The record-union., 1898-03-28

Navy Departments - Assistant
Secretary Day Receives a Call
From the Spanish Minister-Ne-
gctiations Looking to the Main
tenance Of Peace and Bringing
the Cuban War to a Close.
WASHINGTON, March 27.-The
President saw a number of the ne1n-
bers of the Cabinet at the White House
to-day. They dropped in one by one
until those present included Secretaries
Bliss, Alger, Gage and Attorney-Gen-
eral Griggs. With them also was AS
sistant Secretary Day of the State De-
partment, who presumably had some
dispatches to show the President. The
gathering was not a special Cabinet
meeting in the sense that that term is
generally used, but was simply a talk
between the President and his advisers
concerning matters on which he desired
to consult. The Cuban question and the
report of the Maine court of inquiry
were the topics discussed, but so far as
could be ascertained nothing conclusive
was determined. One of the members
of the Cabient saying subsequently,
that there was nothing new or startling
in the situation.
The presence of Judge Day would in
fer that there were advices from Minis
ter Woodford, but further than an ac-
acknowledgement that communication is in
progress between the State Department
and the Minister nothing could be as
certained. At the State, War and Navy
Departments there was little sembIance
of Sabbath. Chiefs of bureaus, clerks
messengers and telegraph operators
were at work. Probably never since the
days of the late war have so many Off
cials gathered at the War and Navy be
partments on a Sunday. Dispatches
that came over night regarding the
movements of ships and other matters
were received and as many of them re-
quired prompt answers replies Wei q
formulated.
Secretary Long, however, did not ap-
pear at the Navy Department during
the day, as most of the matters requiT-
ing attention were those that could well
be attended to by bureau officers and
their assistants. Mrs. Long has been
i'll for some time and the Secretary. in
part shook off official cares and spent
the major portion of the day with her.
In the afternoon, in company with Mrs.
Long. the Secretary drove to the nay
yard and inspected the dynamite
cruiser Vesuvius, which is having her
guns repaired. The vessel has been at
the yard since about a week and crowds
have been there to see her.
Assistant Secretary Day spent q por-
tion of the Sabbath at the State De-
partment and there received a call from
the Spanish Minister. a rather unusual
procedure, indicating important matters
for consideration. The conference lasted
some time, but its nature could not DE
learned.
Tonight Commodore Winfield S.
Schley. just appointed the commander
Of the flying squadron" left here for
Norfolk. 1t is said that tomorrow he
Will hoist his flag on the Brooklyn, which
Is to be the flagship of the fleet. Fhe
other vessel of the squadron now at
Hampton Roads is the Massachusetts.
OF the remaining three, the Texas as in
New York receiving her ammunition
hGists and the Columbia and the Mime
apolis are at League Island navy yard,
where the final work preparatory to
their sea service is being hurriedly done.
L he IdbteT VIII De at 4NOTIOlk ABOUT TIE
middle of the week.
The developments of the day IN the
Cuban situation indicates progress in
the negotiations in this country and
Spain looking to the maintenance Of
peace at the present at least. There IS
good authority for saying that Spain $
wish is to secure a cessation of hOStili-
ties in Cuba rather than to engage in a
war with the United States and that it
is more than probable that negotiation
between the Government of the United
States and the Sagasta Ministry Will
take a turn in the immediate future The
present Spanish Ministry has expressed
pacific disposition from the beginning
and the indications are strong now that
1t Will avail itself of the good offices of
the United States to the fullest extent
that public opinion in Spain will allow
in bringing to an end the hostiliaies in
Cuba
To what extent the United States
may go in assisting Spain in her pres
ent design Of securing an armistice is
not yet determined. but the conserya-
tive element in the Administration
consider the manifestation of this de-
sire for even a temporary peace a direct
result of President MCkinley'S din
lomacy. and they are naturally disposed
to contend that the President should
be left free for the present at least to
pursue a policy which promises much
in the way of preventing war between
this Government and Spain, and also
of bringing to a close the hostilties in
Cuba. Hence there will be an effort
On the part of the peacefully inclined
in Congress to continue to hold that
body in check and to prevent inflam-
matOry utterances there until this
promising diplomatic lead may be ex-
plotted. On the part of the Admins
tration, it is stated that the develop
ment of the situation Will not require
a great length of tiae. and there will
he no extended delay a policy has
been fully determined upon by the
President
It is to bring the Cuban war 20 n
. close. This will be accomplished by
pointed intervention if necessary. but
it is considered far preferable that the
end should come as the result of peace
ful negotiations than it should be ac-
companied by hostile demonstrations
80 49, n