Evening star., 1898-04-15
SPANS LATEST REPLY


SPANS LATEST REPLY.
Text Of the Note Delivered sunday
Night.
The full, text of the Spanish minister's
| note delivered to the Secretary Of State last
Sunday night, which stands as the last step
taken in the diplomatic negotiations. has
become available. and is as follows:
The minister plenipotentiary of Spain
| has the honor to inform the honorable Sec
retary of State of the United States Of
America that her majesty the queen regent,
yielding to the reiterated requests of his
holiness. and inspired by sentim,nts of
peace and concord which animate her, has
given proper instruct tons to the general-in-
chief of the army of Cuba. in order that he
should concede an immediate suspension of
hostilities for such time as he shall deem
prudent for preparing and facilitating
peace in that ssiand.
General Blanco has published today the
corresponding proclamation, and reserves
| to himself to fix in another the term and
other details of it's execution, with the sole
object of making sure that a measure of
such transcendent importance may lead in
the shortest possible time, to the desired
pacificatioc of the great Antilla In the
nxine OF this term the general-in-chief, in
spired by the most elevated sentiments far
from raising any difficulties or Obstacles is
disposed to concede all possible facilities.
The government Of her majesty, by this
important measure, has crowned its ex-
fraordinary efforts to obtain the pacifica-
tlon OF Cuba by means of reason and right
The autonumic constitution, which grants
10 the inhabitants Of the Island of Cuba a
political regime at least as liberal as that
which rules in the Dominion of Canada, will
shortly enter upon its complete dev elopment
when. the elections having taken place. the
inSular parliament: shall meet in Havana on
L the 4th OF NAV and ba
chises and liberties granted to the Cubans
that no prefext Is left to them to ask for
more ample concessions.
Furthermore, as the Island of Cuba Is
| represented in the cortes of the kingdom a
| privilege which is not enjoyed by any other
| foreign autonomic colony, the Cuban sena-
tors and deputies can there explain their
| aspirations, IL they should have any
No cHe who knows the liberal spirit of
Inc majority OF The Spanish cortes recent
ly elected and the patriotic attitude of the
principal parties of the opposition can
doubt that the Cubans will obtain suco
notifications as they may Sesire in inc
1ce within the limits of reason and of
the national sovereignty. according to the
solemn offer of the preamble of the royal
decree of the 9th of November, 1897: while
at tne same time the government Of her
majesty declared that II would not with
draW nor consent that there should be
Withdrawn anything from the colonial lib
erties, franchises and privileges accorded.
The repeal OF the decree of reconcen-
tration, the aid of all kinds which the gov
ernment OF her majesty mas granted and
has permitted to be given to the recon-
certrados have put an end 10 a lamentabIe
state OF affairs which was the inevita BILE
consequences of the bloody conflict pro-
voked ty- a email minority of the sons Of
Cuba, directed and supported principally
by foreign influences.
NO impartial mind which has full kno,yl-
edge of the facts, so distorted as they nave
been and are actually in everything refer
ring to the Cuban question, can with Jus
tice charge Spain with being remiss i'm
or grudging in the concession of privileges
liberties and franchises for the welfare
and happiness Of its inhabitants.
The government of her majesty does
not doubt that tho government of the
United States must recognize this, as it
will recognize the manifest injustice with
which a part Of public opinion in this coun-
try presumes to find responsibilities for
Spain in the horrible catastrophe which
occurred in the port of Havana on the
unhappy night Of the 18th Of February
last. Her majesty, the queen regent. her
responsible government, the governor gen.
eral of Cuba, the insular government and
all the priI cipal authorities of Havana
manifested from the first moment the pro-
found sentiment Of horror which that i'm
menSe misfortune caused them, and the
sympathy which on that most sad oc.a-
sion bound them to the American govern
ment and people.
1.-The proofs of this were the visits Of
the charge d'affaires Of her majesty to the
illustrious President of the United States,
those Of the highest Spanish functionaries
Of state to Mr.. WOodford, the unsrinted
aid given to the victims as well as the
funeral arrangements provided by the
municipality of Havana, and the notes
addressed to the Department Of State by
this legation on the 10th and 18th Of Feb
ruary and the ID Of this month, Nos. II,
Is, IA and 33. respectively.
1.-The officers and crews Of the vessels Of
war Of her majesty near the Maine, disre-
garding the evident danger which threat
ened them, as the officers Of that American
battle ship recognized, Immediately lowered
their boats and saved q number Of the
drowning, who only owe their lives to the
prompt and efficacious aid Of the Spanish
sailors.
at is strange that these notorious facts
and these solemn manifestations appear to
be forgotten by public opinion, which gives
credit, on the other hand, to the most alb
surd and offensive hypothesis.
1.-THE government Of her majesty would
be deeply grateful to the Justice and cour-
tesy of that of the United States IL II should
re-establish officially the truth of facts
which appear to be ignored or not appre-
ciated, and ignorance of which contributes
SO powerfully to maintain the extraordi-
nary excitement which endangers, without
any reason or motive, the friendly relations
between the two nations.
with reference to the question Of fact
which results from the diversity Of opin-
ion between the reports Of the Spanish and
North American commissions. the govern
ment Of her majesty. which as yet does not
know the official text Of these opinions,
has hastened to declare itself ready to SUBJ
NIT the question to the decision Of i'm
partial and disinterested experts, accepting
in advance the decision of the arbitrators
named by both parties-an evident proof
of the loyalty and good faith with which
Spain proceeds on this, as on all occasions.
1.-THE minister of Spain trusts that these
manifestations. inspired by the loyal desire
for peace and concord which animate the
government of her majesty, will be appre-
ciated at their just value by the President
and government OF the United States.
washington, 10th Of April, 1905"
PASSED BY THE HOUSE.