The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-20
UItimatum Not Public

As to the course of events in the imme-
diate future, the only prediction that can
be made is one based on precedents. Ae-
cording to these Minister Woodford will
notify the Spanish government of the ac-
tion of the government of the United
States and should the Spanish answer be
unsatisfactory as is expected, the next step
will be for him to ask for HIS passports and
leave Madrid. That would be followed in
stantly by the withdrawal from Washing
ton of Senor Polo, the Spanish minister
At this point 1t can be said that the state
department officials are confident that the
Spanish government will shape every
phase of the negotiations as to oblige US
to take the initiative at every point.
After the withdrawal of the minister, as
suming Spain does not back down, will fol-
low actual war, but whether or not the
first overt act will be preceded by formal
declaration of war, which would insure the
immediate naturalization of the powers, or
whether the North Atlantic squadron will
make its appearance off Havana as be-
ginning cannot yet be predicted. In th.s
connection it may be stated that the army
and navy experts are beginning to take
a less hopeful view of the easy and quick
campaign that they entertained short
time ago. Months are now mentione1
against weeks as the probable length OF
hostilities and one eminent naval officer,
who had experience in the late war, pro-
fesses belief that unless outside pressure
is brought to bear a war may easily drag
along a year under existing conditions.
Apparently the powers have abandoned
open efforts in Washington to influence the
course of our government. Matters were
quiet at all the legations today and no IN
structions were received by any of the am
bassadors or ministers in the line of media
ton.
UItimatum Agreed Upon
."rhe ultimatum," said one member of the
cabinet after the meeting day, has been
agreed upon in substance, but has not yet
been formally drawn up. I think you are
safe in saying that Spain will be given for
ty-eight hours to submit her reply. In ac-
cordance with the terms of the resolution
the president will demand that. Spain shall
evacuate the island The demand for this
will be f1at-footed and absolute, and no
tentative or half way reply will satisfy the
president. Nor will any compromise that
contemplates the withdrawal of Spain S
troops from the island and the subsequent
re-establishment of Spanish control or the
raising of the Spanish flag over the coun-
try be accepted by the administration.
"If Spain refuses to evacuate Cuba
prompt measures will be adopted to put
into force the congressional resolution. A
blockade of Cuba will, so far as at present
understood be begun at once There are
an adequate number of war vessels in the
vicinity to make this effective. I think
such supplies as the Spaniards now control
will not last them more than a month.
Then steps taken with view to increasing
the equipment of Gomez's soldiers and
furnishing them with sufficient hard tack
for food will enable him to harasS the
Spaniards from the rear, which will ma
terially assist in bringing them to terms
"No, the United States government will
not issue any letters of, marque and re.
prisal, nor countenance privateering, but II
the Spanish government chooses to entei
upon this line of warfare she will have tc
deal with the nations of Europe with whose
commerce she seeks to interfere"