The San Francisco call., 1898-04-10
Firm Stand of the PreSi- dent in Dealing With
 Spain Well Liked.
Great Britain Would Aid the
 pean Nations Interfered.
FRESHMEN ARE PATRIOTIC.
National League Promptly Puts a Quietus on Peculiar Comment in
 the Freenasn's Journal.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


 LONDON, April 9.-If anything was 4nting to conf -, the European belief that the Cuban crisis had reached an impasse, from which there is no issue but war, or the hauling down of the Spanish flag, : has been found in President McKinley's reply to the Elm bassadorial note, presented in Wash ington on Thursday last, so strikingly reasserting the determination that there is only one way to prevent the United States intervening to end the intolarable situation. matter of fact no confirmation was wanted, for Europe's real hope of a peaceful solu- tion of the question was based upon the belief that when they realized the fu- tflity of the high-strung talk about their honor the Spaniards would accept the alternative or surrende~ The En- bassadorial appeal at Washington was regarded as an obvious formality. The British officials V w of th> matter is that the occasion is orc of the sole ex- ercise of American discretion and that the American attitude toward Cuba is the same as any other civilized and self-respecting government would have under similar circumstances.
 Practically the whole of this coun- try takes the same view of the case Great Britain has nothing to thank Spain for. Whenever commercial ques- tions have been raised Great Britain has found Spain obstructive intractable and arbitrary, as the United States finds her to-oay, and the modicum of sympathy found in some quarters is
 
 fact that Spain should be deprived of her last great colony. One of the few discordant not IS in the pean of sym pathy with the aims of the United States comes from . quarter it was least expected from The Freeman's Journal, the organ of the Irish Nation alist leader, John Dillon, a paper claiming to represent the Irish party, after flat-footedly expressing the hope that Spain will win in the expected war, asks "Is there a nation in the world which could brook the insults leveled at the Spaniards in the Ameri- can press or which would not protest against the stand-and- deliver policy adopted?"
 In conclusion, the Freeman's Journal remarks: Tn our opinion the United States would be better employed help ing Spain to make autonomy a success
 
 war. The latest advices show the Americans do not want to dCliver Cuba to the Cubans."
 The Irish Independent League has protested against this pro-Spanish declaration, and has passed a resolu tion of sympathy with the United States, repudiating with scorn and in dignation the declaration of the Free mans Journal.
 The resolutions adopted by the New sYork Chamber of Commerce at its re- cent meeting are regarded as highly important factors of the situation, and as giving the approval of business men to the war policy.
 During the course of a conversation. a high official of the British Foreign Office said: 'The certain difficulties and possible dangers which the United States is inviting by its attitude, be- sides the vast cost and the disquieting uncertainties of war itself, all of which could be avoided by a policy of indif- ference, shows the single -mindedness of the American aims, and constitute an irresistible claim on the sympa- thies of other nations. for the assured losses are not counterbalanced by any prospect of gain. The Presidents pol icy is statesmanlike and essentially humane, and while we may view ap- prehensively the ultimat, results to America herself in the necessity for Introducing order in the government of Cuba, the solution of the insufferabIe scandal will not be too dearly pur chased at the cost of war. The malef cent rule of Spain In Cuba has got to end now, for neither America nor any one else will trust her promises so often broken, especially after the tell tale correspondence which resulted in the recall of Senor Dupuy de Lome
 Nevertheless" added the foreipn official A ho }aly enviable task. ; fter driving out the Spaniards, she will have to send troops to crush the Cubans, who are rebels at heart, and who will not submit tamely to any form of Government which will deprive them of their occupation of fighting"
 There is much interest here in the prlVateering aspect of the expected hostilities, and the experts of the Ala bamas on both sides will be eagerly followed It is hoped that the adven- lures resulting will lead the United States and Spain to sign the declara- tion Of Paris. The general impression Is that the prospective combatants. while issuing letters of marque, will request neutral goods on their enemy's ships and goods on board neutral ships.
 There is considerable fear that Eu- ropes supply of wheat and cotton will be seriously affected in the case of hos tilities, although 1t is believed that un- less the attempted blockades of ports are absolutely effective, the neutrals will not respect them, and it is appre- hended that this aspect of the war will lead to ticklish international questions which may involve the combatants in heated disputes with Europe