for es-
cape from what threatens to be very dis
agreeable and dangerous issue. Had the
Spanish government made an official de-
mand for Ger. Lees recall, it would have
no recourse, in the event of refusal by our
government to accede to the demand, but
the withdrawal of the consul generals exc
quatur, thus leaving him without official
status in Havana. The matter not having
taken that official form, however, there is
no tangible excuse for Spain to look upon
herself as humiliated In this matter.
1t is quite certain that the administra-
ton does not take the view that a hasty
glance at the situation W ould seem to indi-
cate, that there shall not be a peaceful
termination of this last incident, and such
officers of tn cabinet have felt free 20
discuss the situation at all have not hcsi-
tated to declare that no rupture in the re-
lations between the United States and
Spain is likely to result.
First Program to BE Observed
As to the matter of sending supplies to
Matanzas and Sagua la Grande. which has
formed the basis of objection by the Span
ish government. although not in official
form, it is said at the State Department,
and at the Navy Department as well, that
the program laid down in the statement
given out by the President is TO be OBJ
served. The supplies are to go from Key
West to these Cuban ports in a naval ves-
SELL, but just which vessel or what kind of
a ship has not yet been definitely deter
mined. Indications now however, point to
the use of the Fern for this purpose She
is unquestionably naval ship, but scarce
ly a warship in the proper sense of the
term, her principal use being in dispatch
carrying and in the Transportation of
freight from one navy yard to another.
Because of her ability to handle freight she
is undoubtedly better adapted than either
the cruiser Montgomery or the gunboat
Nashville for the transportation of sup
plies. These warships are so cut up with
small compartments below and so filed
with machinery that their freight-carrying
capacity Is limited practically to a little
space on the upper decks. but as before
sateo, a definite decision has not yet been
reached as to which ship or ships will be
sent. Secretary Long calculates that the
supplies which left New York Saturday by
steamer for Key West will reach the latter
port Wednesday, giving ample time in the
interim to make a selection as between the
vessels. He said further that 1t would
probably be left to Admiral Sicard, the
commander-in-chief of the squadron, to
choose the vessel which could best be
spared. No attempt is made to deny that
the attitude of the Spanish government
toward the entry of the warships into Gu
ban ports may be full of significance and
lead in the end to trouble.
1t is realized that If 1t is conceded mat
vessels of the United States navy NAV in
time of peace be excluded from Havana
and Matanzas by the rule they may like
wise be kept out of Havana harbor.
and the administration thereby would not
only be prevented from redeeming its prom
ise to send another warship to Havana to
replace the Maine, but would be Obliged to
leave American citizens resident in Havana
entirely without protection, a possibility that
cannot be contemplated by the administra-
ton with equanimity. Hence it may be
fully expected that the officials will stick
TO their technical purpose to use a naval
vessel for the transportation OF supplies.
senior Du Bose In the Dark,
The conference between Judge Day and
seror du Bosc,t the Spanish charge d'affaires.
attracted great interest as it was thought
that Mr.. du Bose brought late dispatches,
which would serve to make the situation
definite. The talk was surrounded with
the greatest secrecy, and the parties inter-
ested would say nothing.
Mr. du Bose brought no dispatches of