The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1898-04-04
No Communications Now Passing Between
the TIVE Countries.
BOTH ARE AWAITING ACTION
Crisis Is Now Thought by Those Best
Posted To Be at Hand.
RECOGNITION WILL MEAN WAR
DIPLOMATS See Every Indication OF q
Conflict and No Intention for
Intervention.

washington April 1.-The issue between
tho United States and Spain remains I'M
oba,god No communications having any
hearina upon the situation have passed be-
tween this government and Spain since
last Thursday night, when Minister Wooh-
ford transmitted the reply of the Sagasta
ministry to the presidents propositions OF
two weeks ago.
Both governments appear to accept TINS
issue as made up, and are shaping their
course accordingly.
This being the case the view is universal
" entertained. even by representative men
of the administration. that congress upon
receipt of the presidents message early
next week will take action which it is al
most universally expected must result in
a severance of the relations of the two
countries.
This was in part foreshadowed by
the action of the senate committee on
foreign relations today in agreeing to
O. resolution favorable to the independ-
ence of Cuba and for armed interven-
ton if necessary to secure independ-
ence.
With the crisis so near at hand, 1t IS ne
Ucved that if any European intervention
or mediation is to come, it will be Wlth!h
the next few days. 1t was said, however,
at the state department late this afternoon
that no offer of European mediation had
vet been officially transmitted TO this gov
eminent It was the general understand
fms, that friendly overtures of this nature
were looked for at almost any time from
France or Austria, and it was reported
during the day that the presence in Wash
ington of Cardinal Gibbons and Archbishop
Ireland was in connection with mediation
from Rome. but 1t was stated on h!Sh
authority at the state department that no
ovcrtures of this character had taken OIL
cial form nor was the state department
advised that any such steps were in con
temptation.
1t is the understanding in official
circles, based upon information, that
the recognition of Cuban independence
would not in itself be regarded by
Spain as a casus belli.
But at the same time there is little doubt
that such recognition of Cuban lndepch-
dence would be followed by the withdrawn
of the Spanish minister, Senior POI" ser
nabe, and his entire suite from Washing
ton and the term nation of Span dlpI"-
matte raproscu:atlUr At WASHINGTON. Su'h
withdrawal is one OF the last steps pre-
ceding actual recourse TO war. II IS prop
able however, that the Withdrawn OF the
Spanish minister, following the r"coRlt-
ton of independence, would not De 50 lhu'l
an indication OF war as It would De an en-
phatic protest by the Spanish government
against the recognition Of the lnd"pen-
dcnce of a colony over which she Chains
to exercise complete sovereignty.
Although this recognition OF indie
Dendence is not considered q casus
belli by which Spain could declare
war. vet it is viewed i'll diplomatic
quarters as a step which would nave
consequences inevitably terminating N
war.
T,o. that reason it IS said that the reco6-
nItion ,f tine independence of cuba is HN'lS
tn he no less grave than int"rVcnt'oh'
The Spanish minister continues to pre-
serve his outward calm. althods" ne
that the rrlat .ons are extremely suzanne"
and that bis stay in Washington may i"'
be long continued. 10 some OF MS "'P'
matte associates who called today he Sald
his couscienc" was perfectly clear, as ne
tbought Spain'S cause WAS Il just one" ana
for this reason he felt no agitation.
The state department today received the
fun report of the Spanish commlSSlo"
which Investigated the destruction OIL llt
battI,ship Maine. This document has been
rxpected for some days but 1t was not
until today il reached Washington ny a
special messenger from Havana. 1t proved
To he A most bulky and VoumlnOuS docu-
ruent of far greater length than tn" IL
uort of the American court of inquiry.
The text as delivered to the stat" depart
ment IS in Spanish, and it VIII take som"
time for the elaborate document to be
translated The Associated Press early in
the week gave 4 complete and official syn
opss of this Spanish report. the essential
features of which We're that the explosion
of the Maine occurred inside of the snip
and that no evidence existed OF any eXte-
riOr explosion.
Does Not Kill Fish.
Admiral Irwin today was among the Wit
ncsses before the senate committee on iur-
eign relations which is making thorough
inuu'rv into the Maine disaster. His teSti-
monv was regarded as important in meet
ing the position OF the Spanish commission
that 4 mine, did not explode under the
Maine. as no dead fish Were found in the
harbor. Admiral Irwin is an expert on
torpedoes and submarine explosions and he
told the committee he never knew fish to
be killed by such explosions.
The white house was. as usual. a central
point in the great activity of the day. The
president saw many public men. Some of
them urged upon the president that the
Maine incident be put forward as 81 casus
belH the general Cuban subject being sub
or,linattd to it. Among these was Repre-
sentative Marsh, of Illinois, who said, af
ter talking with the president:
IL went to see the president to tell
him THAI the basis of our declaration of
war should be the destruction OF the
ter of Ana