The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-26
.NkNLEY and MADRID.
Drift Of His Policy DlSCIOs-
ed to the DOnS.
FIRM PROTEST FOLLOWS.
Tone Of the Spanish Reply Said to
Be COnCiliatOry.
CLASH REGARDED CERTAIN.
London Editors Believe War Almost
Inevitable.

London, arch 26.-The Madrid correspon-
dent of the Standard says: 1.-THE minis
terialists are making no secret that inn
portant communications have already
passed between Washington and Madrid,
acquainting the Spanish government with
the drift of the policy President McI<in-
ley is about to adopt, and which has been
met with a conciliatory but firm protest
and representations on the part of Spain"
The Madrid correspondent of the Daily
Mail says: THE tenor of the comment
of the Spanish press is that the American
commission of inquiry into the Maine dis
aster is afraid Of an international inves-
tigation. 1t was first reported that the
United States would not aceede to Capt.
alleges that the Washington government
is discussing the advisability of blowing
up the remains of the Maine.
1.-THE general belief in Madrid Is that
America does not consider the Maine
question a sound basis for conflict, and is
seeking to provoke Spain by sending help,
nominally, to the reconcentrados, but
really to the rebels. The Spanish press
is unanimous In treating ss an insult
Americas suspicion that Spain is guilty
of having exploded the Maine"
The Daily Mail, which regards war be-
tween the United States and Spain as in
evitable, the only uncertainty being the
time Spain will choose for beginning hos
tilities, says:
America will naturally triumph and
earn the worlds praise for riddng Cuba.
of ruthless tyranny; but she will fight at
a disadvantage If compelled to fight i'm
mediately."
The Daily Graphic, this morning, COM
mends President Mckinley for making the
Maine matter side issue. 'It is the dutv
or both sides to obtain an independent in
vestigation. To send assistance to the
non-comhatants in Cuba is to force war
President Mckinley should either help the
Sagasta cabinet to make home rule a real
ity or should give Spain notice to quit"
The Morning Post says: "The gravity
OF the Cuban question is enormously in
creased by the American report. because
even If no distinct Indictment of the Span
ish government is included, the reserve
hitherto maintained will be abandoned and
Spain will be charged by the American pa
pers with treachery and malice, while the
American people will be excited to fever
point.
Spain, however has already borne so
much that conflict may stiIl be avoided.
but If her object has only been to gain
time, 1t may be that she is now i'm a DO
sition to adopt more martial attitude
The Daily Chronicle. after expressing a
doubt whether the Spanish inquiry has
been conducted as carefully as the Amer
lean, the report of whose commission II
says Is "in harmony with all the proba-
pilltles OF The case" proceeds to review
the principal aspects of the question.
The patience of the Washington gov
ernment," says the Daily Chronicle. "and
the calm, pacific policy of the President
nave been beyond all praise. Had the
people of the United States been polled
on the question, war would have been de
clared before now, not as has been false
ly suggested, on account of financial and
commercial interests, but on grounds of
humanity, and because of the intolerable
stencil of this open sore close to the bor-
ders OF the great republic. But Il Is owl
dent that the time for action has arrived
President Mckinley must take such
steps as to challenge in the most direct
way Spain's right to murder her revolted
colonists any longer. If she attempts TO
resist the provisioning of starving Cubans
from American ports, war there will and
must be- quite apart from any treachery
to the American warship. Despite all
rumors, il is quite certain that Spain win
have no allies and the result will be the
liberation of Cuba"
The Daily Telegraph says: "supposlng
the American report to be substantiated,
there can be no question that Spain Is prI-
marily responsible. as any country would
be II similar catrastrophe occurred along
its coast line.
IF the Spanish authorities were ignorant
Of the position of the submarine mines.
their ignorance Is culpable. II they were
aware and omitted TO warn their guests.
their position Is still less defensible. The
report adds fuel to the flame. II the task
OF dlplomatists and statesmen was ardu-
GUS before, It Is ten times more dificult
now