Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-28
POSSIBILITIES MUST CEASE
Reported Outline of the Presidents Latest
Note to Spain.
No Threat Made, But a Digniiei
Statement of the American
Contention.


ley's plan of Humanitarian Intervention
by the United States in the Cuban war"
Both notes are expressed in strong,e firm
language, without suggestion of threat.
They are perhaps merely preliminary.
For the destruction of the Maine the
President demands no indemnity. He
merely acquairts the Madrid government
with the facts that the naval court of in
quiry finds that the ship was blown up in
Havana harbor by an external agency, and
that nothing but mine or torpedo of the
largest size could have wrought such ue-
struction. The President submits the facts
to the Spanish government and waits re-
ply Mr. Woodford did not even demand
an early response.
As to the war in Cuba, President McKin-
ley advised the Spanish government, in the
politest terms, that the time is fast draw
ing near when the United States would be
compelled to act upon the warnings so
often given to Spain since the struggle in
Cuba began. The President clearly init
mated that the war in Cuba must cease,
but he fixed no date. The note thus makes
the question of Cuban Intervention para
mount to the Maine catastrophe. which the
presidents memorandum refers to merely
as. a lamentable incident. The issues and
problems of the Cuban war the United
States government now calls urgently to
the attention OF Spain, declaring that the
conditions now prevailing in Cuba, so near
to the shores of the United States, have
long been intolerable to the American peo-
pie.
No More Waiting.
Spain was reminded by Minister Wood
ford that the action of the President and
his represer tatives during the present and
late administra ton has always been aimed
at the preservation Of peace and the pro-
motion of cordial relations with Spain. She
has had the widest scope in choosing her
own methods to restore peace in her Amer
lean colonies, and has failed. The United
States, against it's own wishes and desires,
has become convinced that Spain has made
no substantial progress either toward the
pacification of Cuba or the realization of
the aspirations of the people of her colo
MES. Reports from the United States con-
suls. like those of agents of all European
powers who have opportunities for inquiry
have been most unfavorable to Spain.
President Mckinley signifies to the gov
errment of Spain his intentions of irnme-
diately communicating all the official facts
in mis- possession respecting Cuba, and the
Maine report, probably, also, to Congress.
He further contemplates steps which will
make the distribution of relief by the
United States to the Cubans more effective
and upon a much larger scale.
The nearest approach to a threat in Pres
ident McKinley's memorandum, which is
said to be strongly argued and couched in
the most dignifie1 but unmstakable terms,
is the statement that in making fresh con-
tributions for the relief of the suffering
people in Cuba the American people expect
to see practical term assigned for the
complete restoration of peace and order in
that island.
Does Not Resist Proposed Relief.
The Spanish reply is equally firm. 1t
resolutely asserts the intention of Spain
not to tolerate any invasion of Spanish
rights or any step intended to lead to the
overthrow of the Spanish rule in Cuba.
Spain deprecates sending wholesale relief
in the manner suggested by President Nc
Kinley, on the ground that it will encour-
age rebels (separatists is the term en-
ployeD. even if it does not lead to actual
conflict between the authorities of the
United States and Spain. But Spain does
not refuse the aims. She will not resist
this step, probably. Spain lays much stress
upon the efforts she has made to satisfy
the views of the United States and to pre-
serve cordial relations while endeavoring to
tn,plant home rule, and thus hasten the
paciication of Cuba, which has been re-
tarded so long only because of the moral
and material assistance given from the
United States and the large rebellion fund
raised in North America.
On the Maine question Spain makes con-
ciliatory but vague response, hoping that
q just solution will be found, declining to
final and suggesting possible arbitration of
the entire question, along with her own
claims against the United States.
On the whole the exchange of diplomatic
was, except that the issue is more clearly
defined. SSfin will not yield an inch.
spnin's Reply.
The American minister had an official in
terview with the ministers Of foreign affairs
and of the colonies, Seniors Gullon and Mo-
ret, at Senior Gullon's private residence.
Minister Woodford had second official in
terview today with the minister of foreign
affairs, at the foreign Office, and received
the official reply to President McKinley's
emorandum, which is outlined above.
Neither Senior Gullon nor Gen. Woodford
would give to the Worlds correspondent
the slightest word for publication. 1 have
received from other sources the purport of
the two official Communications.
The )aniSh torpedo f1otilla which sailed
from the Canary Islands last Tuesday con-
sists CT six boats, rot thirteen, as erro-
neousiy cabled to other American news
parers. They are accompanied by a
steamer carrying fuel. The first-class ar
mOred cruiser Cristobal Colon could not
join the flying squadron at Las Palmas be-
cause she vas not ready, but she will fol-
low in L few Gays.
The news of the departure Of the torpedo
fleet for American waters was received
with the widest enthusiasm in Madrid.
panic in financial circles came today
The heaviest decline ever scored in q single
day In the history of Madrid bourses fol-
lowed, affecting all classes of securities
No assignable reason Is given.
Sencr Sagasta, prime minister, on leav-
ing the palace after conference with the
queen regent, said to me:
There is nothing new. We are exactly
as We were yesterday, but / still trust in
being able to avert a rupture with the
United States"