The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-01
OUR ULTIMATUM TO SPAIN.
IT EXPIRES TO-DAY. BUT SPAIN
PLEADS FOR AN EXTENSION.

,,.,,orouy were Net Successful by March 4,
III, United states was to Aot-spa,n wants
m Extension Unti May 4. EzpsctinE vic
,,r, h, Thnt Tims-The Important geEotia-
,,on, Now GoiuE On in wsshinEten.
sp,cfar Gable Despatch to THE SUE.
NIpR1p, Feb. 2s--Tho correspondent Of THE
srx has received information which permits
Lir, m sum up the Spanish-American situation
a. follows
I,nltcd States Minister woodford received on
r., q , note from the Spanish Government
d,,ed Feb. /. This motto was translated into
,,,hor and cablod to Washington on Feb. 8.
I.cr that date the negotiations between the
,ro Governments were practically transferred
a. wnsbiprton. 1t is believed that Minister
yoodfcrd has not received any fresh ~instruc-
,,ons from his Government since that time.
II tho general diplomatic opinion here that
The relations between the two countries will not
ossnee unless It shall be proved that the blow.
inc nm Of the Maine was Intentional. Public
failing is less excited. and the Spaniards hope
,h,. tho United States will walt tho operation
NJ autonomy until April %, on which date the
new Cortes viii meet.
II tho status quo can be maintained without
American Intervention until the rainy season
begins In Cuba, Spain expects that peace In the
island will practically be effected before the
rainy season ends in the autumn.
Feb. 2s.-"The negotiation"
b..veen the Spanish and the American Govern
msnts mentioned in THE SUMS Madrid despatch
touoted sbove) relate to the ultimatum which
the American Government made to Spain some
time ago, that unlesn autonomy was suo-
oessfully established in Cuba by March 1. the
United States Government would DO compelled
TO act. 1t Is known to q chosen few here and to
all tho d~iplomatists In Europe that Spain is
making every effort to have an additional re-
spite OF two months granted. She wants to put
off the day Of accounting until the first OF May,
and negotiations to that end arc going on in
Washington now. Spain 10 doing her utmost to
secure this extension of time.
1t may be said right here that the United
States and Spain were very close to q war last
November, when, on account Of Weyler's atroci.
ties in Cuba, the United States demanded
Of Spain that wcylcr DO recalled. 1t is even
rald that the United States. In effect.
told Spain that If Spain did not take
weyler out Of Cuba the Unltei States would
take him out. At all events. Weyler was 70.
moved, and Spain then promised sweeping re-
forms, among which was the promise Of auto
nomy. Thereupon the United States told Spain
that II on March 1 tho successful establishment
OF autonomy in Cuba was likely to be assured
tho United States would reserve action for an.
other month.
1t is plain that autonomy has been the worst
kind OF a failure, and March i is tho day on
which our ultimatum expires.
The destruction of the Maine has added to
the complications, President Mckinley being
DESTROYS OF establishing tho responsibility for
the explosion before taking final action on the
subject Of autonomy. Nevertheless. Spain has
not ceased her efforts to obtain the respite until
May /. and negotiations to that end are now
actively going on.