The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-04-03
CONCERNING THE NEXT STEP
TO BE TAKEN
THAT STEP is F0RESHADOWED
By the Senate Committee Agreement
to Report Resolution Author
izing Armed Intervention
Press Special Wire

WASHINGTON. April 2.-The issue be-
tween the United States and Spain re-
mains unchanged. No communications
having any bearing upon the situation
have passed between this government and
Spain since last Thursday night, when Min
lister Woodford transmitted the reply of
the Sagasta ministry to the presidents
proposition of two weeks ago. Both gov
lernments appear to accept this issue as
made up, and are shaping their courses
accordingly. This being the case, the view
is universally entertained, even by repre-
sentative men of the administration, that
congress, upon receipt OF the presidents
message early next week, will take action
which 1t is almost surely expected must
result in severance of the relations of the
two countries. This was in part foreshad-
lowed by the action of the senate commit
tee on foreign relations in agreeing to a
resolution recognizing the independence of
Cuba and for armed intervention, If neces-
sary, to secure independence.
MEDIATION UNLIKELY
| With the crisis so near at hand, 1t is be-
|lieved that If any Intervention or media
ltion is to come, it will be within the next
few days. 1t was said, however, at the
state department late this afternoon that
no offer of European mediation had yet
been officially transmitted to this govern
ment. 1t was the general understanding
that friendly overtures of this nature were
looked for at any time from France or
Austria. and 1t was reported during the day
that the presence in Washington of Cardi-
| nal Gibbons and Archbishop ireland was
in connection with mediation from Rome,
but 1t was stated on high authority at the
state department that mo- overtures of this
character had taken official form, nor was
the state department advised that any such
steps were in contemplation.
NOT A CASUS BELLI
| 1t is the understanding in official circles,
based upon information. that the recogni-
ltion Of Cuban independence would not in
itself be regarded by Spain as a casus beli,
But. at the same time, there is little doubt
that such recognition of Cuban independ-
ence would be followed by the Withdrawal
of the Spanish minister and his entire suite
from Washington and the termination of
ISpain's diplomatic representation at
Washington. Such thing is one of the
last steps preceding actual recourse to war.
1t is probable, however, that the with
|drawal of the Spanish minister following a
TeCOSUlLlOu VI tHc luucPcHOSHCo VI SuUd
would not be such an indication Of war as
lit would be an emphatic protest by the
Spanish government against the recogni-
tion of the independence of colony over
which Spain processes to exercise complete
sovereignty. Although this recognition of
independence is not considered a casus belli
|by which Spain could declare war, yet 1t is
believed in diplomatic circles that such
-, ho inavffq q hly
terminating in war. For that reason, rec
ognition of independence is likely to be no
less grave than intervention. The Spanish
minister continues to preserve his outwa/d
calm, although he feels that the relations
are extremely strained and that his stay in
Washington cannot be long continued. To
some of his diplomatic associates who
called today he said that his conscience
was perfectly clear, as he thought that
Spain's cause was a just one, and for this
reason he felt no agitation. His position is
trying, however, as the Spanish legation
has been subjected to number of petty in
dignities recently. These are of such a
petty character that they have not been
called to the government officials atten-
ton, although police officers were detailed
Ito see that the offenses were not continued
and that no acts of vandalism or personal
indignity were committed.
THE MAINE DISASTER
The state department today received the
full report of the Spanish commission
which investigated the destruction of the
battleship Maine. This document has been
expected for some days, but 1t was not until
today that it reached Washington by spe-
cial messenger from Havana. 1t proved to
be most bulky and voluminous document
of far greater tense than that of the court
of inquiry. The text as delivered is in
Spanish and 1t will take some time for the
elaborate document to be translated.
1t covers at least fifteen closely written
pages of official paper, double the size of
foolscap. The Associated Press report ear
ly in the week gave complete and official
synopsis of this Spanish report, the result
of which is that the explosion of the Maine
occurred inside the ship and no evidence
existed of any exterior explosion.
THE SENATE INQUIRY
Admiral Irwin today was among the wit
nesses before the senate committee on for
eign relations which is making a thorough
inquiry into the Maine disaster. His tes-
timony was regarded as important in
meeting the position of the Spanish COM
mission that mine did not explode under
the Maine as no dead fish were found in
the harbor. Admiral Irwin is an expert
on torpedo and submarine explosions, and
he told the committee that he never knew
fish to be killed by such explosions.
PRESIDENTIAL ADVISERS
The White House was as usual central
point in the great activity of the day. and
the president saw many public men. Some
of them urged upon the president that the
Maine incident be put forward as casus
belli. the Cuban subject being subordinated
to 1t. Among them was Representative
Marsh of Illinois, who said, after talking
with the president: sd 49, g,.s
II went to see the president to tell him