The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-06
THE CARRANZA. SPY EPISODE
sPANIARD WILL PROBABLY LOSE NO
TIME IN LEAVING CANADA.
In an Interview the Naval Attache
Admits the Letter, but Says 1t
Has Been DOctored.

WASHINGTON, June 5--The belief IL
growing in the best informed government
circles that Spain is sincerely anxious 10
make peace, and that even now she is seek
ing favorable opportunity to make over
lures in that direction. Numerous evidences
OF this have come to the attention of the
authorities here, but up to this time no
actual move has been made toward ascer-
tanning on what basis the United States
would consider peace. 1t is said that the
first step would be toward having some dis
interested power make inquiry of this gov
ernment as to what terms would be ac-
cepted after which, the terms being stated,
it would be for Spain to form a commission
and lake formal tender of peace. The
au' norities here feel that Spain is feeling
her way toward q movement of this kind.
One evidence of it is the utterance of the
Spanish ambassador at London, urging that
peace movement is opportune at this time.
1t is thought to be highly improbable that a
Spanish official of his rank would make a
statement of this kind unless it voiced the
view entertained by the authorities at
Madrid. Another evidence is the sending of
Senior Castillo to Paris. his principal mis-
sion being to enlist sympathy there and to
encourage a movement towards securing
peace on a basis honorable to Spain. With
this comes the report of the serious en-
barrassment of the Bank of Spain, on which
the government relies for funds TO cary on
the war. The desperate condition of the
Spanish forces at Manila, Santiago and
Havana are looked on added reasons why
Spain should be solicitous at this time for
peace.
But while Spain is thought to be anxious
to secure peace, she appears TO be unable
to secure the services of a disinterested
power to take the initiative in peace
movement This was the view expressed to-
day by a leading member of the diplomatic
corps. He said that much surprise had
been caused at foreign capitals by the re-
sentiment in the United States against the
kindly representations of the great powers,
made to President Mckinley some weeks
ago, which had been treated by the AIneri-
can press and by public opinion through
out this country as an intrusion on the part
of the great powers. For that reason the
efforts since made by Spain to induce the
European powers to intervene had met with
fiat failure because of the powers wish
not to arouse the cnmity of the United
States. For the same reason, this diplo-
matte official pointed out, the European
powers were loath to befriend Spain at the
present time, even to the extent of making
inquiry as to what basis of peace would be
acceptable to the United States. No one
power would undertake such inquiries, he
said, as it would subject that power to the
possibility of being snubbed. He thought
such snub quite likely in view of the man
ner in which the kindly representations of
the powers had been received some weeks
ago. And, while no power was willing TO
act alone, neither could the powers be
brought together for united action along
that line. For this reason it is pointed out
that Spain's isolation at the present time
made it extremely difficult for her to Sc
cure any Intermediary by which she could
conduct initial steps toward securing peace.