The record-union., 1898-03-30

ceiving the earnest consideration of the
| Spanish authorities at Madrid. and
that their final reply may be reasonably
expected within the next few days.
Should these demands be rejected
there is the highest authority for stat
ing that the President would not hesi-
tate a moment as to his future course,
but would Immediately lay the whole
record before Congress. and be guided
! by its instructions. As q preliminary
step toward peace, it has been pro-
posed to Spain, though this last propo-
sition has not taken the shape Of a
/ demand as yet, at least, that the Span
Iish Government withdraw its troops
ifrom the island. and that the Cubans
be given eiGindependence on a basis
of indemnity nat would be regarded as
just in amount by the United States
and other nations Of the world, and
fair to both contending parties.
! QUESTION OF AN ARMISTICE.
The question of an armistiee has not
been agreed to by either this country
or Spain, though there is no doubt that
Spain suggested an armistice. What
terms of peace will be acceptable to
| the President cannot be stated, but it
! is asserted that no proposition will be
+ considered that does not involve the
IpracticaI if not the actual independ-
Ience of the Cubans Under these cir
Icumstances. the friends of the admin
Iistration think it only fair TO the Pfesi-
dent that the people should wait pa
tiently the result Of the pending nego-
tiations. since there is no more loyal
American than the President, or one
who Will hesitate less than ne when
the hour for action arrives.
FRANCE AS A MEDIATOR.
There is little doubt that the French
lGovernreent is ready to tender its good
Ionfces as mediator between the United
States and Spain if any intimation is
conveyed by this country that such
iofIices would be acceptable. Without
France will take the initiative IN
diplomatic circles it is pointed out that
the interests Of France, both material
and sentimental favor an avoidance of
war. one material reason is that
France is preparing for an internation-
al exposition when the worlds tide Of
travel will be turned toward the French
capital. 1t is said that war at such
"a time would be seriously prejudical to
this great project.
Another material interest affecting
France is that her citizens own many
Spanish securities, so that any decline
resulting from war would fail largely
on French capitalists While these are
important considerations urging France
to avert hostilities, yet they are not,
of course, such as could be advanced
as the actual grounds for a tender of
good offices, Such q movement would
be prompted solely on sentimental
grounds, namely. on the friendship of
France for both parties engaged in this
controversy.
WAE. PREPARATIONS CONTINUE.
The Army and Navy Departments
continue to show many evidences of
activity, but there is not the extreme
energy of preparations evident last
week
me Navy Department made no fur
! lther purchases of foreign ships to-day,
although the naval attaches abroad
continue to make inspection OF ships at
the several yards.
The formal report Of the Medical
Board OF officers of the North Atlantic
squadron that sat on Admiral Sicard's
case shows that he was suffering from
what is technically known as chronic
malaria. 1t was upon the report Of
this board that the Admiral was re-
lieved of his command and granted six
months leave of absence.
! At the War Department the most i'm
portant development Of the day was
the announcement that the Twenty
Fifth Regiment of infantry, now sta
toned in Montana, would be transfer
red to Dry Tortugas. in the Gulf OF
Mexico. This regiment is composed en-
tirely Of colored troops who have been
located in the Northwest for q num-
beE of years. Their stay in the Gulf
climate viii prepare them for any ser
vice in Cuba, should this be necessary.
/ The troops will first go to Key West.
It may be that the Department viii
keep some of them there, and send
Ionly portion of the regiment to Tor
tugas, bat this has not been determined
definitely.
SPANISH SITUATION.