Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-04

contain recommendations Of "a positive
ton of Congress in recognizing independ-
ence and providing for it's becoming re-
ality. 1t is in the framing of these recon-
nendations that the President will require
the most time. Whatever portions of the
correspondence of recent years are used
will not have to be written by the Presi-
dent, but will be prepared at the State De-
pa rtment.
1t is claimed by warm friends that the
Presidents recommendations will be strong
in their nature and satisfactory to Con-
sress and the country.
The President has been delayed to some
extent in getting his message ready by
waiting for the report of the Spanish court
of inquiry into the Maine disaster. The re-
port came here in Spanish and the State
Department officials were at work nearly
all day turning it into English. The Presi-
dent intends to give the report considera-
ticn simply as a matter of courtesy to
Spain. This country submitted the report
of its board to Spain and that country has
done the same thing by us.
No Mediation Likely.
All of the Presidents visitors say that
mediation of any kind is out of the ques-
ton, 50 far as this country is concerned.
Our position has been taken and cannot be
changed. The European countries, it can
be stated almost officially. will have to use
all their pressure upon Spain. They will
waste their efforts upon the United States
unless they can assure this country that
they can induce Spain to make Cuba free.
That kind of mediation might be accept
able to this country if it carried with it a
practical guarantee.
Senator Gray of the Senate foreign rela-
tions committee had long talk with the
President today, and gave expression to the
belief that no form of mediation will be of
avail at this time.
Communication With Spain Closed.
Onicials close to the President say that
TO communication has been held with
Spain since last week. Several dispatches
have been sent to Minister Woodford, but
they were about other business than the
Cuban question. The President has not
changed his determination to close COM
muniCation with Spain the subject un-
less the latter country reopens the matter.
The best information is that nothing of
this kind is expected from Spain.
There was no meeting of the cabinet at
the White House today, although number
of the members had conferences with the
President. Secretaries. Gage, Alger, Long,
Sherman and Attorney General Griggs
were in the list. Other important callers
were Senators Hanna. Fairbanks and Rep
resentatlves Dingley, Grout, Hull. Parrett,
Mitchell and Johnson of North Dakota.
All of these men talked with the President
as to the status of affairs. They found
the President with his partly written mes
sage before him.
Willing to Give Him Time.
Although some of them are impatient for
action they said that in the face of this
evidence of hard work they were disposed
to give the President all the time he thinks
lie cessary in getting his message ready.
Representative Grout said he had been
talking with the President about resolutions
he had prepared recognizing the independ-
ence of Cuba, the distribution of relief sup
plies and an appropriation for raising the
hull of the Maine.
President Mckinley is showing the result
of the recent weeks of worry. Just before
his usual lunch hour today he lay down
for a short nap, something he never in
dulges in.
The President has discontinued the public
receptions which he has been holding tri-
weekly, giving more time for work on his
Message
Spanish Minister'S Preparations.
A member of the Spanish legation here
told n friend todey that as soon as Con-
gress passed any resolutions looking to the
of the independence of Cuba
Or suggesting the armed Intervention of
the United States on that island the fact
would be Immediately communicated to his
government at Madrid. In response in,
sti uctions would be at once cabled to the
Spanish minister, Seror Polo, and his at
taches to demand their passports and to
leave Washington, thus breaking eff all
diplomatic relations with this country. In
of this action he said that
to leave were being made by
every member of the legation, and that
some of the effects of the legation had al
ready been packed up.