The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-21

nor was it definitely known when it
would reach here. 1t was expected,
however, early in the present week, and
as soon as received it would be hand
ed to the president, and, when 1t had
been read and considered by the presi-
dent, 1t would be made public. Sec
retary Long, in speaking Of the re-
port, said that, while fully realizing
it's Importance, the country, in his
opinion, would willingly accord to the
president a day or two, if necessary,
for it's consideration The indications
seem to be that the report will be made
public by the middle of the present
week.
The presence of Mr. Charles R. Flint
at the conference naturally gives in
ference that the president and his ad
visers were discussing the question of
acquiring additional ships. Mr.. Flint,
whose commercial interests are largely
with South American countries, is be-
neved, in a measure, at least, to repre-
sent Chill and the Argentine Republic in
any negotiations which are under way
for the disposition of their war ves-
sells.
A reporter today asked Mr.. Flint if
he could say whether or not the United
States had secured possession of the
Chilian ship O'Higgins and the Argen-
tine ship San Martino, but he declined
to make any statement as to that par
ticular feature Of the subject. When
pressed for some information in regard
to the matter, he replied: Both Chill
and the Argentine Republic have the
warnest friendship and admiration for
the United States and her institutions.
Neither country Is anxious to sell it's
ships to this government, basing this
indiSposition on the belief that we have
an excellent navy Of our own. They
want these vessels themselves. If the
time should come, however, when it
was apparent that the United States
needed these vessels. they would gladly
part with them to US"
The attention of Mr.. Flint was called
to the published report that the United
States would purchase the Brazilian
torpedo gunboat Tuby, but this, he said,
would not be done so far as he was
aware, as there were no negotiations
under way to that effect.
Aside from the meeting Of several
members Of the cabinet at the White
house there were no incidents of i'm
portance during the day. Judge Day,
Assistant Secretary Adee, Chief Clerk
Michael and other officials were at the
department. but this has been quite
common during the recent month. Also
at the war and navy departments a
number of the chiefs of bureaus were
at their desks for several hours mainly
for the purpose of disposing of the
business which recently has accumu
lated SO rapidly.
The most interesting topic Of the day
was based on the dispatches from Ha-
vana indicating q prospective confer
ence between Gen. Pando and Gems.
Garcia, Gomez and others of the
insurgent army for the purpose of sub
mitting to the latter formal offer Of
autonomy. The basis Of autonomy out
lined in the dispatches apparently
found no credence with the officials of
the Spanish legation. They stated their
posed lines was probable and added
that they had no information on the
subject. Minister Polo Bernabe ex-
pressed the opinion that the report from
Havana was unfounded, as he said the
basis upon which it was proposed to
grant autonomy was absurd.