The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-06
PREPARING FOR FLIGHT.



New York April Sat the Consulate de
EspaGna. in the Merchants Building. No
4 Stone Street. every preparation * being
made for fight. Clerks and subordinate
officers were busy all day copying docu-
meuts packing books and getting every
thing in readiness for immediate depar-
ture.
senior Baldasano Y Topete was 'incom-
uuicado.' and TO gain admission 10 the
sultan's harem would be an easy matter
compared with getting an interview with
the Spanish consul general As usual. the
swarm Of Spanish spies which has in
tested New York since the beginning Of
the hOs,nlties in Cuba. and who make
their headquarters at the consulate. We're
in evidence. They came and went hastily
from the consulate. evidently carrying out
the orders Of Consul General EalfasauO-
The minions who guard the inner sane
tuary of the Spanish consul had no infOr-
nation TO divUlge. and had nothing to say
about the report that orders from Madrid
have been received to leave the country
do YOU suppose the consul general
would be fool enough 10 tell ii if he was
getting ready to Ieave2 was the reply
made to "a reporters question
Nevertheless. IL is a fact that members
of Consul General Baldasanos family
have hidden gOod-by to their neighbors in
West Ninety-seventh Street and have
been buSily engaged In packing their
household effects in the last three days.
The consul general has three sons. An
] tonic. Gabriel and Tomas. and il is said
/ that they have been telling their friends
/ Of their expectation 10 leave New York
I in a few days and that passage for the
| family has been engaged on an outSO-
/ ing steamer which sails this week. Ga
/ briel. the youngest son. has been employ
K I'd as a clerk in the Washington Building.
and it was said there yesterday that ne
/ had rendered his resignation. saying that
/ his family expected TO leave the country.
/ II is said in consular circles in New
I York that the French consulate will as
sumo charge Of the affairs of the Span
\ iSh consulate. and this was not denied at
\ the French consulate yesterday.
! Jean c. Charpentier. acting cousur gen
/ eral of France. said:
/ Although Consul General E3llasauo
: Topete has not asked me officially TO
/ take charge of his affairs. IL there is war
| between the United Ststes and Spain I
I have no doubt that he will do So I also
! have heard that he has received orders
/ from his government 10 prepare TO leave
/ az any time on short notice I have been
/ expecting a call from him any minute.
! III he makes a request Of me. to take
he perfectly proper for me 70 grant his
| request. France is neutral country.
and there is no reason why we should
{ not look after the affairs of Spain.
I The Government of the United States
cannot look upon II as an unfriendly act
on the part Of France, and viii not I
/ am sure. for all such matters are per-
| feCtiy understood in diplomatic circles.
During the FranCu-PTuSSidn war. when
all the German DJnSuls had to leave
/ France, many of them asked the ConSuls
of the United States ana Great Britain
TO attend TO the affairs of their offices.
The French government did not look IN
on il "a an unfTiendly act or as showing
an unusual friendlineSs toward Germany.
II have met Consul General BaldIsanO
several times. ! have heard all along
that he will ask me 20 take charge Of hts
affairs. and have also heard that the
French minister in Washington viii be
asked TO look after Senior P0lO's affairs
! " hen he leaves. / shall not refuse. and
there is no reason why ! should"
I Among all the foreign cOnSuls in New
York city. the exodus Of Consul General
BaldasanO and his official and privats
family is expected every day