The record-union., 1898-02-11
The Spanish Cabinet Promptly Ae-
cepts His Resignation,
First Secretary Of the Legation Put in Tenn
poray Charge.
The State Department Makes Pub
lie the Cablegram to United
States Minister Woodford, Ad-
vising Him of the Letter Writ
ten by De LONE, and Requesting
His Immediate Recall by the
Spanish Government.

MADRID. Feb. 1O.-At meeting OF
the Cabinet to-day, under the fresl-
dency of the Queen Regent, the MIN
lister for Foreign Affairs read dispatch
from Minister De LONE at Washlns-
ton, acknowledging the authorship Oh
the letter to Canalejas, and rendering
his resignation, which the Cabinet de-
cided to accept, and telegraphed TO LIE
LONE to that effect, at the same time
putting the First Secretary of the le-
CATION in charge temporarily.
The candidature of Senor Aluruaga
to succeed Senior De LONE has been
abandoned. The Government MAIN
tains its reserve, desiring to secure the
approval of Washington, according 10
diplomatic custom.
Senor Sagasta and other members of
the Cabinet state publicly that the DE
LONE incident will not effect the rela-
tions between the United states anu
Spain. and that a new envoy compe-
tent to conduct the commercial neso-
tiations will be selected.
DE LONE ONLY A PRIVATE CITI-
ZEN.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.-In view OF
the news from Madrid of the accept
ance of the resignation of the Spanish
Minister. it may be stated that our
Government is not disposed 10 split
hairs about the offending Minister s
method of retirement In other words,
it is not concerned as to whether ne
resigns or is recalled, so hong as he
leaves the Capital. 1t is true that the
can
by the State Department to Mr.. Wood
ford indicated the Presidents desire
that the Minister be recalled, but the
language was used as the most proper
for such an occasion, and must not be
taken to mean that the President IS
disposed to go further than is neces-
sary in the pursuit of Mr.. De LONE, no
longer an official of the Spanish Gov
ernment representing 1t at Washing
ton. but simply a Spanish citizen linger-
ing at the Capital only long enough to
pack I'D and remove his effectsS.
The Madrid cable to the Associated
Press was communicated to the Span
ish Minister and was his first knowl-
edge that action had been taken by the
Cabinet and Queen. The official noti-
fication had not reached him UP 10
12.30 o'clock.
Evidence in connection with the Min
lister letter has been transpiring rap
idly within the past few hours, and al
the attending circumstances We're de-
veloped to-day. On Tuesday night the
Minister first received private infor-
nation that the letter was in the hands
of the Cuban Junta Believing that the
story was an exaggeration from Cuban
sources, he characterized the reports
as ridiculous. At no time, however,
did he deny the authenticity of the let
ter 10 Canalejas. Later, when fully
acquainted with the facts. he cabled the
Spanish Government. stating that the
letter was about to be, published, and
that in his judgment The effect would
be to end his usefulness as representa-
tive of Spain at Washington.
Up to 10 o'clock Minister De LONE
had not received from the Spanish Gov
ernment an acceptance of his resigna-
tion. but II is believed this soon Will
be given, and that the Minister'S finan-
cial connection with the Government
as the Spanish representative to the
United States will come to a prompt
termination without the necessity Of
action by this Government in giving
TO the Minister his passports. Senor
De LONE regards himself as now a
private citizen, although technically
still the Spanish representative
There is no time limit in which De
LONE must leave Washington. and being
now only a private Spanish citizen. he
may take a reasonable time to arrange
his affairs here without calling for criti-
cism.
Senior De LONE is acting on the pre-
sumption that his services are closed.
and is preparing his household for de-
parture. No time has been fixed for his
leaving. For the present he continues 10
exercise his functions as Minister. On
his being relieved the First Secretary,
Senor Pablo Solero. viii be Charge
d'Affaires ad interim. The latter has
had considerable experience in diplo-
matte affairs and at one time was con-
fcential secretary to the late Premier
of Spain, Senior Canovas 1t is not ex-
pected the service as Charge d'Affaires
will be more than temporary as a new
Minister is expected to be named at an
early day.
While the foregoing gives the action
taken by the Spanish authorities. the re-
suits may be considerably affected by
the steps taken by the State Depart
rnent. The Department is acting with
out reference 10 the Minister'S resigna-
ton. II shaped its action after receiv-
ing the original letter written by De
LONE 10 Canalejas- The original letter
came into the possession of the depart
ment yesterday. and was carried by
Judge Day to the Minister'S residence.
The meeting could not have been other
than painful. There was no denial on
the part OF the Minister. When Judge
Day learned direct from the Minister
that the letter was genuine the cable
gram 10 General Woodford was sent
These instructions viii go before the
Madrid authorities. along with the Min
listers resignation
Senor Canalejas has cabied that he
never received the letter and knew Moth
ing of its contents, that If he had re
ceived IL he would have made answer
10 the letter. There has never been any
acknowledgment or an answer from
Canalejas. After this statement direct
from Canalejas the Spanish authorities
regard it as plain that the letter was
stolen in transit.