The San Francisco call., 1898-05-09
WOODFORD ON AMERICAN SOIL Return of the Minister and His Party From
 Madrid. to Belittle the Danger He Encountered When
 Leaving. Tourist From France Tells of Petty Insults to Americans
 In Paris.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

Special Dispatch to The Call.
 NEW YORK, May 8.-General Stew art l.. Woodford, United States Min ister to Spain, arrived on La Touraine this morning and left for Washington this afternoon. La Touraine had on board also a number of the attaches of the United States Legation at Mad rid, including George Stanford Sickles, first secretary of the Legation captain T. H. Bliss, Colonel Kellogg, military attache, and Captain c. L. Dyer, naval attache. Besides these were Shy Ting, secretary of the Chinese Legation at Washington, accompanied by Hon Soo, also of the Legation.
 A reception committee from the Union League Club and U S. Grant l Post No 42, G. A. R., met General l Woodford at Quarantine and accompa- nied him to this city. General Wood ford declined to be interviewed by re- porters, saying he was still in the dip lomatic service of the Government and could say absolutely nothing for pub- i lication.
 MT. Sickles, when informed that cable dispatches had reported that the
 
 legation had come from Madrid to Paris had been attacked by mob and that stones had been thrown at the party, said:
 Well, some things were thrown at the train, but the demonstration was not of serious character. A number of students-not a large number-had gathered at Valladolid and cried: Long live Spain,' and a few other patriotic cries. They were not directed against Us particularly, 1 assure you, but were the result of patriotic feeling on their part A few windows in one of the cars next to the party were broken. but none of us were injured. None at all were hurt. While at Madrid we were treated with the utmost cour- tesy."
 When asked how it happened that Minister Woodford had received his passport previous to his handing to the Spanish Government the ultimatum of the United States MT. Sickles said:
 We rather expected that; at least we were not surprised when the pass ports arrived, as we knew that when the Spanish Minister at Washington received his papers the Spanish Cabi- net could probably issue ours to us and thereby sever all diplomatic relations. But any further information I cannot give"
 Naval Attache Dyer, when asked about the reception of his passports by Minister Woodford, said that he had not been present at the time, as he had accompanied the wife and daughter of Minister Woodford to Paris and had left on the day previous to that on which the passports had been handed in.
 Colonel Kellogg of the Fourth United States Cavalry, the military attache at Paris, said
 'I am simply going to Washington to beg to be permitted to take part in the active operations in the army when they take place. Captain Rodgers of the Fourth Cavalry is compelled to re- main abroad, but will make every effort to be transferred to this country as soon as possible"
 J. s. Highlands, another American on the steamer, said he had gone abroad to visit his son at Madrid. He had intended staying for about six months, but the anti-American demon strations had been so great that he was forced to leave that place within three weeks after his arrival and that his son was forced to flee to Lisbon. MT. Highlands said that the signs on the offices of the American business houses had been smashed and torn down.
 w. G. Cannon of Denver, who had been travelling abroad said he was forced to return to this country, and he could not continue through spain during the present state or affairs. Tn Paris. MT. Cannon said, the feeling was most bitterly anti-American. Every person who was thought to be Ameri- can was elbowed off the sidewalks, icstled by the crowds and everything possible done to show the antipathy or the French. Petty anpoyances were practiced. For instance, the street cars will not stop to take on American pas sengers, rates of exchange on money in most cases are exorbitant and small purchases are not encouraged by many of the shop keepers except at figures three or four times the actual value
 WASHINGTON, May 5. = General Minister to Spain, arrived in Washing ton from New York tonight. He went almost directly to the White House, where he was given most cor dial reception by the President. He remained in conference With the Presl- dent until a late hour the entire Hls- pano- American situation being inform ally and thoroughly discussed. General Woodford declined to be interviewed on the subject.
 It can be said that the President not only gave General Woodford a cordial reception, put WdIIlly COIlSI dlUldtcu him upon his conduct of American in- terests in Madrid. The President as- sured him that his work in Madrid dur ing the critical crisis met with his en- tire approval.
 It was learned tonight that the ad- ministration had purpose in transmit ting to General Woodford the ulti- matum of the United States to Spain in open English, instead of in the State Department cipher, which Is usually employed in cable correspondence with diplomatic representatives. It was ex- pected by the President that the mes sage to Minister Woodford would be laid before the Saga5ta ministry be- fore it was delivered to General Wood ford, and in this he was not incorrect, as events proved. The message was delayed many hours In delivery, and Minister Woodford afterward learned that the ultimatum had been in the hands of Sagasta and had been con- sidered by the Cabinet long before he lear-ed that it had arrived. Thus 1t was that the Spanish Government was enabled to give him his sssports be- fore he had an opportunity to deliver f<@x.y | 1xyf 1x~.1