The record-union., 1898-07-25
No inclination to Seek Mediation
of a Neutral Power.
The Spanish Would Prefer That Cuba be
Annexed to the United States
Rather Than Turned Over
to the Insurgents.


respondent of the Times says:
Peace prospects have greatly inn
proved during the last forty-eight
hours. The diplomatic exploration of
the Duke Almodovar de Rio, the For
! eign Minister, has been more practical
than was supposed, and it is now toll
erably certain that the Governments
are now entering a new phase which
may gradually lead to tangible results.
The precise nature of the change
is a secret, but there is little doubt
that it tends to direct negotiations be-
tween Spain and the United States,
there being no inclination to seek the
mediation of any neutral Power The
moment has arrived when America,
having reached the parting of the ways.
must choose between war with a spe-
cific object and an indefinable war OF
conquest.
THE present pause in hostilities is
held to prove that the United States is
reluctant to plunge into wider sphere
of action, and it may be confidently
predicted that, if direct negotiations
are opened without delay. both coun-
tries will find their views on the main
point-that of the future of Cuba-far
from irreconcilable.
The growing dissensions between the
Cuban insurgents and the Americans
are noted here with great satisfaction
and on all sides L hear said: If we
islands should be annexed by America,
because the traitors would be thereby
punished and the enormous Spanish in
terests in the island would be pro-
tected'
The French Embassy at Washing
ton seems the most likely channel for
opening negotiations. and the semi
official statement that America intends
to retain Porto Rico is regarded here as
a hint to Spain to hurry up.
There is still much talk about Car
list intrigues and preparations, but the
Government, though vigilant and ready
to act energetically if necessary, seems
to think that at present there is no SER
ious danger of untoward developments.
The danger of Republican movements
is still less. Senior Emilio CASTELAR,
has just rendered a service to the cause
of order by publishing a long letter, in
which he impresSes upon all good Span
irds the necessity of sinking party diff
ferences and remaining firmly united at
the present critical moment.
g Patriotism, like the church, says
Senor Castelar, imposes unity on US,
and if unity does not exist let US be
silent upon the subject The project of
presenting him with an address of con-
fidence signed by 100000 of his adj
nliring fellow citizens has been indefi-
nitely postponed"
PEACE FURTHER OFF THAN LAST
WEEK.
LONDON, July 25.-The Gibraltar
correspondent of the Daily News" tel
egraphng Sunday, says: According to
ministerial admissions peace is further
off than it was last week The great
difficulty is the loss of the Cuban cable.
Senior Gamazo, the Minister of Pub
lie Instruction, threatens to resign.
The administrative haste and hustle
in Spain about port defenses are prodi-
gious, but who can think that all this
means business, after all that has hap
pened. The heavy French guns sup
piled from the Saint Chamond works
have been lying for the last six weeks
in the drill ground at Carabanch. They
are being tested, and will be sent to
replace the brass and other old fash
ioned pieces at CadiZ, but the means
of loading them are defective, and SO.
too, is the smokeless powder. However.
the military engineers expect that all
these defects will be set right.
Ordinary railway traffic is almost sus-
pended, as the trains are wanted to
take soldiers and marines, with muni-
tions of war, hither and thither.
The field artillery which was supplied
by France before war was declared was
originally centralized at Madrid but
it is now being shipped to the Northern
Sierra. where Carlist uprisings appear.
The fire brigade at the various sea-
ports are constantly drilling to prepare
themselves to deal with burning houses
during the bombardments. The engi-
neers have created what appears to be
strong defenses at Cadiz. but the
strength must depend altogether upon
the range o: the guns.
Don Carlos Going to Switzerland.
LONDON, July 24.-Don Carlos, the
Spanish pretender, according to a dis
match from Brussels to the Daily
Mail" has hurriedly started to Switzer-