The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-10

New York, Feb. Representatives
of the Cuban junta yesterday gave out
copies of the letter signed, Enrique
Dupuy de LONE" who is minister of
Spain at Washington, and addressed
to Jose Canalejas, who went to Cuba
last September as Premier Sagasta's
! personal representative. In this letter
the Spanish minister refers to President
Mckinley as weak and catering to the
rabble," and as a low politician, who
desires to stand well with the jingoes
of his party
SENSATION AT WASHINGTON.
Washington, Feb 9.-The publication
in the morning newspapers of what is
/ supposed to be an autograph letter
written by Senior de LONE, the Spanish
minister. to his friend, Canalejas, crit
icizing the president with the utmost
freedom, caused a sensation in official
Washington, and soon Will be followed
by Minis er de Lome's departure from
the United States. At the outset there
was disposition to question the au
thenticity of the letter. but bit by bit
the circumstantial evidence accumulat-
ed, until, when it was finally announced
officially that the minister declined to
[ utIly the VI Tic idlltI, dil
doubt was disSipated and the only ques-
ton that remained was as to the line
of action to be pursued by our govern
ment toward the offending minister.
GRAVE OFFENSE.
The writing of this letter is unques-
tionably an offense against the ameni-
ties of diplomatic relations. and such
offenses have almost invariably been
regarded in the United States. as in
other nations, as sufficient ground for
the termination of the official status
of the letter writer.
AS soon as the letter appeared in the
press the state department officials be-
gan an effort to settle it's authenticity,
and when it had learned ail.that could
be developed on this point, and been
told that the minister himself refused
to deny writing it, the consideration OF
the next step began.
STATE DEPARTMENT ACTION.
Assistant Secretary Day was in con-
sultatiOn with the president on the sub
ject at least four times during the off,
cial day, and then spent much time in
framing his message to United States
Minister WoOdford at Madrid. The Off
cial statement of the sending of this
message was accompanied by declin
alton to indicate its contents at this
time, the department merely giving to
the press the following statement of
Assistant Secretary Day:
Minister de LONE does not deny
writing the letter. This department has
communicated with General WOodford
on the subject. Until that communi-
cation reaches the Spanish government
it would be improper to in any manner
to state the contents of the message to
General WoOdford."
WOODFORD'S DIRECTIONS.
While the department refused to add
to this meager announcement. it can
be stated without question that Mr. |
WOodford was directed to lay the facts |
developed before the Spanish govern |
ment, together with the statement that, |
in view of the minister's refusal 20 deny /
the authorship of the letter, the Spanish |
government is looked to with confidence |
to deal with the case properly. This /
amounts to an invitation to recall the |
minister, preSuming that he himself has /
not already taken steps to vacate his |
position. No doubt is entertained. of a |
compliance with the implied sugges-
ton, but in case there should be undue /
delay in acting, the state department [
would feel called upon to move directly /
in the matter and give the minister his
passports, as was done with Sir Julian
Pauncefote'S predecessor, who wrote
the celebrated Murchison letter.
SACKVILLE CASE.
The rule as laid down in the Sack
vile case is generally regarded as the
standard precedent for our guidance in
such matters. though there are not
lacking other precedents. To plead that
the letter was purely PERSONAL; that il
was not even addressed to an official
or a citizen Of the United States. viii
not suffice. Lord Sackville set up such
an excuse but President Cleveland de-
ciared that it was insufficient, and the
minister was compelled to leave Wash
ingto2.
STOLEN EN- ROUTE.
The circumstances under which a let
ter of this character should escape from
the privacy of the two persons through
which it passed, eXcites much comment
The general belief is that il was never
delivered to Senior Canalejas, but was
stolen while en- route.
Canalejas was in Washington some
months ago. and then went to Cuba
for the purpose of observing the condi-
ton of affairs there.
AS 2 former minister in the Liberal
cabinets, having been minister OF JUS
tice. AID as editor of ri Heraldo. at
Madrid, he was accorded a warm re-
ception by Minister Dupuy de LONE,
who gave a banquet in his honor, which
was attendedlby d number of prominent
business men. He then left for Cuba,
and his mission necessarily brought
him into continued correspondence with
de Lone.
GUESSING AT E.ATE.
AS the letter bears no date, the time
it was written can only be fixed by the
contents. That it was after the presi-
dents message is evident. The mention
Of the approaching autonomous cabinet
that it was before the in
auguration Of the cabinet Jan. l. This
places the letter, according to the pre-
vailing impression. as having been
written about the middle of December.
at that time Senior CanaIejas is known
10 have been at Havana, prosecuting
his mission.
ONE OF TWO WAYS.
The handling of the mails is done by I
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