The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-18
MAINE REPORT AT HAND
CABINET WILL CONSIDER THE
COURTS FINDINGS TODAY
An Immediate Demand for Indem-
nifty or Recognition of Cuban
Independence the Two Courses of
Action in PrOspect-Spain's Only
Hope Is to Gain IA Brief Delay by
the Aid OF Diplomacy.
Washington Bureau st. Paul Globe, !
COrcoran BWidinJ {

Special to The St. Paul Globe.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Mch. Ito
morrow the president and cabinet will
consider the naval boards report into
the cause of the Maine disaster.
1t will be perfunctory considera-
ton, for the verdict is already well
known. But official formalities must
be gone through with and the public
announcement of the report will not
be made until after the matter has
been laid before the official cabinet
circle.
But While the result of the investi-
cations of the naval board is known,
there is some divergence of opinion as
to what course to follow. Whether to
make an immediate demand of in
demnity on Spain or to recognize the
the independence of Cuba, thus pre-
clpating the issue at once. There are
a few who believe in the international
arbitration treaty. They are strong
men, too, but they mistake the tenn
per of the American people.
II the president could carry out his
own wishes undisturbed by any coun-
ter policy on the part of congress he
would probably, as he feels now, sub
nit the report on the Maine and allow
ing in the Cuban consular reports cal
led for so long ago.
If the report of the board of inquiry
presents preponderance of evidence
in support of the theory of external
origin for the explosion, but without
fastening the responsibility therefore
on any one, the president would un-
doubtedly put in request for such
reparation by Spain as money would
afford, and wait proper time for a
response. If then it became evident
that congress could be adjourned and
the peril of general uprising in Spain
avoided, there is no doubt that Spain
in spite of the findings Of her own
board of inquiry contradictory to ours
would meet the presidents demand
That would mean at least a few
months more delay for any purpose
of intervention which might be franz
ing itself In the presidents mind
No attention seems likely to be paid
to the Spanish remonstrance against
our continuance of naval operations
in the waters contiguous to Cuba In
the best Informed circles here, it is re-
garded as simply another tactical pay
on the part Of Spain, like her remon-
STRANGE against our sending the Maine
to Havana and her demand for Consul
General Lees recall, the whole history
of our diplomatic relations with Spain
for the last two years is strewn with
incidents of this sort. The purpose in
each case seems to have been like
that Of the counsel for defense in a
criminal court, when he presents his
requests that the judge shall give Ger
tain specific instructions to the jury
This is not done with the eXpecta ton
that al the instructions will be given
as requested, but in order that the
counsel may not neglect any pos
sible chance in favor of his client, no
matter how remote.
Spain has. been in the habit of
throwing her remonstrances into the
hopper, carefully avoiding giving them
so formal an appearance that she
would afterward be compelled to fol-
low them up and always with the hope
that some of them may succeed. 1t
will doubtless appear later, on dis
covering that our government will not
heed her present protest, that Spain
has withdrawn it as if it were of no
real consequence after all.