The herald., 1898-03-23
SPAIN GIVES REASONS
FOR HER REFUSAL TO ACCEPT
REsPoNsIBILITY
ADMISSION OF IMPUTATIoN
Would Be Blot on the Nations Rep
utation Which Could Never
Be Removed
Associated Press Special wire

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK. March 22.-'I am in q
position to inform you-and it is highly
important, just now. in connection with
the political situations Of the immediate
future-that the Spanish government
will refuse to accept any finding of the
Maine Commission which may suggest
Spanish responsibility" says the Madrid
correspondent Of the Herald. 1.-THE
Spanish ministerial view is that the i'm
putation which such a finding would
have. II admitted, would be an irremova-
BILE blotch upon Spain's reputation as
civilized country. If war should be
thrust upon Spain, she will forthwith
make an appeal to the combined powers
of Europe on the ground Of common fair
ness, to intervene to protect Spain from
the results of what every Spaniard
would deem this most iniquitious find-
ing.
"They will demand the appointment
OF neutral Court Of Inquiry, who will
prosecute their work of investigation
with perfectly unbiased minds, condi-
tion almost impossible in United States
naval officers, who would naturally
seek to exonerate their own country
men.
"It may be stated, however, that the
ministry still clings to the hope that
the court cannot possibly return the
verdict other, than that the explosion
was accidental. Constant reference to
plans for the solution of the Cuban
questions by means Of purchase. coming
from Washington, causes great affront
here and will not be entertained There
are other means, non-commercial ones,
by which. II autonomy proves unsuc-
cessful, independence could be given to
Cuba. but it must come through some
third and friendly power.
''The strictest censorship has suddenly
been developed as regards dispatches
containing any mention of the torpedo
squadron now in the Canaries."
NOT YET NOTIFIED
WASHINGTON, March 22.-Senor
Polo, the Spanish Minister said today
that the report from Madrid that he had
notified his government that the Am
erican Naval Court of Inquiry's report
was to the effect that the explosion was
of external origin was an error. He
added that he had not notified his gov
ernment what the report would be for
the reason that he did not know, and
did not send cablegrams to his govern
ment except where he knew what were
the facts, and in this case he was not
in Possession Of facts.
THE SPANISH FLEET
NEW YORK, March ga dispatch
to the World from Madrid says:
The Madrid papers. including the Min
siterial organs. the Correspondence,
the Liberal and the Globe, print by per-
mission these items of news regarding
naval preparations:
The .hying squadron Is detained at the
Canary Islands for two reasons: One
is the necessity for repairing the tor
pedo vessel Arole, the other Is to give
time to the battleship Christobel Colon to
coal and complete her outfit before join
ing the squadron at Las Palmas to es-
cort it to Porto Rico.
Orders have been given to hurry the |
preparations of the battleships Pelayo
at Marseilles; Emperor Carlos v at |
Havre, and Newmanca and Victoria at |
Cartagena to enable them to join Ad- |
miral Cereva's squadron of evolution, |
at Cartagena.
This squadron already includes the
flrst-class cruiser Infanta Maria Teresa, |
the second-class cruiser Alfonso XIII, |
the fourth-class cruisers and the new
first-class cruiser Varez, of 1000 tons. |
bought from Italy.
Another flying squadron is to be formed |
at Cadiz with three torpedo vessels built
in Spain. two destroyers recently handed
over by English firms and the torpedo
gunboat Dona Maria Molina, whose trial
trips at Ferrol this week showed ~
knots.
For the present this second flying
squadron and the fleet of Admiral Ger
vera will remain on the coasts of Spain I
Vigo and other ports on the peninsula I
have called the governments attention
to the expediency Of promptly providing
land, sea and marine defenses offering
to contribute part Of the expense.
No marine reserves have been called
out yet as two battalions Of marines are
returning from Manila. The crews of
the coast guard vessels at the depots and
arsenals Of Ferrol, Cadiz and Cartagenal
have enough men available to man the
new war vessels. The Minister Of Mar
Inc, Admiral Bermejo, has said repeat
edly OF late that he declines to make
known his preparations. He wants the
country to understand that they are in
tended only to meet any emergencies on
the purely defensive and pacific line of |
conduct all along proclaimed by the
present government. The papers say
nothing Of army preparations.
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ON mYr mTrnr L