The record-union., 1898-02-13
The Position Of the Country Almost
Unanimously Endorsed.
Daily Newspapers Say the Administration
Took the Right Course.
The Incident Creates Suppressed
Excitement at Madrid-While
Public Comments of the Diplo-
mats and the Press Were Wild
in Character, There Is an I'm
dercurrent Of Bitterness on All
Sides.

LONDON, Feb. 12-(Copyrighted.
1898, by the Associated Press. )-The De
Lone incident has excited little interest
in England, but the opinions expressed
almost unanimously indorse the posi-
tion of the United States. The daily
newspapers, with the exception of the
Morning Post have adopted the view
that the Administration took the right
course. The Sackville West incident
naturally has been much quoted, but it
must be added that it has always been
on the most friendly terms toward the
United States.
What the Times calls q well-in-
formed correspondent which probably
means some one in the Foreign Office,
writes to the newspaper to-day that in
respone to the cable request of the
United States for Lord Sackville West's S
recall. Great Britain answered that mo
action oculd be taken until the receipt
of the language that it was charged
Lord Sackville West had used.' When
this answer was received it appears Sec
rotary Bayard handed Lord Sackyille
West his passports.
The weekly newspapers express the
opinion that President Mckinley would
have done better to ignore Dupuy De
Lcme, and the "Statist" opines that a
man better qualified to conduct the For
eign Office affairs of the United States
than Air. Sherman would refuse to no.
tice De Lone and everyone participating
in the affair. adding, "a Government
based upon popular suffrage has to ex-
pect free criticism
Continuing, the "Statist" says it does
not see why President Mckinley, who
is accustomed to the rough as we'll as
the smooth side of politics" shows sus-
ceptibility and objects to allow foreign
ers the freedom he admits in the case
of his fellow-citizens.
The Spectator thinks the practical
expulsion of De LONE VIII produce fresh
difficulties between Spain and America,
although the incident ought not to
changes the situation in any way"
Continuing. the Spectator" says: ''If
President Mckinley were wise he would
have promptly declared that he would
not pay any attention whatever to the
purloined private letter, however genu-
ine President Mckinley should have
him that he does not need his assurance
that the letter was d forgery, the bad
taste and vulgarity of the letter being
am pie proof of the fact. If he had the
nerve or wisdom to do that, he would
have immensely raised his prestige
abroad and in his country. AT the time
one cannot be surprised that the United
States failed to treat the letter with the
contempt merited. We do not for a
moment suggest that the Executive
failed to ignore it because 1t was ignor-
ant of diplomatic usage or because it
was not sufficiently good hammered to
be self restrained under provocation.
The Americans are as good hammered as
most people, and their politicians and
officials are perfectly aware of how Lord
Salisbury or NJ. Hanotaux would have
disposed Of similar letter. and can
guess exactly how President Lincoln
would have treated it. II is not lack OF
manners or traditions which made the
United States Government take the in
cident too seriously. but rather the want
OF firmness and savoir faire which has
been shown by the present Administra-
ton throughout its term Of office"
The Spectator" is not sorry the mo-
naent may be approaching when the
United States will intervene to stop the
agonies of Cuba adding: Their only
hope is in the United tSates declaring
that the Spanish troops must leave, but
the Cubans must be allowed to settle
their own fate. That the United States
would be morally justified in saying the
war must end, and that Cuba be given
peace there is no doubt for a moment"
Madrid advices show that the De
LONE affair created much suppressed
excitement there. The public comments
of the diplomats and the press
were generally Objectionable but there
was an undercurrent Of bitterness on
all sides Even some days before the
incident became known there had been
particularly nervous feeling in regard
to the relations with the United States.
as evidenced by the unusual precau-
tfons taken to guard the residence Of
the United States Minister, General
Stewart l.. Woodford. A rumor how
ever absurd was taken as gospel IN
the alarnist circles. even though a rep
etition OF news which was stale weeks
ago. For instance. quite ferment was
caused by reference to the fact that
sixteen United States warships were
off the Dry Tortugas. and it was taken
as evidence that the blockade of Cuba
had already begun. The advent of the
French cruiser Dubourdieu at Havana
was hailed with delight by the Madrid
press, and much was made of the polite
remarks addressed by the French Ad-
miral 10 the Government official on the
occasion of his complimentary visit
These remarks are said to have been
most flattering in regard to the estab-
lishmant of new regime, and were,
ii is said, accompanied by hearty
wishes that peace would soon result
from ihe establishment of autonomy.
Although the Chauvinists noisily per-
sist in distor.ing the situation in the
far East. the great majority are abund-
antly satisfied with Lord Salisbury 's
statement. and there is reason to be-
lieve that they will be still more graft
fed in no far distant future. When
the Government shall be in a position
to lay the papers on the subject before
Parliament, it will be seen that the
conduct Of the affairs has been in stric.
compliance with the principles erNncI.
ated by half a dozen Cabinet Minis
tiers. Of course the Premier is not in