The herald., 1898-04-09
Is THE RECALL OF THE CONSUL
AT PORTO RICO
BELIEF BECOMES CONVICTION
That Spain Will Concede Nothing
Until Compelled by the Force Of
American Arms
Associated Press Special Wire

AneTlCdu sltudtlOtl is Tt6drueu touoy "s
sven more grave than at any time here
tofore. The hopeful views Of peace here
tofore entertained have given away to the
conviction that the issue between the
United States and Spain has become we'll
nigh irreconcilable. The preparations Tor
all eventualities is proceeding steadily.
One significant evidence In this direction
developed today when 1t was learned that
the United States Consul at Porto Rico
was about to leave his post.
It is expected that Gen. Lee will take
the boat from Havana tomorrow noon.
Whether he will leave the vice-Consul
or his subordinate temporarily in charge
is not made known. Considerable depends
upon this, as his retirement with his en-
tire staff would mean the complete ter
mination Of all official communication be-
tween the United States and the island.
The determination to have the United
States consul at Porto Rico leave indicates
that the government is not alone turn
ing its attention to Cuba. but to Spain s
other colonies in the West Indies. There
Is no insurrection in Porto Rico known
here, nor has the future of that island
figured prominently of late, but its future
naturally, to large extent, would follow
tudl VI SuUd Hc plODdDlllly tudt tic
Spanish torpedo fleet will rendezvous at
Porto Rico may have contributed to the
determination to withdraw the United
states cousul there.
Inquiry at the Foreign Embassies and LIE.
cations today made 1t plain that the action
Of the great powers yesterday in present
Ing a joint note to President Mckinley
urging peace constituted all that these
vr-{11 do ;a.,
pose to take further action or to follow
up this guarded and diplomatic utterance
with any suggestion of mediation or ir-
tervention. This was the view taken by
the administration yesterday, and today
this Is fully borne out by the attitude
of the foreign representatives who are
In close touch with their foreign Offices
II Is important at the present juncture
In that 1t practically eliminates the infiu-
ence of the powers at Washington beyond
sentimental expression toward peace.
There is no doubt, however, that these
foreign influences will be strongly urged
at Madrid towards securing further con-
cessions. though the foreign representa-
tives begin to doubt seriously whether
Spain is in a position to concede any more
One Of the best informed diplomats terse-
.ly summed up the situation today thus !:
"spain has placed her back against the
wall, determined to yield no more Even
the heroic efforts of the queen regent for
peace by granting extreme concessions
seems to be overruled and the radical ele-
ment is in CONTROL
In connection with the action of the
powers. much interest is shown in the in
dividual action of the several govern
ments which signed the joint note.
There is little doubt that the British
Ambassador, rejecting the views of his
government, served as repressive infiu-
ence in keeping the note down to a mild
and polite expression for peace 1t seems
equally apparent that had the influence of
the French Ambassador and Austrian Min
lister representing their governments pre-
vailed, the note would have been con-
siderably more than vague expression
for peace. No significance is attached to
the fact that the German Ambassador was
the first to sign the document and that the
British Ambassadors signature is toward
the end. 1t was determined. when the
signatures were attached to take the
countries alphabetically, so that Allie
main (the French diplomatic word for
Germany came first, with Austria, France,
the order named. Russia and Italy have
taken the least interest in this joint action,
although they Joined as the result of in
fiuences brought to bear from the foreign
capitals. Neither has the German gov
ernment shown any ardent interest in Joint
action.
CUBAN CONDITIONS
WASHINGTON, April S.-The Foreign
ffoi ira ttao of
O'Clock this morning and continued the
hearing Of Mr. Quesada, the Representa-
tive Of the Cuban republic in this city.
President Palma, of the Cuban Junta was
alos present. Mr.. Quesada continued his
statement as to the status of the govern
ment Of the republic.
Some very interesting facts came out
before the Foreign Affairs Committee of
the House today. The Deputy Treasurer
of the Cuban republic appeared with his
books and they We're inspected by the COM
mlttee. He explained that of the SIC, ,OOO,-
900 bonds authorized, only $l22OOO had been
actually dispc sed Of. Some of these were
In payment for provisions sent to Cuba
For some of the bonds par had been OBJ
tanned These were taken mainly by the
friends of Cuba. The lowest price at
WhiSH ally Weic SOiu was 20 CtHtS on the
dollar. A batch of $4,000 was sold for
5000 in a pressing emergency. One million
Of the bonds, he said, were locked up in
the safe Of Belmont & Co., of New ork
to be sold when the fixed price, As cents on
the dollar, had been obtained. Three mil
lions Of the remainder had been signed,
but were locked up in the treasurer's
vaults.
The deputy treasurer was asked If he
knew the story Of the publication Of the
De LONE letter. and, without names, he
told the first authentic story of how 1t was
obtained. He explained that 1t was alb
stracted by a clerk in the postoffice in Ha-
vana, who was in sympathy with the Gu
ban cause and sent back to News York.
There Its Importance was at once realized
ana 1t was given out for publication, the
action being justified because it showed
conclusively what the Cubans have always
contended, that Spain was double dealing,
Mr. Quesada continued his statement about
the status of the Cuban government. Ho
went extensively into the authority exer-
cised by the government over the eastern
provinces, where he said all was compara-
lively peaceful. Industries were going on,
war taxes were being collected and all the
functions OF government were being dis
oparsed. With regard to the capability of