The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-12
Premier Sagasta Reported to Have
Been Much Dispieased When He
Heard of the Minister'S Letter.
RECALL DEMAND TOO LATE
SPANISH CABINET ACTED BEFORE
RECEIVING WOODFORD's NOTE.
senior Louis Polo Bernabe to BE sent
to Washington as Minister De
LOme's Successor.
Special 10 the indianapolis journal.

| opeclai 10 the lnuldHdpOiiS JOuTudl.
WASHINGTON, Feb. l1-As was an
ticipated would be the case the Madrid
record is made to show that the Cabinets
action on Senior De Lome's resignation was
taken before the receipt of the Woodford
note from Secretary Sherman asking the
Spanish government to recall it's representa-
tive to the United States. The intimation
is also received that Sagasta regards De
Lome's lapse as an objectionable offense
and that his utterances will be formally dis
claimed and condemned. Inasmuch as the
epistle contains statements more damaging
to the Spanish government than to this,
such a declaration would not be in the least
surprising. 1t is the policy in best informed
quarters that nothing short of a popular
frenzy could drive the Spanish Ministry into
assuming an offensive attitude in the mat
ter after its abject submission to American
dictation and suggestions-a policy pursued
by Madrid for months past for the sole pur-
pose Of gaining time Time is more impor-
tant to Spain now than ever, and the rea-
sons which may be expected to influence
the Madrid Ministry to maintain friendly
relations with this country are, therefore,
regarded as sufficiently strong to reduce
prospects of trouble to a minimum.
Concerning the Washington situation it
can be stated that the President has been
called on during the last twenty-four hours
to resist strong pressure from many of his
best friends and counselors who have urged
him to avail himself of De Lomes con-
fession of Spanish duplicity and deceit, and
of Spanish failure in Cuba as an excuse for
earlier Intervention in Cuban affairs than
he had been figuring on. This pressure has
been at times very urgent, and any one
of Sta faGtf 1aap he
might easily have been influenced by the
arguments to depart from the policy which
he had settled on as conserving to the best
interests of the United States. AS it is the
President has made it clear that he does
not see any good cause for q change of
policy and that so far as the administra-
tion can fathom the future, there is no oc-
casion for thinking the climax will be hur-
ried by the change in Spanish ministers at
Washington or by the events which led to
such change. 1t is with special reference
to this particular point that the best
thought of the administration has been
given, and the conclusion reached is as
stated.
An Associated Press dispatch says: The
personal incident growing out of the pub
lication of Senior Dupuy De Lome's letter
to Senor Canalejas may be regarded as set
tied This has been brought about by the
short cabegram sent by Minister Woodford
from Madrid, in which he states that the
minister had resigned and his resignation
had been accepted before he (Mr. Woodford)
presented the request of the United States
that he be recalled. The officials here feel
an interest in learning the details of the
happenings in Madrid yesterday, and are
waiting for Mr.. Woodford's promised full
ID. Al.ss
statement that is not now expected there
is no disposition on the part of the govern
ment to protract the closing of this un-
pleasant incident, and it is not expected
that anything in the nature of a demand
for an apology will be made. If a graceful
disclaimer should come it will be taken in
the spirit in which it is made; otherwise
the matter will be dropped and the relations
between the State Department and the
Spanish legation will run smoothly once
more through the medium of Senior Du Bose,
the first secretary, and now charge
d'affaires. 1t can be said for the President
that he shows little personal concern in the
matter as it stands, and is not disposed to
pursue Mr.. De LONE in any personal spirit
and with this spirit in the head of the adj
ministration the end of the affair may be
said to have been reached.
AS the representative of Spain Senior Don
Juan du Bose called at noon to-day at the
State Department and presented in writing
the notification of the Spanish government
that the resignation of Senior De LONE had
been accepted and that Senior Du Bose was
authorized to represent his government as
charge d'affaires ad interim. The notifica-
tion was purely formal, giving the facts of
transfer without mention of the incident
leading up to it. Having assumed his du-
ties, Senior Du Bose took occasion to pay
call of respect to the State Department
authorities. He was not accompanied by
Senor De Lcme, who, with this official act,
becomes a private citizen of Spain tenn
poIarily sojourning in this country.