The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-04-05

allow cable messages 10 come over the
French line from tie Danish island or
81. Thomas to the United States. With
the Lccward islands Of which St.lhomas
IS Il center, as the probable center of
any naval operations which may result
from The present crisis, it is recognized
IL Of vital Importance to secure cable
facilities not controlled by Spain. NJ
present til" cable line touching Ut Porto
Rico and subject to Spanish cGntrol is
the only means Of communicating with
these islands. The French cable laEds
ut ST. Thomas ls:rt tie station is merely
for testing PURPOSES. and messages are
not received or delivered. 1t is now pro
posed to have this station turned into
Il regular bureau. III which ease the
government could hc brought into Close
cable communication with any naval
rendezvous there This establishment
Of the bureau will require the consent
Of Denmark and it is probable this NH
* asked through the 'nitcd States Min
i~t<r at Corchha=cn within the next few
DAYS.
II = understood that !hc Danish gov
crnmcnt did not view with favor the re
cent? proposition for the purchase Gf tn"
! island Of ST Thomas by the United
States for use cnaling station, rs
il WAS felt sale Of he island at this
time would be an mfricndly act toward
Spain. This view WAS communicated
70 Washington and was doubtless made
known to The State Department through
tie Danish Minister here
BERNABE Is ACTIVE.
The Spanish Minister. Scnor Polo V
| Rrrnahc and bis staff bad u busy sun
| day. although ii did not bring amy de-
vclolmcnts changing the situation. The
| Minister did not see State Department
officials during the day. lis last off
! cial exchange with the authorities hcro.
| WAS on last Friday after Spain'S am
swer had been received. since which time
| the negotiations have Lrcn at Il halt
| This. however has lot ie>S"ned the
| Spanish Minister'S activity III llcepin:
| his government fully "pprised to the
| general aspect of affairs i'll this country.
| The elaborate manner in which this
| cable Intelligence has gone TO the au-
| horites at Madrid Is probably without
| Il parallel 1t : understood that when
! tie situation began to assume its most
| serious aspect. Il single cable dispatch
sent by the Minister to the Foreign Of
| fee at Madrid cost S1.EGO. Another dis
, patch cost 500: another SfOO. In this
/ way The Madrid authorities are kept in
| close touch with condition Of affairs here
1
! tons but more particularly TO the ten
| denotes and al those circumstances
which will permit the Madrid government
to gauge the situation at Washington.
! Secretary Sherman gave Il dinner last
| ni@t. ut which the Spanish Minister
| WAS one OF the guests. Senator Lodge.
| Of the Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations and Col. Fred Grant Of New
| York. being among the others present.
| The presence of the Spanish Minister n {
| the home of the secretary If State WAS
! devoid OF Significancc except aS show
f! n- the pacific outward appearance Of
affairs. Being purely 4 social gathering.
the Spanish situation was not alluded TO-
! although it is understood to have re-
quired some tact 10 avoid the absorbing 2
| topic Of current interest.
| i is understood that the message t. i.c
| sent 10 Congress hy I'll" President W.iI
Include Il VERY comprehensive Sja.cnlr'no
| OF tie rcII sons o.. tie lItt! states -
| tn" tu}an c1">'i>p on lhen:rcr f
the Cabne, auII ta-a'v it w"vl cove.
Il period of fcr,i.t;,s ';fiy wears
The .hrca.",la act;ol II Gc,rnIlty ;o
! send a wa">nIp t. Il"vtul - e!.t.fi:. in
sj"mnity in the lannamaba c;se WAS
the aston nf con Siderable cuIn!#cnf ~
various circles. The discu>~ion was
| predicted entirely on thr possibility -
the outcome - such action il. Ill, trcut
If war foil"wiay ia'Wcca the .nitcl
STATE, and Spin !'"l. ua~ expressed
| that Germany "on3d no, Hc.Ta,s long
if Spain rcfu> 'nd",ar".y. and HAT
she might get her man ,i-svIf INTO jIa-
| vaIa harhor an" tax. possession nf tn"
place before Wi. ts,,s declared. in this
case il was argued thai The @)rt' would
then be regarded * nrut:'2I one.
which would nhihic ,pi, government
from striking i blow i thai c.fy. the
vital point Of the whpia ian !.