The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-20

daylight this morning. after having IN
formed his government Of the mai pas
sage of the Cuban resolution. He was
again at his desk by 3 a. m. communl-
eating with his government and await
ing the next and Ina movement In
making the resolutions effective. Al
though of sturdy physique. the minister
showed signs of the intense strain and
anxiety put upon his during the last
few days. He saw a number OF friends,
mainly Of the diplomatic corps, 10
them expressed the view that all hope
Of a peaceful settlement appeared 10
be at an end and that Spain now LETT
with the United States the responsipii-
ity for war. Being convinced that all
hope of peace was over. the minister's
personal desires were that the remain
ing formalities might be dispatched as
speedily as possible. He was rather
surprised, late in the day, when told
that the presidents signing OF the reso-
lutions would be deferred until TO-
morrow.
Early this morning the large metal
sign bearing the words. "Ofice OF the
Spanish legation" was wrenched from
it's place on the gate leading to the le-
CATION and carried off by the vandals.
The minister made no complaint TO the
state department or to the police, as
he has sought to minimize the petty
depredations against the legation. al
though this was the most Migrant one
committed.
The various foreign embassies and
legations were intensely active to-day
in the expectation that hostilities were
near at hand. The several foreign of1i-
GERS were fully advised of the passing
Of the resolutions and were kept posted
as to the prospects of the president
signature.
Some of the ambassadors and minis
ters called at the state department to
learn whether the president would sign
the resolutions. They were informed
by Judge Day that the president IN
ended to sign them tomorrow. This.
i'm turn, was communicated to the for
eign offices and was regarded as plac-
ing the matter beyond any question or
doubt. The representatives of the pow
ers of Europe held no meeting during
the day nor is any meeting at present
i'm prospect. Those who have been most
hopeful of the bringing about Of Euro
pean coalition now concede that such a
move Is impossible. There seems to be
a general purpose among foreign gov
ernmentS to observe a strict neutrality
Already, II is said. Great Britain has
taken steps not only to maintain a
passive neutrality but to enforce IL wlth
arms. If necessary. Two regiments OF
British soldiers are now in the West
Indies, and these are about to be aug
mented by another regiment en- route
lGOlu IldllldA. ihts ait toi''
i'm the belief that the West Indies VIII
be a center of conflict and that the
stress OF war may lead one or the other
of the belligerents to occupy neutra
British territory. If that occurs a
British force will see that the territory
is not invaded and that British soil IL
not used as a base of operations for hos
~tilities for either party TO the conflict
So far as is known, the French govern
ment will observe the same neutrality
It's West Indian possessions are consider
able and ii has several ships in these wa
tiers. and the other powers ar,
exnected to take the same neutral atti-
tude. In connection with the cable re-
port that the dreibund has sought to cf'
feet a plebiscite in Cuba ii was stated al
one of the embassies that this branch 81
the negotiations occurred last week anc
embraced some circumstances not mad'
known I'm the cable dispatches. About tn
middle of last week one of the embassies
here was informed from its foreign Of
flee that it's ambassador at Madrid ad
yised them that Minister Woodford hat
suggested i'm a tentative way n plebiscit'
as a possible solution to the Cuban prob
lem. This ambassador also advised t.
foreign office that the suggestion did no
meet with favor and had not been follow
ed up. Since then there has been no TAI
of "A plebiscite so far as is known here.