The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-20

the cabinet after the meeting today, has
been agreed upon in substance but has
not yet been formally drawn up. It's prep
aration has been entrusted TO Assistant
Secretary Day of the state department
1t will be sent to Spain tomorrow. and
will reach Madrid In the evening. tho die-
ference In time between this country and
Spain being about six hours. ! think you
are safe in saying that Spain viii be gfven
farty-eight hours, that Is. until Friday
evening. 10 submit her reply. In accord-
ance with the terms OF the resolution the
president viii demand that Spain shall
evacuate the island. The demand for
this Will be fat footed and absolute. and
no tentative or halfway reply will salts
~ the president. Nor VIII any compromise
that contcmpia.es the withdrawal OF
Spaia's troops from the island and the
subsequent re-establishment OF Spanish
control or the raising OF the Spanish fag
over the country be accepted by the ad-
minsstration.
Possibly II may be suggested that the
matter has been referred 10 the cortss.
which meets tomorrow. for It's considera-
tion. and this might be instrumental in
possponing for brief time the putting
into effect Of the congressional resolution.
but the president is disposed not to brook
any further delay. It Is only fair that Ia
q great crisis like this reasonable time
shall be given.
.'If Spain refuses to evacuate Cuba.
promps measures viii be adopted to put
In force the congressional resolution.
blockade OF Cuba will. so far as at pres
ent understood, be begun at once. There
are sufficient war vessels in the vicinity
to make this effective. l think such sup
plies as the Spaniards now control will not
last them more than a month. Then steps
taken with view TO increasing the equip
-
them With sufficient hardtack for food.
vii enable him to harass the Spaniards
from the rear. which VIII materially as
sixt In bringing them TO terms. Ny cwn
individual Idea is that II will probably take
two months 10 bring about TIE results
which will compel the Spaniards TO evac,i-
ate and enable the island % be occupied
by the United States without molestation.
mo. the United States government viii
not issue any letters OF marque and re-
prssal or eountenance privateering. but
IL the Spanish government chooses 70 en-
ter upon this line OF warfare she will
have 10 deal with the nations OF Eurone.
with whose commerce she seeks TO inter-
fere.''
Woodford To Notify Madrid.
Accordingly. Minister woodford viii
notify the Spanish government or the
action OF the government. OF the United
States and should the Spanish answer be
unsatisfactory. as is expected. the next
step would be for him 10 ask for his pass
ports and leave Madrid. Tha, would se
followed instantly by the withdrawal from
Washington OF Senior Polo the Spanish
minister.
At this point IL can De said that the state
department officials are confident that the
Spanish government viii so shape every
phase OF the negotiations as to oblige US
to take the initiative a. every point.
After the withdrawal OF the ministers
ani assuming that Spain does not back
down. viii follow actual war. but whether
or not the first overt act would be pre-
ceded BY formal declaration Of war
which would insure the Immediate neutral
ixation OF the powers or whether the
North Atlantic squadron will make its ap-
nearance or Havana az beginning. can
no. be predicted. In this connection I.
may pc stated that the army and navy ex-
per,s are beginning 20 take a less hopeful
view Of an early and quick campaign taan
they entertained short time ago
Months ere row mentioned instead OF
weeks ~ the probable length of hostiIities.
ara one eminent officer who had expert
e4lce In the late war prosessea 4 belief that
uisiexs oufzde pressure IL brought to hear
a war NAV easily drag along a year under
existing circumstances.
Pole Prepares 80 60 Home.
Tire saanfsh Minister. Seror Polo
Bernabe. has made his final preparations
for departure. and is calmly awaiting no
:lacafion that the president has afixed
his signature 70 the Cuban resolutions. At
which tine the minister will take hss
leave. He had expected II would come To-
day. and every arrangement had been
made With that IN view. Now that the
signing {. deferred until tomorrow, IL IL
probable that the minister ard his stan
viii depart before another txeaty-fossr
hours pass By Before leaving he viii
transfer the legation archives and effects
20 the French embassy
Whether the state department wsll send
senor Pee his passports. os hs VII ask