The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-11

Washington, April 1.-The Spanish
government, through it's minister at
Washington, Senior Polo Bernabe,
tonight delivered an important official
document to the state department,
stating that the armistice which the
queen regent of Spain had commended
General Blanco to proclaim today, was
without conditions; that her majestys
government had granted liberal insti
tutions to the island of Cuba, which
the coming Cuban parliament would
adopt; recalling the coincidence and
sympathy expressed by the queen re-
gent and her government on the dis
aster of the Maine and the horror this
disaster had Occasioned in Spanish
hearts, and appealing to the courtesy
and sense of Juice of the United States
government to enlighten public opinion
upon the attitude of Spain. The note
also repeats the offer of the Spanish
government to submit the Maine ques-
ton to experts. designated by the mar
thine powers of the world.
OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION.
This document was the official noti-
fication of the Spanish government to
the United States of the granting of an
armistice and its essential terms Min
lister Woodford's dispatch last night
had briefly stated the fact that an ar
mistice had been agreed upon, but it
was not communicated as coming from
the Spanish government. Today's COM
munication cleared up misapprehen-
sion on the most vital point of SPANS
concession. namely. that the armistice
was without conditions. The note was
received by the state department after
the first cabinet meeting and was one
of the main subjects of consideration
at the second cabinet meeting held to-
night. Although The Spanish note was
surrounded with the usual secrecy of
official negotiations. the following sum-
mary of its contents was secured;
SPANISH NOTE.
The Spanish MINISTER in Washington.
deeply Impressed by the numerous er-
rors which seem to have obtained cred
it in public opinion in America in re-
gard to the Cuban question. considers
il his duty TO call again the attention
of the secretary OF state of the United
states to the following points:
First, her majesty, the queen re-
gent of Spain. DESTROYS of ending the
troubles which are desolating Cuba,
has commanded a suspension of hostili-
ties General Blanco has been ordered
to proclaim today an armistice without
He will determine later the
duration and details of this arnistice,
so as to carry out the generous inten-
lions of her majesty and the wishes
OF the friends of peace.
Second, her majesty has granted TO
the island of Cuba institutions as lib
eral as those enjoyed by Canada under
the British flag. The Cuban chambers
will meet on the fourth of next May.
It will be their duty and privilege to
put into practice and develop these in
fn ho
is represented in the parliament at
Madrid.
COINCIDENCE OVER MAINE.
Third. public opinion in this country
appears TO ignore the fact that the loss
of the Maine was Immediately followed
by official and reiterated expressions of
coincidence from her majesty the queen,
from her government, from her charge
d'affaires in Washington and from the
authorities in Havana; all of which
tended to affirm the horror which this
disaster has caused to arise in Spanish
aster has caused to arise in Spanish
hearts, as also the sympathy felt for
the United States government and navy
ard for the American nation. The
Spanish minister feels confident he can
count upon the courtesy and sense of
justice of the United States govern
ment to enlighten the public opinion
on the subject.
SUBMIT TO EXPERTS.
Fourth. as to the cause of this la
mentable disaster, it resolves itself into
a question of facts which can only be
settled by. material proofs. The Span
ish minister reiterates the assurance
that his government is ready TO submit
the question to experts designated by
the maritime powers, whose cOnclu-
sions are in advance accepted"
Senior Polo Y Bernabe delivered the
document in person to the state de-
partment. and aside from the interest
in the communication itself, the call
has added interest as an evidence of
of diplomatic negotiations. this
being his first call, at the department
in ten days. Later Senior Dubosc, first
secretary of legation, made another call
at the department on the same general
subject. Besides delivering the note.
the call permitted a personal exchange
between the secretary of state and The
Spanish officials of an agreeable char
acter.