The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-04-04


ter Wednesday Prospect Of
European Mediation Arouses
Keen Interest Throughout Di-
plomatic Circles.
WASHINGTON, April 3.-The opin-
ion. almost universally held in Wash
ington tonight by leading public men
and diplomats, is that the crisis VIII
reach its climax this week and that
the question of war or peace VIII DE
determined within the next seven days.
Senators and Representatives met
and conferred all day about the gravity
Of the situation and at the White House
the President consulted with seVeral
members of his Cabinet and old conn.,
dental advisers regarding the message
which he is preparing to SEND TO Con
eress At the State, War and Navy
buildings active work was going on,
and altogether it has been a day OF sup
messed feeling. No day has been an
nounced as to when the message
win be sent to Congress, and 1t is
believed it viii not go in tomorrow.
1t is believed that more probably
Wednesday or Thursday Will be the day
selected
Besides the physical work Of preparing
the comprehensive document upon
which the President expects to rest ms
case with the world, there are other
reasons why those in charge Of the War
preparations will welcome every hour
delav. War material which we have
ordered abroad is not yet shipped and
the factories in this country Will work
day and night. making powder and pro-
1ectiles and are anxious for delay Some
Of the factories in Connecticut with con-
tracts have telegraphed Representative
Hit urging all delay possible. They
say every day now is precious. There is
still a divergence of opinion as to what
the President will recommend in his
message. Indeed, there seems to be
stfu q question as to whether the Presl-
dent viii make any specific recommen-
dations. Some of his most intimate
friends, however, assert emphatcally
that the Presidents recommendations
will be specific and vigorous and such
that his party and the country could
willingly follow when he points the
way.
One of these said tonight that the
President, in his strong desire for peace
and earnest hope that war might pos
sibly be averted, was yielding some
what TO the sentiment of the leaders OF
his party and the country. He has not
given up hope yet that hostilities may
be averted. There are those who be
lieve the President has not yet made up
his mind as to the exact course he Will
pursue and there seems to be a queS-
ton as to whether the consular re-
PORTS and the diplomatic correspondence
is to be transmitted with the message.
The suspense causing necessary delay
In the preparation of the message Is
very trying on the members of the COM
mittee and the most universally discus
sed question in Washington tonight Is
whether Congress can be restrained UNI
til the message is transmitted.
1t is understood that the message to
be sent to Congress by the President
will include a very comprehensive
statement of the relations Of the United
States to the Cuban question. Oie
member Of the Capinet said to-day 1t
would cover a period of perhaps fifty
years. would deal at length with what
had been the policy of the past admin
istration. how President Mckinley
found matters when he was inaugu-
rated and his relations at this time.
All recognize the task of preparing
our case for the worlds inspection and
the care which must be exercised, and
there seems to be no disposition TO I'M
dulv hasten the President. The party
leaders are extremely anxious to AVOID
a breech with the executive, such as
would occur if Congress were to take
the initiative After a careful canvass
of the situation to-day, they believe
the radical Republicans can be held 1T
line a few days longer, until Wednes-
day at least The conference of the
Republicans of the House who have
been insisting upon prompt action, hoio
another meeting tomorrow night. While
many of them are now in favor of Civ
ing the President more leeway than
they were last week, it is realized that
TWENTY-FIVE Republican votes in the
House would, with the Democratic and
populist votes. be sufficient to act.
1t can be pretty confidently asserted
that all the Republicans of the House
with possibly the exceptions which
could he counted on the fingers of one
hand can he controlled until Wednes'
day. After that what might happen II
the President asks for further delay Is
mathematical. The Republicans of the
House Committee on Foreign Affairs
have held informal meetings to-day
and have practically agreed to report a
resolution of a tenor similar TO thai
agreed upon by the Foreign Relations
Committee of the Senate.
These resolutions viii be practically
agreed upon by the committee to-mor-
row, but will not be reported until the
President sends his message to Con-
gress. although there is at least one OF
the Republicans of the committee who
is in favor of formally reporting them
tomorrow. Adams, acting chairman OF
the committee in the absence of HIT
saw the President to-day and informed
him of the probable action of the com
mittee All the Republicans called
upon Hit at his residence during the
day. The prospects of European medl-
alton have aroused the keenest inter
est throughout diplomatic circles here
and although inquiry at the leading
embassies and legations failed to dis
close that any actual move had been
made. yet such a move is anticipated
almost any time and when taken it is
felt that it will be an important factor
in the situation. 1t has been expected