The herald., 1898-04-04
CLIMAX OF CRISIS
IS CERTAIN TO BE REACHED
THIS Week
CONGRESS IMPATIENT
BUT INCLINED TO WAIT ON THE
PRESIDENT
Mr.. M'KlNLEY STILL HAS HOPE
Mr.. M'KlNLEY STILL HAS HOPE
That War May Be Averted If the
Peace Advocates Can Control
Congress for Time
Associated Press Special Wire


WASHINGTON, April 3.-The opinion.
almost universally held in Washington to-
night by leading men and diplomats, is
that the crisis will reach its climax this
week and that the question of war or peace
will be determined within the next seven
days. Senators and representatives met
and conferred all day about the gravity Of
the situation and at the White House the
president consulted with several members
of his cabinet and old confidential advis-
ers regarding the message which he Is pre-.
pairing to send to congress.
AT the state, war and navy buildings &C.
tive work was going on, and altogether 1t
has been day Of suppressed feeling. No
time has been announced as to the day
when the message will be sent to congress,
and it is believed it will not go in tomor.
row. 1t is believed that more probably
Wednesday or Thursday will be the day
selected. Besides the physical work of
preparing the comprehensive document
| upon which the president expects to rest
his case with the world, there are other rea-
sons why those in charge of the war prep
arations will welcome every hours delay.
War material which has been ordered
abroad is not yet shipped, and the factories
in this country will work day and night
making powder and projectiles and are
anxious for delay. Some of the factories
in Connecticut with contracts have telc-
graphed Representative Hit, urging all
delay possible. They say every day now 10
precious.
QUESTIONS OF POLICY
There is still divergence Of opinion as to
what the president will recommend in his
message. Indeed, there seems to be still
| question as to whether the president will
| make any specific recommendations. Some
of his most intimate friends, however, as
sert emphaticaly that the presidents rec
concentrations will be specific and vigor-
Gus, and such that his party and the coun-
| try could willingly follow when he points
the way. One of these said tonight that
the president. in his strong desire for
peace and earnest hope that war might
possibly be averted, was yielding some-
what to the sentiment of the leaders Of his
party and the country. He has not given
up hope yet that hostlities may be averted.
There are those who believe the president
has not vet made up his mind as to the cx-
act course he will pursue and there seems
reports and the diplomatic correspondence
are to be transmitted with the message.
CONGRESS INPATIENT
The suspense caused by the necessary de-
lay in the preparation of the message 10
very trying on the members of the commit
tee, and the most universally discussed
question in Washington tonight is whether
congress can be restrained until the mes-
sage Is transmitted.
All recognize the TASK of preparing our
case for the worlds inspection and the care
which must be exercised, and there seems
to be no disposition to unduly hasten the
president. The party leaders are extreme
ly anxious to avoid breach with the exec
utive, such as would occur if congress were
to take the initiative. After a careful can
vass of the situation today they believe the
radical Republicans can be held in line
few days longer-until Wednesday at least.
The conference of the Republicans of the
house who have. been insisting upon prompt
action holds another meeting tomorrow
night. While many Of them are now in
favor of giving the president more leeway
than they were last week, it is realized that
twenty-five Republican votes in the house
would, with the Democratic and Populist
votes, be sufficient to act.
HOUSE PROGRAM
1t can be pretty confidently asserted that
all the Republicans Of the house. with pos
sibly the exceptions which could be counted
on the fingers of one hand, can be con-
trolled until Wednesday. After that, what
might happen If the president asks for fur
ther delay is problematical. The Repub-
licans of the house committee on foreign
affairs have held informal meetings today
and have practically agreed to report q
resolution of tenor similar to that agreed
upon by the foreign relations committee OF
the senate They were convinced that war
was inevitable and was to be declared.
While they look upon the, situation as
grave, the general sentiment among them
is that the matter has not yet progressed
beyond the range of diplomacy and pa
cific solution. For that reason there was
strong inclination shown today to wait
until the presidents message was sent to
congress, the feeling being that the real
issue could not be determined until the
message had been submitted. At the OUT
set Spain was most earnest for mediation
and to this end addressed a note to the
powers about ten days ago.
MEDIATION PROSPECTS
Now, however, as the prospects for medi-
alton appear to be growing. the Spanish
authorities seem to be less inclined toward
this course. This may be due to the fact
that Spain had looked upon mediation as
an indirect form of intervention of the Eu-
ropean powers in favor of their own claims.
The Spanish note developed, however, that
the powers were not ready for any such
radical step. France made the first deciar.
alton. Premier Hanotaux in the French
chamber said France would treat both
parties alike as friends. This was an unex-
pected reverse for Spain, as she had felt
that the French ownership Of Martinique.
Guadaloups and other islands would ~