The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-13
INTERVIEW WITH sAGAsTA.
The Spanish Premfer's View of the
De Lone Incident.


NEW YORK, Feb. 12-Premier Sagasta
made the following statement regarding the
Depuy De LONE incident to a Madrid cor
respondent of the World last night:
We Were profoundly surprised when the
first intimation of the occurrence came by
the first telegram from Senior Depuy lie
LONE, saying that he had been advised that
the American newspapers were about to
publish 4 letter he had written to Senior
Canalejas, which contained strong criticism
of President Mckinley. He added that this
might make his remaining in Washington
undesirable. Therefore he placed his resg
nation at the disposal of the government.
''As we were at a loss to understand the
matter, instructed the minister of foreign
affairs to telegraph again. directing Senior
De LONE to inform us of the contents of
the letter. Senior De LONE replied that he
did not recollect them. Senior De LONE re-
signed before the letter was published.
Meanwhile the text of the letter was pub
lished in New York.
s'Then Senior De LONE cabled, renewing
his request that his resignation be accepted
soon, as his position was impossible. He
desired to leave America because Assistant
Secretary of State Day had called upon him
to ask if he was the author of the letter,
which he had admitted. So we went into
council at the palace, having decided to tell
the Queen that Senior De Lomes resigna-
ton was necessary. And in another coun
ell, held Immediately afterward, we took all
the steps required to place the legation in
the hands of the first secretary, who is
thoroughly acquainted with all the pending
political and commercial questions that will
not suffer delay until a successor to Senior
De LONE reaches Washington.
THE Cabinet discussed many eligible cam
didates, coming to the conclusion to let the
minister of foreign affairs select Span's
future representative among the diplomat
lists who know the English language, have
served in the United States and are COM
petent to conduct the commercial negotia-
lions.
Il firmly believe that the incident, though
unpleasant or us, will not alter our present
highly satisfactory and friendly relations
with the American government. What con-
firms my belief is that General Woodford,
after his interview with Senior Gullon, de-
clared himself satisfied with the solution
the Spanish government had given to this
affair before he presented his note on the
subject, in accordance with instructions
from the state Department:
ter we sent for Senior Canalejas, who as
sured US that he never received the letter.
and that It must have been stolen in his
hotel at Havana. Senior Canalejas seemed
much astonished that Senior De LONE
should have written him so. as he had only
made his acquaintance through a letter Of
introduction from Colonial Secretary Moret
when he went to Washington, and had no.
ticed that Senior De LONE always spoke to
him in the highest terms of President Nc
Kinley His dispatches contributed to the
excellent impression this government had
formed of President McKinleys disposition
and his ability TO assist us in keeping up
the friendly relations of which we firmly
trust the crowning act will be, ere long. a
treaty of commerce between the United
States Cuba and Spain.
your intelligence from Cuba is satisfac-
tory, and permits the hope that both the
colonial and the Spanish elections can be
held before the end of March, in order to
have both parliaments in session in April -