Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-03-29
SPANISH AFFAIRS

The latest returns from tbs Spanish
elections show that 1872 liberals srd az
conservatives were chosen. Iii lie
Cuban elections the autonomists chose
81 deputies to the Spanish Cortes and
the union constitutional party chose Q
The French Ambassador, NJ Cambop
had conference with Assistant sec.
rotary Day st the State Department
in Washington yesterday. While the
French ambassador has not received
DIT finite instructions to take the initial
steps for European mediation between
the United States and Spain, such me.
diation is said to be not improbable.
Spain, it is said, would welcome it AT
this junoture.
U. s. Minister Woodford had an in
portant conference in Madrid last night
with Senior Gullon, the foreign minis.
ter, and communicated TO him an tx.
tract from the report of the American
court of inquiry on the Maine disaster.
To-day General Woodford will confer
with the Premier, Senior Sagasta. and
with Seniors Gullon and Moret, the fol-
eign and colonial ministers.
Horatio S. Rubens, counsel for the
Cuban junta in New York, saws the
Cubans will not agree TO an arms
tice for six months, because the
advantages would all be in Spain
favor. Spain, Rubens asserts, would
save $40, 000.00 each month and would
greatly lessen the mortality of her
troops in Cuba. while the insurgents
would be deprived of the chance of
fighting during the rainy season.
A complete synopsis of the report of
the Spanish naval commission which
Investigated the destruction of the
Maine has been received in Washington.
The commission insists that the ex.
plosion was internal because no dead
fish were found in Havana harbor.
no column of water was thrown
into the air, no vibration YVES felt on
land, and there was no shock to YES.
sells anchored near the Maine. The
divers were unable to examine the bot
tom of the Maine, which was buried in
the mud, but an examination OF the
sides of the vessel shows without
doubt that the explosion was from the
inside. The commission has been pre-
vented from making such an examina.
ton of the inside of the vessel as would
determine even the hypothesis OF the
internal origin of the accident.
SPANS reply to the note presented
through Minister Woodford was receiv-
ed and considered at meeting Of the
c.binet yesterday. 1t was stated that
the tone OF the reply was conciliatory
and indicated that concessions might
be made by the Spanish government
which would contribute to an amicable
adjustment of the differences between
the two countries. Spain does not oh
ject 10 the forwarding of relief supplies
to Cuba by the United States in mer-
chant vessels. She has given notice
that she will agree to the feeding OF
the Cuban sufferers and will also nc
cept such agricultural implements
seeds, &c, as the United States may
generously provide.
A dispatch from Washington says
The feeling in Congress is so intense
that the President yesterday summoned
many of the leaders. He was informed
that his message was generally disap-
pointing. Under the circumstances the
President has decided not to send in
his proposed relief message to-day. 1t
would undoubtedly provoke very de.
cided expression of disapproval from
Congress unless accompanied by some
vigorous step.
Another dispatch from Washington
says: If President McKinley's peace
plans are defeated there is good reason
to believe that he will leave the re-
sponsibility for war making to Con
gress, not only in its strict constitutional
sense, but as to action leading up to
that. He means to do his best to make
peace, and not to make war unless be
is forced to 1t.
British officials say the sending OF
feet of warships to Bermuda is to sale
guard British commerce and subjects in