The times., 1898-07-31

European interference in the peace nego-
tiations, unless the continental powers
become convinced that an Anglo-Ameri-
can combination is absolutely inevitable.
l do not believe any European chan
celery is yet ready 20 avow that belief
and act accordingly in an openly hostile
manner. Should any group OF powers
. act upon this assumption in the present
situation, it would mean no less than
that the moment which the world has
been dreading for a generation is at last
at hand.
Therefore the danger of foreign compli-
cations in the settlement of terms of
peace between Spain and the United
States may, in the opinion of diplomatic
observers, in whose judgment 1 have the
fullest confidence, now be dismissed as
too remo,e for serious consideration.
President Mckinley may safely decide
the fate of the Philippines according TO
the dictates of duty and humanity, and
of American rights and interests, un:ram-
meled by outside considerations.
The situation in Madrid is, on the
whole, as favorable could be expected
to the successful consummation of peace
negotiations.
Perhaps ii would be well for the sake
of clearness and because mass of false
hood and nonsense has been printed on
the Sagasta government. They have been
exactly outlined from time to time in The
Times cables, which, although once or
twice they have met even a so-called Of
fetal denial, have been absolutely accu-
rate.
The first step was Sagasta's private ap-
plication through Sir Henry Drummond
Wolff, the British Ambassador at Mad
rid, 10 ascertain if the United States
would welcome peace overtures and
through what channel. Next came the
unanimous vote of the Spanish ministry
on the evening of July 19, which a strange
freak of the Spanish authorities enabled
the New York Suns Madrid correspond
ent TO telegraph to that office within two
hours after the vote had been taken. TIE
more recent steps are matters of common
knowledge.
! am enabled to say upon ample Span
ish authority that the Sagasta govern
ment now believes that the internal polit-
ical situation in Spain will enable it to
bring the negotiations to an early conclu-
sion without endangering. the queens
government.
1 do not fully indorse this sanguine
view. but it argues, at all events, the
intentions of the ministry to push nego-
tiations and end the war as speedily as
possible.
The domestic situation is really desper-
ate. Financially it is critical. The Bank
of Spain has advanced another fifty mil
lion pesetas TO the government on bonds
at per cent. which eases the situation
for the moment, but next month the gov
ernment viii require at least 1o0.00O,0oO to
stave off national bankruptcy.
1t is feared the bank will then be au-
thorized to raise its note issue to two
and half billion pesetas, which would
almost inevitably bring about currency
collapse.
Accounts from various districts in
Spain are daily more despairing and des-
perate. All Galicia, for instance, which
usually is one of the most prosperous
provinces. is now starving. Silence is
brooding over its villages and. hamlets.
the inhabitants of many of these having
emigrated en- masse from the ports of
Vigo, Corunna and others.
Hundreds of men and women are leav-
ing for Brazil and the Argentine Republic