The herald., 1898-03-26
STATESMEN OF SPAIN
ARE FORCED TO ADMIT THINGS
LOOK SERIOUS
Belief Expressed That the United
States Cannot Refuse to Arbitrate
the Maine Affair

NEW YORK. March pa dispatch to
the World from Madrid says:
The feeling among statesmen and flnan-
ciers rs pesxmistic. Even the most mod
crate Of the newspapers and the friends of
the ministers admit that American-Span-
ish affairs have entered upon very criti.
cal stage The Council of Ministers de-
cided to send by cable note to Washing
ton expressing surprise, the impartial re-
ports. at receiving a request for permission
| to destroy the wreck of the Maine before
| the two governments have communicated
officially to each other the reports Of their
commissioners of investigation with the
| necessary data to determine subsequent
| action. Spain hopes President Nc
| Kinley will await this customary
exchange of correspondence before
seeking to begin negotiations on
matter requiring the most sincerity. be.
| cause Spains honor and dignity demand
public recognition of the honesty of her
acts and intentions. 1t is probable that the
note dwells on the damage done Spanish
plans in Cuba. the Impartial says. by the
preparations and movements of American
war vessels.
Premier Sagasta and Colonial Minister
Moret went to the palace to convey to
the Queen intelligence that Consul General
Lee had been instructed to ask permission
of the authorities al Havana to begin to
remove the wreck Of the Maine, with her
permission, and that General Blanco had
refused.
On leaving the palace, Senior Sagasta told
the Spanish reporters that the government
had decided to cable its approval of Blan-
cos refusal
This incident created a profound sensa-
ton.
After the cabinet council the usual Off
cial communication was made to the press
1t contains the following:
THE council approved the conduct of
Marshal Blanco. At the same time hav-
ing been informed that the Inquiry of the
North American Commission on the ca
tastrophe or explosion on said vessel had
terminated its examination on the ques-
tion raised by the catastrophe, the council
commissioned the Minister of State to take
into account opportunely all that has been
exposed in order to defend what is JUS.
and the interests of Spain.'
The Madrid newspapers unanimously ap-
plaud both Marshal Blanco and the gov
ernment for resisting the American pre-
tensions" in asking to be allowed to re-
move what remains of the Maine. They are
equally unanimous in saying that Am
erica mad committed an egregious blunder
one calculated to impress the whole world
unfavorably in regard to the American
case. on account of the unseemly haste in
wishing to destroy the chief evidence of
the claims made by both sides.
1t is not a blunder, the Madrid press
argues in effect, the proposition shows
that America is preparing to cast off the
mask and reveal clearly that the Maine
incident only serves as pretext for the
opening up of other Issues in the Cuban
question, which have absolutely nothing
| to do with the unfortunate accidental ca
tastrophe.
Public sentiment sustains the govern
ment in insisting upon discussing the
Maine incident separately on its merits
and taking up the respective reports of in
vest.gation with purpose to sift the
technical evidence and vndicate the
honor and dignity of Spain. Consequently
it could not assent to the destruction of
the wreck, the principal element in the
conflicting evidence.
The Spaniards DO not want the wreck
removed yet as they think it may be very
useful for the purpose of arbitration.
They affect to believe that it is impos-
sible that America would object to allowing
| the report of her commission to be sub
| mitted to arbitration If it really clashes
| with the reports of the Spanish Commis-
sion and the Havana authorities that an
accidental and exterior explosion caused
| the destruction of the Maine
| 1t is curious to observe how the opinion
| s gaining ground in the government class
es in Spain that all the present difficulties
between the two countries, including the
Maine affair might be settled peacefully
| if both sides would only make up their
| minds to go half way, and if the two gov
ernments would not allow themselves to
be forced on by popular and parliamentary
pressure.