Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-16
ENDS PROSPECTS OF PEACE
Gen. Skaters Departure Opens a New
Phase of the War.
Views of 81 Leading Diplomnt-Indi.
rect Influence of the French
Cabinet Dissolution.

A leading member of the diplomatic corps
said today that the departure of General
Skaters first army of invasion to Cuba
put an end to present prospects of peace.
While none of the foreign representatives
here has ever made peace overtures to the
United States government, yet peaceful
solution has always seemed to members of
the diplomatic fraternity as within the
bounds of possibility. even probability, as
long as the United States troops remained
at Tampa and Key West. Now, however,
with 1000 American soldiers about to take
a position on Spanish soil, it is said that
the conditions opportune for peace have
undergone material change, as II commits
the United States to an aggressive land
campaign, and also makes it impossible for
Spain to adopt any other course than that
of defending her soil against invasion.
New Phase of the War.
The presence of our ships at Manila, Ha-
vana and Santiago has not, this diplomatic
official stated, constituted an actual inva-
sion, although the ships had wrought much
damage. The ships could have been with
drawn at any time. But with 1900 troops
landed on Cuban soil new and more Sc
rious phase of the conflict was presented.
Instead of blockading and beleaguering a
few Spanish cities, the American army now
entered Spanish territory, and that advanc-
ed the campaign from passive to act
i've and offensive condition. The ships had
simply surrounded Spanish territory, but
the troops would cross the line and enter
Spanish territory. For this reason, he said,
the hopes of peaceful solution of the con-
fiict had passed away, and he believed they
could not be revived until the result of this
first Cuban invasion was determined. This
would take some months, he thought
probably all summer, for this aggressive
land movement would be followed by 9TH
each making the pf
more remote.
If a peace proposition had come before
General Shafter sailed, diplomatic officials
are inclined to believe, 1t would have been
eagerly accepted by Spain, and would have
stood some chance of consideration by the
United States. While it is not doubted that
this ountry intends to push the war to a
finish, yet the belief is entertained in dip
lomatic quarters that the authorities here
We're 10th to send large invading army
into Cuba during the rainy season when
yellow fever, heat and pestilence combined
10 make such a movement exceedingly
hazardous, even if no enemy was on hand
capable Of an effective defense
The French Cabinet Crisis.
The cabinet crisis in France may exert
other indirect influences on the present
war. NJ. Hanitaux, minister of foreign
affairs i'll the present French. cabinet, las
been foremost in overcoming the anti
American spirit shown by part of tho
fTeucn people ana french press. He has,
moreover, exercised strong repressiye in
f1uence on Spain. He was able to do this
through his peculiarly close and personal
intimacy with the Spanish ambassador at
Paris, Senor Castillo, and, through him, to
have considerable part in shaping the
policy of the Spanish government 1t was
through Castillo that Spain hoped to in
duce France to come to her rescue, but
Hanitaux would not entertain the PROPOSE
ton, and. on the Contrary, urged that
Spain make the concessions necessary to
secure peace. 1t was this attitude of
France, shaped by Hanitaux, that caused
such deep depression in Spain few weeks
ago, as it brought to the Spanish govern
ment and people the first realization that
they were without an ally or friend in
Europe.
The course of Hanitaux has been highly
gratifying to the authorities here, and they
would be glad to see him retain the control
of foreign affairs in France. Besides being
most friendly to the United States, he is
an eminently fair and conservative man.
What is feared. particularly in diplomatic
circles Is that Hanitaux's withdrawal along
with the MeHne cabinet will bring some
frey deputy to the head of the foreign
Office, thus giving free reign to some of
the popular ill-feeing in France against
the United States. Hanitaux has been
strong enough to resist this, but a foreign
minister drafted from the chamber Of depu-
ties might prefer to share the popular feel
ing rather than resist 1t.