Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-23
OUR OWN INQUIRY.
President Does Not Favor Joint |
Investigation of the
Disaster.

Washington, D. c., Feb. 19.-Secretary
Long and Assistant Secretary Day of the
state department had an interview with
the President this morning, which lasted
nearly an hour. Mr.. Day read cable
gram from Consul-General Lee at Ha-
vana, transmitting a request of the Span
ish authorities in Cuba that the Spanish
officials be permitted to join with our own
people in making an investigation into the
cause of the disaster to the Maine.
The matter was discussed at consider
able length and the conclusion was
reached that Gen. Lee will be so notified
that while this government is willing to
afford the Spanish authorities all rea sOn-
able facilities for conducting an investiga-
ton yet it is thought best the first in
curry shall be made by our own commits
SiOnerS.
The request of the Spanish authorities,
therefore, will be respectfully declined.
The request of the Spanish government
for permission to examine the wreck of
the Maine reached the state department
last night through the following message
from COnsul-General Lee:
Havana, Feb. 1S.-Assistant Secretary
Day, WashingtOn: Sigsbee begins tOmOr-
row with divers sent him from the Unit
ed States to recover all bodies still left in
the wreck of the Maine, as we'll as per-
sOnal effects of officers and men, and
whatever else can be obtained that way.
After that is completed the Spanish gov
eminent would like to unite with ours in
having bottom of ship and harbor in vi
cinity jointly examined. Lee"
The following is the answer sent:
washington, D. c., Feb. 19.-Lee,
Havana: The government of the United
States has already begun an investigation
as to the causes of the disaster to the
Maine through officers of the navy spe-
cially appointed for tlIat purpose, which
will proceed independently.
This government will afford every ia
cility it can to the Spanish authority in
whatever investigation they may see fit
to make upon their part.
Day, Assistant Secretary"
The apparent difficulty attending the
sending down of divers to the Maine was
relieved, if not entirely removed. by Il
statement today by Senior du Bose, charge
d'affaires of the Spanish legation. that
= complete and harmonious understanding
between Capt. Sigsbee and the authorities
at Havana had been reached on the mat
ter of divers, and that the Spanish au-
thorities viewed the Maine as eXtra-ter-
ritorial-that is. part of the sovereign ter
ritOry of the United States, the same as
Il United States legation situated in for
eign territory. With the Maine holding
its status as extra-territorial, &c doubt as
i.
The waters of Havana harborare of course
Spanish territory and some confusion had
been aroused by the idea that this juris-
dictiOn over the waters attached also to
the wreck in its present helpless condition
at the bottom of the bay.
1t appears, however that there is no
disposition to extend this jurisdiction to
the ship and that the Spanish authorities
freely assent to the Names being regard
ed as eXtra-t territorial. and under the inn
mediate direction of Capt. Sigsbee as the
representative of the United States. Ac-
cording to the view taken by the Spanish
authorities there can be no trouble attend
ing the work of the divers. Capt. Sigsbee
Will be recognized as the one to direct
operations and to send down the govern
ment divers for such inspection as he sees
proper to make. Senior du Bose feels as
sured, however. that Capt. Sigsbee will
extend equal facilities to the Spanish
divers, so that the inspections may pro-
coed together. As to what divers Capt.
Sigsbee will employ the feeling among
Spanish officials here is that this will be
wholly a matter of discretion with Capt.
Sigsbee as the one in charge of a piece Of
property having the attributes of Ameri-
can soil. But at the same time the feel
ing is expressed that this discretion will
lead to the choice of authorized divers of
the navy department rather than those
representing newspapers.