The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-21
Mini8k6r B6rnab6
Takes ibis Leave
Left With the Legation Suit for Canadat Very Probable
That Minister Woodford will be Handed his Pass
ports, Judging from Bernabes Actions

Washington and Madrid, to receive any
response to-day. Therefore. the follow
ing statment was posted at the De
partment:
WILL KNOW ULTIMATUM TO-DAY
'The text of the ultimatum to Spain
will be given out by Mr.. Porter Secre-
tary to the President mt the White
House, some time tomorrow, probably.
The next move must now be made by
Spain, according to the Department
officials. If the Spanish government
takes view, as might possibly be con-
Guided from the action of it's Minister
here to-day, that in language and terms,
the Congressional resolution is insulting.
it may promptly hand Mr.. Woodford
his passports upon receipt of this COM
munication. and thus bring the negotia-
tions to the crisis and cause II breech of
diplomatic relations within the next
twenty-four hours. If on the other hand
it should neglect to return a satisfactory
answer before Saturday noon, that line
of policy will be quite as effective as a
positive act, inasmuch as it would
amount to refusal OF the demands of
the United States. In such case the
President would proceed immediately 10
use the naval and military forces Of the
United States To execute the will of
Congress. How this will be done. what
steps shall first be taken, whether IIa-
vana shall be blockaded or whether an
attempt shall be made to make speedy
campaign by hurling Il large force of
troops to Havana under cover of Il bonn
bardment by a fleet. are all matters of
mere speculation. The experts Of the
army and navy have laid their plans with
the greatest detail for the future, bnt
they do not hesitate to say that any at
tempt to make these public i'll advance
to the manifest advantage OF Spain
would be actual treason.
An outline of the policy to be follow
cd by this government III the treatment
Of neutrals and the matter of priyatecr-
ing is contained in the following state
ment:
NOT TO RESORT TO PR.YATEEIS.
.iIn the event OF hostilitics between
The United States and Spain, it will be
the policy of this government not to
resort to priyateering. The government
VIII adhere to the following rules:
First--Neutral flag covers enemies
goods with the exception Of contraband
war: Sccond-neutral goods not contra
bando war are not liable to conhsca ton
under enemies flag; third-blockades i'll
order to be binding must be effective"
This doctrine is undoubtedly laid
down to meet the various inquiries re-
ceiyed by the diplomatic representa-
tives of the United States from foreign
as to the attitude assumed
by the United States. 1t is substantial
ly in line with the rules pract:ced in thS
recent Chinese -Japaneses war, and
places the United States in Il most ad
yaneed position, SO far as the protection
of individual property and neutral
goods ut sea is concerned. by it
Spanish goods are made free from seiz-
ure on the seas i'll the bottoms of
neutral power.
This decision on the part Of our gov
ernnent will doubtless be welcomed III
Europe.
Word came to the Navy Department
To-day that the Spanish cruisers Pelayo,
Nizcaya and Oquendo are all at pres
ent at Cape dc Verde islands in COM
pany with the torpedo boat fiotilla. 1t
is realized that this constitutes a most
formidable force. in the opinion Of ex-
perts equal TO our crack Flying Squad
iod. hOh IglHS III IldllplOll IAoiiur'
TORPEDO BOAT SOMEItS.
The Department is good deal DIS
tCrbed about the torpedo boat Somers
now lying at Falmouth England, and is
casting about for means to bring hel
10 the United States with safety, so far
without success.
No purchases of ships We're made dur
ina the day but the offerings continue
in undiminished numbers.
Nearly all Of the time of Secretary
Alger. General Miles and Adjutant Gen
eral Corbin to-day was consumed in the
consideration of the best means of Sc
curing the volunteers needed for the
army, but this complicated question has
not yet been settled. An order sent to
the 25th Infantry at Cnickamauga to
proceed to Mobile early in the day, was
cancelled later on.
Captain Duvall. the artillery expert.
and special aide to Secretary Alger, who
has been making an investigation of the
Southern seacoast defences, returned to
Washington to-day and reported the re-
suits of his trip to Adjutantn General
Corbin. For prudential reasons the re-
suit cannot be made public.