The evening times., 1898-04-04
AN INSULT FROM SPAIN
Sagasta, Not Mr.. Mckinley, Broke
OF Negotiations.
SOME MASTERLY DIPLOMACY
The spanish Premier Informed the
American Government and All TN -
Powers of Europe That Under No
circumstances Would His Country
Consider Cuban Independence.

New York April 4.-The Journal prints
the following dispatch, dated yesterday,
from rs Washington correspondent:
Today it leaked out, to our shame.
that America did not cease negotiations,
but Spain. Practically Spain has de-
livered an ultimatum to the United
States.
The fact was carefully suppressed in
the abstract of Minister Woodford' 5
note, which was given out for publica-
tion last Friday. According to the alb
strac. Spain declared that the reconcen-
tration order had been revoked; that the
Spanish government had appropriated
100000 for the relief Of the reconcentra-
dos: that the Spanish government would
accept any food and assistance the
United States might offer, and that an
armistice could only be granted if the
insurgents asked for it.
The abstract did not contain the i'm
portant declaration that Spain absolute
ly refused 10 grant Cuban independence,
and declined to enter into negotiations
which had for their precedent condition
Cuban independence.
In other words when the United States
Government sent a practical ultimatum
to Spain, declaring that the war must
cease. and that Cuban independence was
the condition upon which all negotiations
would be conducted, Spain promptly re-
piled by sending in her ultimatum that
any negotiations which We might desire
to enter upon should be based upon the
condition that Spain retain control of
Cuba.
Ii is well understood that during the
past two years the Spanish legation at
Washington has repeatedly informed the
State Department that Spain would
neither sell Cuba nor grant independence
to the rebels: that she would. in short,
only leave the island when driven from
there by force of arms. This attitude
has been reiterated during the last two
weeks several times. and thre is no
earthly doubt in the minds of Admins
tTation officials that Spain means what
she says. She has obtained six weeks
grace since the explosion of the Maine
through the exercise of her diplomacy,
although she knows as well as President
Mckinley knows that her officials were
responsible for the destruction of the
vessel. and the killing of the American
seamen on board.
Now that the truth is coming out. ii
seems that Spain has not resorted to an
unusual amount of deceit in conducting
her negotiations. In addition to making
her frank reply of last Thursday night,
she has informed all the important Euro
pean powers who have besought her to
avert war if possible that she will not
grant Cuba her independence. and insists
that the final settlement of the RESPONSE
bility Of the Maine disaster be left to
an international tribunal Sagasta has
replied to all the representations of the
European powers that their efforts to
secure peace are futile if based upon a
weakening on Spain's part. He declares
that the United States has demanded
concessions from the Peninsular govern
ment which her ministry has refused to
consider because the spirit of the coun-
try would regard the making of such
concessions as disloyalty to the flag
The United States is equally determin-
ed to secure Cuban independence Sa-
gasta cannot weaken, neither can Nc
Kinley. Nothing seems to be more GER
tain than war. No well-informed man
in Washington believes that il will be
delayed beyond this week.