The herald., 1898-02-10
CAUSE AND EFFECT
WASHINGTON, Feb. s.-The publ

| WASHINGTON, F'eD. 9-Tne puDlCa~
| ton in the morning newspapers of what
| is supposed to be an autograph letter
written by Senior de LONE. the Spanish
minister, to his friend Canale5as, criti-
cising the president with the utmost
| freedom, caused sensation in official
Washington, and soon will be followed
by Minister de Lome's departure from
the United States. At the outset there
was disposition to question the authen-
ticity of the letter, but as bit by bit cir
cumstantial evidence accumulated until
| It was finally announced officially that
| the minister declined to deny the authen-
| ticity of the letter. all doubt was dis.
sipated, and the only question that re-
mained was as to the line of action to
be pursued by our government toward
the offending minister
The writing of this letter Is unques.
| tionably an offense against the ameni-
| ties of diplomatic relations, and such
offenses have almost invariably been
| regarded in the United States, as in
other countries, as sufficient grounds for
the terminat ton of the official status OF
| the letter-Writer.
AS soon as the letter appeared In the
press the state department officials be-
| gan an effort to settle its authenticity,
| and when they had learned all that
could be developed on this point, and
had been told that the minister himself
refused to deny writing it, the consid-
Grafton Of the next step began. Assist
ant Secretary Day was In consultation
with the president on the subject at
| least four times during the official day,
and then spent much time in framing his
| message to United States Minister
Woodford at Madrid. The official state
ment of the sending of this message was
accompanied by a declination to indi-
cate its contents at this time, the de-
partment merely giving to the press the
following statement:
Minister DeLome does not deny writ
ing the letter. This department has
communicated with Gen. Woodford on
the subject. Until that communication
reaches the Spanish government it would
be improper to in any manner state the
contents of the message to Gen. Wood
ford.
While the department has refused to
add to this meager announcement. it
can be stated without question that
Gen. Woodford was directed to lay the
facts developed before the Spanish gov
ernment, together with the statement
that in view of the minister's refusal to
deny the authorship of the letter, the
Spanish government is looked to with
confidence to deal with the case proper
ly. This amounts to an invitation to
recall the minister presuming that he
himself has not already taken steps to
vacate his position. No doubt is enter
tained of a compliance with the ina-
piled suggestion, but in case there should
be undue delay in acting the state de-
partment would feel called upon to move
directly In the matter and give the min
lister his passport, as was done with
Sir Julian Pauncefote's predecessor, who
wrote the celebrated Murchison letter.
DE LONE is SILENT
At the Spanish legation every avenue
of inquiry as to the letter is closed. The
Minister positively declines to be seen
concerning the subject. He will neither
affirm nor deny the accuracy Of the LETT
ter as whole on in part. Neither has
he given any statement denying or af-
firming the letter. and can be stated that
published statements purporting to give
denials are inaccurate and unwar-
ranted.
OFFICIAL COMMENTS
"In the absence Of any official infor-