Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-20

action on the resolutions or the ultimatum.
About 30 a colored messenger from
the State Department appeared at the
front door Of the mil :ster'S residence and
in an unconventional way stated that he
bad message from the State Department:
for the Spanish minister. Senior Polo ex-
cused himself from the French ambassa-
dor, with whom he was then engaged, and
net the messenger in the legation corridor
He glanced at the irclosure, noting that
i. was the ultimatum, and babe the mes
senSer await for a reply. This was al
ready prepared, and had beer ready since
yesterday. 1t was not a rejcinder to the
ultimatum, but a terse request for his
passports.
Preparing for Departure.
This letter was sent to the State De-
Fartmeni by the nt1 ssenger, and the min
lister rejo.ned mis- friends and awaited The
arrival OF his passports Immediately
however, the calm of the legation gave
way to fervent activity, to hurried prepa-
rations for d p r.Lre d tie d:spatl ming
of long cables 10 Madrid. All of the OIL
cal and personal effects long ago packed
were finally locked and sealed. Railroad
arrangements were made for the INNS er
and his entire staff, namely Senor Poio lie
fernabe, minister; Senior Juan DuBosc
first secretary; SeEor Pablo Soler, first
secretary; Scnor Den Acquarcni second
secretary; SeEor Galarza, third secro, airy:
Senior Pla, attache: Senior Ameida, at
tache; Capt. Ge la Casa. military attacne:
Lieut.. de Carantha, naval attache. Senior
Polo does not make public the direction Of
his journey after leaving Washington, as
he wishes to avoid unnecessary attention.
The party will be soon the way TO
Spain.
Early yesterday morning the large metal
Sign bearing the words. "Ofiice of the Span
1sh Legation" was wrenched from its place
on the safe leading to the legation and car
r!ed off by 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
although this was the most fragrant one
committed.
Relief at the State Department..
There was a look of relief on the face
of Assistant Secretary Day when he final
~ announced upon his return to the State
Department from the White House this
forenoon that the joint Cuban resolution
had been signed and that the ultimatum
had gone forward to Mr.. Woodford at
once. Although courtesy forbade the pub
LEGATION of this important state paper be-
fore the Spanish government had had an
opportunity to receive and digest it, it
was said to be, in general terms, a re-
quest upon the Spanish government to
withdraw it's forces, land and naval, from
CUBA and Cuban waters at once. 1t is
also said that the remainder of the weeh
Will be allowed for decision and a re-
he.
ment The document itself was reported
to be very short, in fact, not more than a
third of column of an average newspaper.
Judge Day had been closeted with ex-
Secretary John w. Foster and Second AS
sstant Secretary Adee for about an hour
early in the morning engaged, it is under
stood, In the preparation of this ultimatum.
VI course, the general terms of the paper
had been agreed upon at the two cabinet
meetings yesterday, and the purpose of
the consultation this morning was TO re-
duce the Presidents views to the accepted
diplomatic forms, kind of work in which
MI Adee and Mr.. Foster are especially
adept.
To Withdraw Our ConsuIs,
The department has made all arrange
ments for the immediate withdrawal of its
IL. L
ever, be left to Gen. Woodford, our minis
ter at Madrid, to give the word for their
withdrawal, and he will undoubtedly do
this before asking for his own passports.
Senator Davis, chairman of the Senate
committee on foreign relations, had an
interview with Judge Day early in the
morning and probably acquainted himself
with the ADMINISTRATORS program as to
CUBA Col. McCook was another OF the
callers on the assistant secretary
40 Likelihood of EuroDe.n Cnnt;tio.
Inc various foreign embassies ana Iega-
LUIS were intensely active today in the
expectation that hostilities were near at
mana. Inc several foreign offices were
iu'iy advised of the signing OF the resolu-
tons.
ihose VINO nave been most hopeful OF
bringing about European coalition now con-
ceoe that such move is impossible One
VI the best posted members of the diplo
t'iatic corps stated that it was now too
iate 1or mediation or Intervention. even If
Tue powers could be brought together. 1t
eniNeo Oh all hands, he Said that
the United States and Spain had chosen a
recourse to war.
II was decision which sovereign nations
AA"Ao q i'6Hl 10 make, lamentable as it might
De- and the only course now open for other
hatlons was to determine their attitude of
neutrality between the two belligerents.
Already, it is said, Great Britain has
taken steps, not only to maintain a pas
sive neutrality. but to enforce it with arms
IL necessary. Two regiments of British SOL
olers are now In the British West Indies,
and these are about to be augmented by
another regiment en- route from Halifax
iney are concentrated in the belief that
the West Indies will be center of con-
nict' and that the stress Of war may lead
one or the other bellgerent to occupy neu-
uai British territory. II that occurs, a
British force will see that the territory is
vacated, and that British soil is not used
a. a base Of operations for hostilities by
either party to the conflict. So far as IL
Known, the French government will OBJ
serve the same neutrality. Its West In
dian possessions are considerable, and it
has several ships in those waters. Ger
many and the other powers are expected
to take the same neutral attitude.
Secretary Sherman'ss Regret.