The herald., 1898-04-10
hen Minister Woodfords imperative

note to Minister Gulion was received, caus-
ing personal offense and for the time being
changing the consideration of tho armis-
tice decree. Since then Mr.. Woodford has
Withdrawn his note and the continental
powers have pressed Spain to proclaim the
armistice. 1t is doubtful, however, whether
the authorities here would regard the stu
alton as improved by any decree which
failed to include the prospects of Cuban in
dependence or Intervention, and 1t is said
| there is no hope entertained that the con-
cession will go to the extent of even re-
| motely conceding the suggested independ-
ence or countenancing Intervention. Even
the ambassadors and ministers most friend
| ly to Spain doubt whether an armistice can
exert any favorable influence at this late
day. In one of these quarters it was stated
| today that an armistice was beneficial only
when two parties accepted 1t. In this case,
| 1t was explained. the two parties were the
Spanish government and the insurgents.
with every indication that the latter would
reject 1t. In that event, this high diplo-
matte authority pointed out there could be
no armistice except in empty name. There
has been no suggestion more than a moral
influence would be exerted towards its ac-
ceptance, and at the various embassies and
legations the idea Is secuted that any naval
or military forces from the European DOW
ers would operate against the insurgents
in order to compel them to accept the
armstice.
There were not many forenoon callers
at the White House. Assistant Secretary
Day arrived at 9 o'clock and talked over the
situation and the national policy. The In
terview, however, occupied scarcely five
minutes There were reports that the
queen regent would sign q decree declaring
an armistice in Cuba, and that this would
be followed by Cuban independence later,
but in no official quarters, so far as diligent
inquiry could learn, had any confirmatory
information been received. Senators Gull
lom of Illinois and Burrows Of Michigan
were the first Of the senatorial contingent
to talk with the president. Mr.. Burrows
had been to the state department, where
he talked with Assistant Secretary Day.
He said he had heard the fumors of the
queens intention to make q final effort to
avert war, but he was not aware that any
dispatch on the subject had been received
from Spain in the past twenty-four hours.
He suggested that an armistice would be
effective only with the assent Of both par
ties to it. and that, in his Judgment, such
action by the queen regent at this time
would not change the situation.
Senator Burrows said that If, however, a
complete armistice is actually proclaimed,
to cover a period Of, say, thirty, sixty or
ninety days, contemplating the cessation of
hostilities, 1t might present new and i'm
portant phase of the situation confronting
the country.
"For," he suggested, 'it would mean q
recognition of the beligerency of the Gu
bans, an official admission of the existence
of war, and it is to be borne in mind that
the object Of our Intervention is the pro-
curing of peace. Now, are we justified in
going into a war when one of the parties
offers to lay down its arms. and, as to the
bona-fide intention of such decree, are we
to recognize the good office of the country
and ask it II it means what it says? 1t
might have material bearing on the pres
ent crisis and 1t might not
Nothing has been received from Minister
Woodford on the subject of proposed ar
mistice, or, indeed, upon any subject. An
armistice at this time, it is said, would not
result in the postponement of contemplate
ed action even for q day.
Senators and representatives who called
there was no reasonable expectation that
hostilities could be avoided, and that their
business at the White House related entire
ly to the contemplated action of congress
on receipt Of the presidents message next
Monday. The indications, it is said, now
are that the resolution authorizing the
president to intervene in Cuba will not en-
body any declaration recognizing the in
dependence of the island, but If such action
is desired by a majority in each house. 1t
will be made the subject of a separate res
oution. to be introduced later. This con-
clusion has been arrived at, it is said, in
Difference to the wishes of the president.
Senator Pritchard of North Carolina saw
the president about II o'clock. Subsequent
ly he said that he favored armed interven-
tion first and consideration of the subject
of recognition of independence later The
suggested armistice, in his opinion, would
not alter our course at all. He believed
that that was question which concerned
the Cubans more especially, and its sig
nificance would depend upon the response,
II any, of the insurgents. He thought this
country, in the light of the recent events,
should proceed to intervene Immediately.
Senator Elkins of West Virginia and Rep
Canno of Illinois, chairman of
the house appropriations committee; Dol
liver of Iowa. member of the ways and
means committee; Pierce of Missouri Low
ering of Massachusetts. Faris of Indiana
and others were closeted with the presi-
dent.