The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-04-11
SPAIN PRESENTS \ NOTE Official Notice to the United States of the Granting
 of an Armistice.
IT IS WITHOUT CONDITIONS
4 VERY SRREWD PIECE OF DIPLO-
 MACY FOR SPAIN.


 ing to Report It Should Have Been Pro-
 claimed Yesterday by General Blanco
 Who Will Determine Later the Duration
 and Details of the Measure-spain
 Wishes the Maine Question Referred to
 Board of Experts Appointed by the
 Powers.
 Washington, April 1o.-The Spanish government through it's minister at Washington, Senor Polo y Bernabe, to- night delivered an important official document to the state department stating that an armistice which the queen regent of Spain had commanded General Blanco to proclaim to-day was without conditions, that her majesty's government had granted liberal insti- tutions to the island of Cuba which the coming Cuban parliament would devel- op. Recalling the condolence and sym pathy expressed by the queen regent and her government on the disaster of the Maine and the horror this disaster had occasioned in Spanish hearts and appealing to the courtesy and sense of justice of the United States govern ment to enlighten public opinion upon the attitude of Spain. The note also repeats the offer of the Spanish gov ernnent to submit the Maine question to experts designated by the powers.
 Official Notification of Armistice.
 The document was the official mo- tification of the Spanish government to the United States of the granting of an armistice Minister Woodford's dis patch last night had briefly stated the fact that an armistice had been agreed upon, but it was not communicated as coming from the Spanish government To-day's communication cleared up rnisapprehensions on the most vital point, of Spain's concession, namely, that the armistice was without condi- tions. The note was received by the state department after the first cabi- net meeting and was one of the main subjects of consideration at the second meeting held tonight. Although the Spanish note was surrounded with the usual secrecy of official negotiations the following summary of it's contents was secured:
 What the Armistice Provides.
 "The Spanish minister in Washington deeply impressed by the numerous er- TOTS which seem to have obtained cred it in public opinion in America in re- gard to the Cuban question, considers it his duty to call again the attention of the secretary of state of the United States to the following points:
 First, her majesty, the queen regent of Spain, desirous of ending the troubles which are desolating Cuba, has commanded a. suspension of hostil- ities. General Blanco has been ordered to proclaim to-day an armistice with out conditions. He will determine later the duration and details of this armis- tice so as to carry out the generous in- tentions of her majesty and the wishes of the friends of peace.
 "Second-Her majesty's government has granted to the island of Cuba in stitutions as liberal as those enjoyed by Canada under the British flag. The Cuban chambers will meet on the 4th of next May. It will be their duty and privilege to put into practice and de- velop these institutions. In addition to this, Cuba is represented in the .oarlia- ment at Madrid.
 "Third-Public opinion in this coun- try appears to ignore the fact that the loss of the Maine was immediately fol- lowed by official and reiterated express sions of condolence from her majesty the queen, from her government, from her charge d'affaires in Washington and from the authorities in Havana, all of which tended to affirm the hor- TOT which this disaster has caused to arise in Spanish hearts, as also the sympathy felt for the United States government and navy and for the American nation. The Spanish minis ter feels confident that he can count upon the courtesy and sense of jus tice of the United States government to enlighten public opinion upon this subject
 "Fourth-As to the cause of this la mentable disaster, it resolved itself into question of facts which can. only be settled by material proofs. The Spanish minister reiterates the assur- ance that his government is ready to submit the question to experts desig- mated by the maritime powers, whose conclusions are in advance accepted"
 Senor Polo delivered the document in person to the state department and aside from the interest in the commu- nication itself, the call had added in- terest as an evidence of a renewal of diplomatic negotiations, this being his first call at the department in ten days. Later Senor Dubosc, first ecretary Of the legation, made another call at the department on the same general sub- ject. Besides delivering the note the call permitted personal exchange be- tween the secretary of state and the Spanish officials of an agreeable char acter.