The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-18
SPAIN DISCLAIhS.
DisautiIOFizes Statements In The De
LONE Letter.
SUMMARY OF THE NOTE TO MIN
lister WOODFORD.

The Spanish Minister'S Resignation Had
Been Received and Acted Upon Before
FIR. Woodford's Note Was Presented
AS to Its Good Faith, Doesn't Think
That Needs Demonstration.
Washington, February 17.-Spain has
officially disclaimed in positive manner
tho reflections contained in the de LONE
letter and as officially announced by the
state Department. today the incident is
satisfactorily closed. The statement given
out is as follows:
The following Is an abstract of note
sent last evening by the Spanish govern
ment to Minister Woodford at Madrid;
The Spanish government on learning OF
the incident in which Minister Dupuy
de LONE was concerned, and being adj
yised of his Objectionable communication,
with entire sincerity laments the incident
which was the cause of the interview
with the minister. States that Minister
de LONE had presented his resignation
and it had been accepted before the
presentation of the matter by Minister
Woodford. That the Spanish ministry, in
accepting the resignation of a functionary
whose services they have been utilizing
and valuing up to that time, leaves it
perfectly well established that they do not
share and rather, on the contrary, dis
authorize the criticisms tending to offend
or censure the chief of friendly state,
although such criticisms had been written
within the field of friendship, and had
means. That this meaning had taken
shape in q resolution by the council of
ministers before Gen. Woodford presented
the matter, and at q time when the
Spanish government had only vague tele-
graphic reports concerning the sentiments
alluded to- That the Spanish nation,
with equal and greater reason, affirins its
views and decision after reading the
words contained in the letter rejecting
upon the President of the United States.
AS to the paragraph concerning the
Instability Of negotiations of commercial
relations, if even for effect, and import
anoe of using representative for the pur-
pose stated in Senior Dupuy de LONE s
letter, the government expresses concern
that in the light of1its conduct, long after
the writing of the letter, and in view of
the unanswerable testimony of simultane-
GUS and subsequent facts, any doubt
should exist that the Spanish government
has given proof of it's real desire and of
it's innermost convictions with respect to
the new commercial system and the pro-
jec ted treaty of commerce.
That the Spanish government does not
now consider it necessary to lay stress up
on or to demonstrate anew the truth and
sincerity of its purpose and the unstained
good faith of it's Intentions
That publicly and solemnly the govern
ment of Spain contracted before the
mother country and its colonies respon-
sibilities for the political and tariff
changes which it had inaugurated in both
Antilles, the natural ends of which in do
nestle and information spheres, it pursues
with firmness which will ever inspire it's
conduct.
DE LONE CRITICIZED.
Madrid, February ia decree has been
gazetted accepting the resignation of
Senior Dupuy de LONE as minister of
Spain at Washington, and severely criti-
tt.