The Portland daily press., 1898-03-31
MEANING OF IMMEDIATELY.
What the United States Is Dwelling On at
Madrid.

Madrid, March 30.-While the situation
here is outwardly of the calmest descrip-
tion, the actual position Of affairs is re-
garded as critical by both the United
States legation and the Spanish govern
ment.
The United States Minister, Stewart
r.. Woodford, is working energetically
and will continue to work for peace until
the first gun is fired. Tt is known the
Spanish government admits the sdesira-
bility or necessity of complying with the
demands of the United Estates and it is
only in the disinclination to put tins
Willingness into concrete form that the
danger lies. If a conference was to be
held with British, German or French
diplomats the matter would be settled
without question. Tbs point which
the interests Of humanity, hostilities in
Cuba must cease Immediately. No date
was fixed either in the first or in the
present note but the United States,is now
dwelling upon the meaning of the word
Immediately and insisting that Spain
accept its general Interpretation.
The public generally is taking little
apparent interest in the situation, but
there is general disinclination to be-
iieye ~ that war is likely.
A despatch from Barcelona says that
the armed steam yacht Giralda, pur-
chased by the Spanish government from
Mr.. Harry McCalmont. the well. known
English race horse owner, after the yes
sci had been rejected by the United
States, Is now being fitted up as de-
spatch boat.
ri Pals says that four warships have
been obtained by Spain in France; that
negotiations are now pending for the pur.
chase of several torpedo boats in Great
Britain; that orders have been issued to
mobilize all the Spanish warships; that
the torpedo boat Ha!ycon is to sail i'm.
mediately from Carthagena for Cadiz,
where second torpedo squadron is being
prepared; that military engineers are
starting for the Canary islands and that
the Balearic islands are being fortified.
Italy, it is said by the Pals, has decided
to sell the armored cruiser Giuseppe
Garibaldl Of 6, $40 tons and we'll armored,
sister ship Of the Varese, 30 Spain.
Two regiments, according to Pals, are
going to the Canary islands to strengthen
the Spanish garrison there.
The Armstrong Spanish agent. Span
lard, who is in touch with the govern
ment and commercial people in Spain,
has expressed the belief that unless the
powers intercede there will be war. He
added:
"If the United States offered money fol
our clearing out of Cuba we could moi
accept; but if the proposition emanated
from another power, it is not unlik sly
that it would be accepted"
This view of the case is echoed by 6
portion of the Spanish press which ad
yises Spain to wash her hands OF Cuba.
Senior Ortiz de Zerale, prominent
former Carlist deputy, who has just beer
defeated at Vittoria, expressed the opin
ion that there would be no war, saying:
sWe have neither ships, steamers
soldiers, plans nor money, and the gov
ernment knows it. 1t will struggle tt
the last and then cave in"
Senior Zerate, who was recently at Ca
diz, says the Spanish warships Pelay'
and Carlos v. which the government an
nounced to be ready for sea, cannot b.
possibly made ready in less than tw'
months.