The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-02-25
EUROPEAN OPINIONS.
Noted Statesmen Express Their
Views on the Maine Disaster.
AMERICAN RESIGNATION ADMIRED.
crispi scepticai as to an Accident-Aus
Holds That Charges Against Spain
Must 30 Prove = Gernsny aud
France Nom ON initial

ROME, Feb. 29 -Signor Crispi ex-
premier, one of the creators of the triple
alliance and the greatest statesman of
Italy, says regarding the Maine dis
nster:
am not technical expert In matters OF this
kind. and, therefore, cannot sit in judgment
on the cause OF the Maine explosion. / ask
myself. however, and cannot help doing so,
why such explosions do not take place In ordi.
nary and normal times. | think there IL not
person in the world who can really believe IL
was due to u simple accident l admire the
resignation OF the United States, but with
more energy the Cuban question would have
been settled a long while ago. II now the
bellion should be stified In the blood OF its up-
holders the shame and disgrace will fall on the
whole civilized world,
Sig. Flore. an International arbi-
traitor and European authority on in
ternational law, said yesterday:
Spain is not positively Obliged to take any
action except, II proved indirectly responsible,
~ for instance. II Spanish authorities, having
suspicion OF crime, did not take Hitting pre-
ventive measures Meanwhile Spain is not
Obliged to prove non-responsibilty. interna-
tional law preSupposng good faith
AUSTRIAN AUTHORITIES.
VIENNA, Feb. %. Reply to an in
lNfy NtobCTudJs DhIOH Jtbbtl, uTSJ
court counselor of the Austrian foreign
Office, n high authority on in ternation-
NJ law, said:
The Maine incident Ia no question OF interna-
tional right, but only criminal case II can
be judged according TO the laws Of the country
TO which the offenders belont. II the United
States government suspects that Spanish sub
jects committed the crime. this suspicion the
United States must have verified
Adm. Field was non-committal, and
Il was apparent that the naval authori-
ties were reticent lest any expression
of theirs might favor the suspicion
that the catastrophe was not the re-
suit of an accident The hypothesis
of malice is freely discussed among
politicians. 1t is held that the ex-
penses of investigation must first he
betrayed by the American govern
ment and II guilt of Spanish sub
jects is proved, Spain must re-
fund the expenses of the examination.
II something in the condition of the
fragments point to the guilt OF Span
ish subjects, Spain will have to search
for the guilty persons and try them by
Spanish law. II Spanish law demands
that a reward be offered, Spain is
obliged to do this. These officials say
the present political situation in no
way puts obligations on Spain in this
affair, which is considered by all ma
tions in purely a criminal light.
GERMAN OPINION on THE MATTER.
BERLIN Feb. 3.-Tbe following was
received yesterday from an eminent
authority in the German foreign Office.
Owing to his official position, he de-
clined the publication of his name:
Spain is responsible when negligence in
watching can be maintained against it, or
when IL Is shown that its connivance has been
ss..-ber active or passive or when the deed is
g5he OF promoted by any Of its oficials in ac-
Z live service
II the Spanish government is not re-
sponsible, and the act was committed
ny a private citizen of Spain, opinion
ms to the position of Spain and the
amount OF its liability is not unani-
nous among German international
lawyers They state, however, that
the United States would be justi-
fed in inspiring Spain to put
all criminal machinery in mo-
ton and exhaust every re.
source to bring the criminal to
justice 1t could even insist on Spain
offering a reward il dissatisfied with
the ordinary police procedure or
doubtful of its success. The first act
Of Spain would be to apologize for the
net of it's citizen, and assure the
United STATES that the criminal or
criminals. when discovered, would be
brought to justice.
FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER'S VIEW.