Evening star., 1898-02-12
SPAIN'S GOOD FAITH
The Issue Created by the De LONE
Letter.
ACCEPTING The RESIGNATION
Propnety of the Act is Now Ques-
toned.
NAIL REPORTS


to be said respecting the De LONE letter at
present; that so far Minister woodford has
not yet forwarded the full report of the in
terview had by him with the Spanish for
eign office. So the situation is precisely as
ii was yesterday.
A point that may become OF Importance
In considering the propriety of the action
of the Spanish government In accepting the
resignation of the minister without so far
disclaiming responsibility for the utter
ances contained in his letter has been
broached-that is. whether the Spanish gov
ernment was aware of the contents of the
letter. There is reason to believe that at
least when il acted upon Mr.. de Lome's
resignation, If not, indeed. up to the pres
ent moment, the Spanish foreign office has
not had before 1t the full text of the letter
and 1t may be that it has acted on the
assumption, that might have been drawn
from the short message sent by Mr.. De
Lone when he resigned, that the document
contained only personal criticisms upon the
President
In this case the statements respecting the
autonomy and reciprocity measures. which
are regarded as Of greater importance
than the personal criticisms passed by the
minister upon the President, may not have
been known to the Spanish government
when it acted. The fact that Senior Canale-
jas, the person addressed by the minister,
Who is now in Madrid is said to have de-
csred to the government that he never
received the letter would warrant such an
assumption, unless the cable has been
freely used by the Spanish legation here.
Conferrine with the President.
Judge Day, the assistant secretary OF
state, visited the President early this
morning, being the first and most import
ant visitor of the day. To Star reporter
Judge Day said that the Department Of
State was awaiting further advices from
Gen. Woodford and expected to hear some
thing by afternoon. Until The adyices were
received it was not thought that anyt ntag
new would develop.
Judge Day was asked whether ii is the
intention of this government TO ask an ex-
pianation of Spain Of certain sentiments in
the De Lone letter as to autonomy and
commercial relations. He said that nothing
would be done until Gen. Woodford is
heard from. This was all the answer he
cared TO give to the question.
Policy of the Administrations.
The policy OF the administration can be
stated briefly and on authority not open to
question follows:
The President is awaiting the fun re-
port of United States Minister Woodford,
who in the brief report already made,
stated that fuller details will be forwarded.
So far as the personal illusions of the late
minister to the President are concerned
the incident is undoubtedly closed. No de-
mand has been or will be made according
to the present intentions. for disavowal
of them, though should IL be made, would
be regarded graceful act. But the in
ferences in the letter which bring in ques-
ton Spains good faith questions of
reciprocity, and inferentially autonomy for
Cuba, if not disavowed voluntarily, may
become the subject of further diplomatic
correspondence, though as to this matter.
as has been stated heretofore. the Presi-
advices before anything is decided upon.
This feature of the eX-ministers letter is
entirely disassociated from the personal
aspect which resulted in his retirement.
1t is confidently expected by this govern
ment that Spain will take early oppor-
tunity to disavow the statements Of its late
representative far they tend to COM
nit Spain to a policy which leaves her good
faith open to serious doubt. 1t is felt 10 be
most desirable that this government should
have no doubt to Spain's real purposes
and feelings on those vital question which
have been subjects of negotiation or are
likely to become such in the immediate
future.
Numerous prominent republicans who
yist the White House consider this the
most important phase of the entire ques-
ton, and they have said to ire Presi-
dent. They have congratulated him on the
manner he has handled the matter up to
this time but have expressed the nope
that he viii take oognizance of these
things.
The unanimty of confidence in the Presi-
dent is something that he viii appreciate
when he becomes mere fully aware of it.
Hct-headed republicans who declare that
they would have given hasty and warm
exit to De LONE in the next breath aver
that the President is acting wisely and
carefully. These expressions Of trust come
from all sides. The congratulations ex-
tended the President by callers have not
succeeded in inducing him to talk to his
policy as to the future. He talks to few
on matters concerning Spain ard Cuba.
Outside of Judge Day, Senator Davis of the
foreign relations CT rlr1ittee CT the Senate
was probably the oaly caller at the White
House today who would probably have
be en- taken into the Presidents commence
as to the situation.
At the Spanish Legation.
At the Spanish legation affairs have as
srmed a normal condition. Senor Du Bose
is in actual charge. He did not visit the
State Department today, having no occa-
sion to do so. This afternoon he made calls
on the foreign representatives, thus fulfill
ing a social and an official duty, by which
the fact of his assuming charge of the post
was made known to them.
Senior de LONE was busy during the fore
noon winding up his affairs preparatory to
his return to Spain. The date of his de-
parture has not yet been fixed. Nine. de
Lone is superintending the work of pack
ing and reports of her being prostrated by
the recent occurrence are groundless.
The New Minister.
No intimation has come TO any one of the
legation with regard to the new minister
The several names mentioned are well
known. but all comment is now regarded
as purely conjectural
Assistant Secretary Day Misquoted.
Assistant Secretary Day is very indig-
nant today over what be claims TO be mis-
representations of his attitude on the De
LONE affair. He says most positively that
he has never told any one newspaper man
or other person, that the incident will not
be closed until the Spanish government dis
claims responsibility for the statements
made by Senior de LONE In his letter to
Canalejas.
A Star reporter who was present when
Judge Day received a large delegation OF
newspaper men in his office esterday did
not hear him make any such remark as
that attributed to him in some of the
morning papers. In fact. he made no set
statement. but in reply to questions pro-
pounded by different reporters, said, in SUBJ
stance. that the departm snt was expecting
q further report from Minister Woodford
bearing on this question and that the incis