Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1898-04-08
EVASlVE REPLY
Sent by Spanish
Government
70 PRESIDENTS DEMANDS.
NEITHER ACCEDES NOR DE-
CLINEs PROPOSITIONS.
Makes Counter Argument That
Spain, Herself, Be Allowed
To Make Terms.

SPANS official reply to President
McKinley's last demand in the Cuban
situation was received in Washington
Thursday night. An anxious party,
comprising most Of the cabinet and
several close friends Of the administra.
ton, waited until late in the evening
in expectation Of developments. About
half-past 10 o'clock the message began
to arrive in cipher, and the work OF
translation was begun at once. 1t was.
officially stated, however, that no init
nation as to the nature Of the reply
could be divulged at the time.
Among those at the white house
where Senator Hanna, Secretary Al
ger, Secretary Bliss, Assistant Score
tary Of State Day, who dined with the
president; Assistant Secretary OF State
Adee, to whom was confded the trans.
lation Of the message; Senator Spooner
and Senator Aldrich.
There was an intensely expectant
crowd of newspaper correspondents,
larger than often gathered at the
white house at night, waiting in the
lobby outside the presidents Office.
But they were destined to disappoint-
ment, for after the telegraph instru-
ment in the adjoining Office had stead
lily clattered for half an honr Mr.. Por-
ter, the presidents secretary, ap-
peared with the announcement from
Secretary Day that it was impossible
to translate the message in time to
give out any statement at that hour.
All those who had been with the
president were rsticent on leaving the
executive ansion, most OF them de-
claring that they had not seen any OF
the translation Of the cipher dispatch,
and that they had no idea Of its pur-
port.
A special dispatch from Washington
TO the New York World, timed a. m.
Friday, gives the following outline to
the note presented by Minister Wood
ford:
"spain Neither nccedes to nor declines
President McKiniey's Propositions.
"she makes counter rgument that Spain
should herseifb be allowed TO propose terms
rs to what should be done regarding her
own territory; that the United States
should not do So"
Both committees of congress dealing
with foreign affairs were in session
Thursday. The senate committee con-
tinued its examination of the report on
the Maine and the house committee by
a party vote refused to take any action
on Cuba till Monday.
The senate committee agreed to and
Senator Lodge reported bill appro-
priating So, 900, 900 to purchase one or
more of the Danish West India islands
to be used for naval purposes.
The senate committee had before II
Captain Sigsbee, of the Inflated Maine,
and Captain Barker, Secretary Long
naval aide. What these officers told
the committee is treated confden'
TALLY.
There was q spirited debate in the
house Thursday Of a partisan nature,
and its effect has been to solidify the
parties-the republicans TO await action
by the president and the democrats to
force the Cuban question to the front.
The most important action taken by
the navy department during the day
was the determination to have the
naval militia of the several states pre-
pared for immediate service should this
be found necessary. The decision was
the result of q conference of the naval
, strategic board.
Letters were sent to the governors
and to the adiutants general Of the
states where there are naval militia
organizations, asking them to set in
, motion the machinery for drilling and
, equipping the state organizations
promptly so they may be ready within
very few hours notice OF call te
arms.
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt has
, charge of all matters pertaining to the
= naval militia and he feels the response
q to this request will be hearty snt
prompt. The officials express hope
that there will be a unanimous senti
ment on the part of employers to per
| nit such of their men as are members
OF the militia free opportunity to join
their commands.