The record-union., 1898-04-12
PRESS COMMENT.
What Is Said of the Message i
Eupope.

LONDON, April 12-The Daily
News" commenting editorially upon
the Presidents message to Congress.
says: The message is a vigorous and
able document. Undoubtedly it means
war unless Spain agrees to make final
terms with the insurgents and to re-
call her troops from Cuba. 1t must con-
vince Europe that the cause for Amer
lean intervention is a very strong one.
President McKinley's refusal to recog
nize the independence of Cuba, on the
ground that it would nullify Americas
claim of the right to interfere, is sound
sense, and a staggerer for the jingos,
but Spain must loyalty cooperate with
him if war is to be averted." Z"
The STANDARD" says: The undis-
guised disappointment of the jingos at
the subdued and cautious tones of the
message cannot fail to cheer the friends
of peace. Assuming an obligation to
send the message at all, one could
hardly have been drafted on lines less
calculated to cause superf1uous offense.
1t is a pity, however, looking to the
attitude of Spain, that President Nc
Kinley could not have further post
poned the message"
The Daily Graphic" says it thinks
the Presidents message is bound to
lead to war. 1t says: Spain will, of
course, resist intervention, and war will
ensue. But the duty of the United
States lies not the less in the path now
marked out for her by the President"
The Daily Mali and the Daily Tel
egraph" admit that the message leaves
the question of immediate war unde-
l11t ha nv
of war certain, as it is impossible fyr
Spain to accept the only conditions
which will avert war
The Times" says: THE message is
not couched in harsh language, though
it leads up to a policy which involves
harsh judgment, although one justified
by the sentiment of the civilized world
on the treatment of Cuba"
After expressing a fear that Spain's
offer of armistice comes too late, the
Times" comments on the grave re-
sponsibility which President Mckinley
throws upon Congress" 1t thinks that
if debate was suspended for week
there might be a chance of peace, and
it expresses regret that President Nc
Kinley surrendered his initiative, add
ing: He was fully entitled to keep the
question in his own hands and thus to
have gained time-an indispensable con-
dition of peace"
The Morning Post" says: ''The.
studious vagueness of the message ex-
cept in that it plainly notifies Spain to
choose between war and the abandon
ment of Cuba to such a feature as may
seem good to the United States-tells
the world surprisingly the time. There
is not word to suggest that Spain
has in any way sinned against the
United States or infringed upon inter-
national law The crisis arises from
the determination of the American
Government to depart from Wash
ington's precepts and to meddle in af-
fairs of foreign country"
The Daily Chronicle" says: Presi-
dent Mckinley has made many efforts
for peace; but this is greater and bold
er than any of them. His message calls
a halt by throwing upon Congress the
entire solemn responsibility of making
war. We believe, however, that the
situation is not materially changed.
War is still inevitable unless Spain
makes concessions she has hitherto
shown no disposition to make