The sun., 1898-02-07
SPAIN'S VIGOROUS NOTE.
yr RFPEIs THE PROPORTIONS OF
OUR GOVERNMENT

.,.. r,rs, Issue with President NSchinlsy In
MI, Message to ConGreas-A naadrid FapeF
,.,, naval Aruauents Are BeinE Pushea-
,,.,o will Not Fix . Date for the Paoiloa-
,,,, or Cuba. and She Also Complains Opoe
,,o-, or the FiiibusteripG RHpsditisss.
sp,etol Cable Dsspatoh to THr suS.
MADRID. Feb 8.-The Cabinet has drafted .
Automatic note to the United States.
The Ministers refuse to divulge its contents.
I'M, tits known that in 1t the Government repols
vigorously the propositions made by tho United
s,o,es in It's note Of December. and combets the
,,a,ements made by President Mckinley in his
message to Congress ct the opening Of the ses-
sion OF that body.
II also refers to the recent movements Of
American warships.
The Heraldo affirms that Spain has made
vigorous reply to the last noto presented BY Gen.
Woodford, the American Minister.
The paper adds that the naval armanients arc
being actively pushed. and that squadron will
sbortly sail for the Canary Islands.
The Madrid and Barcelona exchanges have
becn depressed by the pessimist impressions
preyailing in political and financial circles re-
earding the relations between Spain and the
United States.
Public hostility to America Is so intense that
the newspapers easily keep up the idea that
every act Of the American Government should
be received with distrust.
Thus, since American war vessels have visited
Cuba, naval preparations and demonstrations
are eagerly advocated. with viaw 70 resist
American interference II autonomy, tho mill
tary operations and the negotiations to obtain
the submission of the insurgents do not mako
headway before summer.
1t Is understood that spain's latest note again
complains OF the departure Of hlibustering expe-
ditions from the United States. 1t declares that
Spain will not entertain the suggestion that she
fx a date for the pacifcation Of Cuba.
Prime Minister sagasta says that the present
pessimist rumors are as unfounded as were the
optimist reports of a week ago, when the peo-
dc supposed that the paclflcation Of Cuba was
imminent
WASHINGTON. Feb. 6.-Positive information
as to the character Of tho communication which
is reported TO have passed yesterday between
Premier sagasta and Minister Woodford at
Madrid could not be obtained to-day. Judge
Day. tho Assistant Secretary of State, while de-
clining TO discuss tho matter In any way, said
that news of importance was always sent by
cable to this Government by Gen. Woodford.
and nothing had been received from him re-
gardng his conference with Sagasta- This
absence of information from the Minister
shows that the so-called vigorous response
Of sagasta to Gen. Woodford's represen-
tations was not sensational or important.
II 1t had been. the Minister would have promptly
informed the State Department by telegraph.
Judge Day did not indicate that additional In
structions had been given Gen. Woodford which
might have been embodied In tho alleged COM
munications. He said he preferred to walt until
he heard from Gen. Woodford before making
any comments on the subject and it would be
at least ten days before mailed report would
reach Washington.
From other sources it was ascertained that
the communication was in all probability
spain's answer to q note written by Gen. Wood
ford five or six weeks ago. inclosing Secretary
Cages statement as to the efforts Of the United
States to suppress filibustering. In this state
ment Mr.. Gage showed that this country had
spent an enormous amount Of money and
had been exceedingly viRilant In preventing
violations OF the neutrality and navigation
laws and that tho accusations of Spain
ss to the lack of effort on the part
OF the United States Government were not
true. copy Of Mr.. Cages document
was sent to Minister Woodford. with directions
10 furnish 1t to the Spanish Government. and
the Minister informed the department that an
answer had been promised In about month.
There was nothing in the statement prepared
oy Secretary Gage to call forth vigorous
response or to have any material effect on tho
relations between the United States and Spain.