The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-23

War--Sagasta's Policy a SHAM
MADRID May 22.-One point in the
reconstruction Of the cabinet lies in the
obstinate refusal of Senior Leon Cas-
tillo, the Spanish ambassador to
France. to accept the foreign secre-
taryship. Every consideration has been
brought to bear in vain. His first re-
ply to the premier's request expressed
the conviction that the interests of
spain would be best served by his re-
naming at Paris. Senior Sagasta an
swered, pointing out that the head Of
the government was the best Judge of
the interests Of the fatherland, and
insisting upon the ambassadors ac-
ceptance. To the surprise of every
body, the ambassador persisted in his
refusal, and promised, in a personal
interview, to prove to Senior Sagasta
that 1t would be a very grave mistake
for him to leave Paris. The ambassa-
| doris motive for refusal was the fol-
| lowing:
SAGASTA'S POLICY.
Senior Sagasta's cabinet is, by it's own
| formal declaration, determined to car
ry on the war with all possible vigor,
| whereas Senior Leon y Castillo is aware
| that Spain's friends among the powers,
France In particular, are resolved to
insist upon her suing for peace at the
| first favorable moment. France pos
sesses a two-fold interest in having
peace oncluded-fnancial and political.
The former would be severely damaged
| If Spain were utterly ruined, and the
| latter would suffer If the United States
retained permanent possession of the
| Philippines.
The leading idea which actuates the
| statesmen responsible for the political
| scheme favored by Senior Leon Cas-
| tillo is that as Spain must be worsted,
in the long run, 1t Is advisable to save
as much as possible from destruction,
and that the sooner peace is concluded
| the more tolerable will be the terms
acquiesced in by the United States.
The most important of these terms in
the eye Of SPANS friends and protect
ors, is the possession of the Philippines,
| which can be utilized for further po-
litical combinations later on.
| CASTILLO IS SHREWD.
To become a member Of a war cab
met therefore, at the very moment
when the friendly great powers are
resolved to press upon Spain a speedy
| peace, appears imprudent to Senior Leon
| y Castillo, who is in possession of all
| the threads of the negotiations Senior
Sagasta's cabinet is certainly DESTROYS
of regaining popularity with the coun-
try by prosecuting the war to the bit
| ter end, but it is highly improbable
that, having heretofore implicitly fol-
| lowed the advice Of the continental
| powers, it will refuse to accept coun-
sells CT peace proffered under the prom
| Use Of future help, especially If the
| United States valves all claims to the
| Philippines.
SPANS Importance as political fac
| tor in the far East is now thoroughly
1 understood, and everything possible
| will be done to gain time and profit
| by it. Her position as a Mediterranean
power, her influence in Morocco, her
disciplined land and sea forces and,
| above all, her possession of the Philip
pines constitute the political aspect of
| the question. The first and most i'm
| portant step at present is to utilize the
most propitious moment for conclud-
| ing peace on the basis of Spain's re-
tention of the Philippines. When that
time has come-and it Is believed to be
| very near. now that the Spanish
| squadron is at Santiago1Spain will be
asked to propose pour parleurs, and
| friendly efforts will be made to induce
| the United States to rest satisfied with
| Cuba's independence or with annexa-
| ton and to abandon the scheme of rul-
ing permanently or occupying temper
| arily the Philippines.
| These are the grave considerations
! which determine Senior Leon y Castil-
| 10, who is a party politician and
| usually submissive to the head Of his
| party, to insist upon remaining as am
| bassador at Paris.
CASTILLO AND SAGASTA.
Senior Leon Castillo, the Spanish
| ambassador to France, who was re-
Gently offered the portfolio Of minister
for foreign affairs, had a long confer
ence today with the premier, Senior Sa-
gasta.
Absolute reticence is observed as to
the matters discussed.