Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-20
pOLO READY 70 DEPART.
;udignity 10 LegatiOn-NO More
European Mediation.

Europcun Mediation.
WASHINGTON, April lg.-The Spanish
Minister. Seuor Polo dc BernaDe, has
made his final preparations for departure.
ana is calmly awaiting notification that
the President has affixed his signature
to the Cuban resolution. ri which time the
Minister Will take his leave. The entire
stan Of the legation will accompany the
Minister.
Eai!y This morning the large metal
sign bearing the words "Oiice OF the
Spanish LegltiOn.' was wrenched from
IT'S place ou the gate leading TO the ieSa-
t0u and carried off boy vandals. The
Minister made no complaint 20 the State
Department or To the police. as ne mas
sought 90 minimize the petty depreGa-
tions ag giiust the legation, although this
was the most fragrant one that has been
committed.
The various foreign bassies and lega-
tious We're intensely active to-day. i'm
the expectation that hostilties were near
at hand The several foreign officers
were fully advised of the passage OF the
resolutions. and were kept posted as 20
the. prospects touching the Presidents
signature. Some OF the ambassadors and
ministers called at the State Department
to learn whether the President would
.igu the resolutions. Iaey We're in4Ormad
by Judge Day that the President intended
o. sign them. This I'M turn was commu-
ui.It,d 10 the foreign offices, and was
regarded as placing the matter beyond
auv Question Of doubt. The r~present1-
lives of the Powers of Europe held no
meeting during the day, nor Is any meet
ing at present in prospect. Those who
have been most hopeful of bringing about
European coalition now cOncede that such
"a move is impossible.
BRITISH NEUTRALITY.
Already. il is said Great Britain has
taken steps. not only 10 maintain pas
sivc neutrality but 20 enforce il with
aims. If necessary. Two regiments OF
British soldiers are now i'm the British
West Indies. and these are about TO be
augmented boy another regiment on route
from Halifax. They are concentrated in
The belief that the West Indies will be
the centre of conflict. and that the stress
of war may lead one cor the other of the
beligerents 10 occupy neutral British
territory.
So far as is known the French Govern
ment will observe the same neutrality.
lts West Indian possessions are con-
siderable. and it has several ships in
those waters. Germany and the other
Powers are expected 10 take the same
neutral attitude.
In connection with the cable report
that the Drcihurd had sought 10 effect
plcbiscite i'm cuba. it was stated at one of
the embassies that this branch of the ne
gouations occurred last week, and en-
traccd some circumstances not made
known iu the cable dispatches
WOODFORD SUGGESTED PLEBlSCITE
About the middle Of last week one Of
the embassies here was informed from
its Foreign Office that It's ambassador at
Madrid advised them that Minister
Woodford had suggested in a tentative
way plcbiscite as "a possible solution 70
the cuban problem This ambassador
also advised his Foreign Office that the
suggestion did not meet with favor ana
had not been followed up. Since then
there has been no talk of plcbiscite 50
far as is known here.