The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-03-22
Such Admission Said TO Have Dean PRIVATELY
Made in Government Circles.
The Boards Report VIII Charge
the Explosion to Unknown
Causes, With View OF Making
the Spanish Finding a Case to
be Passed Upon by a Third
Party.

bune" special from Havana states:
The Spanish inquiry into the Maine
disaster has gone to pieces in seeking
to establish the accidental theory. This
admission is privately made in Gov
eminent circles. The nature of the
boards report will not be changed The
explosion will be charged to unknown
causes, but the Spanish finding Will
be with a view of making a case to be
passed on by third party. The work
of the divers has not been thorough.
Apparently they have found so little
evidence on which a theory of internal
explosion can be based that the Span
ish court is not willing to stand un-
eQuiVocally on the theory of accident,
which it set out to maintain.
These facts have been known for
three or four days. They may account
for statements from Madrid that the
Maine incident will be a cause Of war
between the two countries and also
for aints at arbitrating the disputes on
the question Of fact This talk is semi
official
The Spanish authorities realize the
improbability of successfully contro-
verting the case which will. be present
ed when the report of Captain Samp-
son and his associates on the American
board of inquiry is published. They
| have had an mixing that the evidence
| on which all external explosion due to
foul play will be charged is meant to
satisfy not simply the American people,
but the judgment of experts through
out the world
How strongly this conclusion of the
American board is fortified will soon
be known. The cue received from Mad
rid is to have a counter case ready so
that suspension of the worlds judg-
ment can be asked until diplomacy can
arrange for a satisfactory settlement.
The evident hope of Blanco's Govern
ment is to keep the Maine incident en-
tirely distinct from other Cuban ques-
| tons. Notwithstanding this lack of
tconfidence in their own theory of acct
dent. it cannot be learned that the au-
thorities are doing anything to uncover
the conspiTators who are responsible
for blowing up the Maine
| More Importance is given to the final
| effort of the radical autonomists to ne
gotiate with Gomez and the insurgent
| leaders on Il new basis than it's certain
outcome warrants.
| The chief interest is in the knowledge
that the negotiations are in fact Blan-
cos, and if they are entertained in any
| form they will be clothed with a full
/ official character. A few officials pro-
Tess confidence that Gomez and the
other insurgent leaders will at least
permit the propositions to be made,
and Will then dictate their own terms.
under which SPANS flag may remain.
No ground whatever exists for this de-
fusion. Gomez has already given an
| indication of his answer. The insur-
gents will treat with Blanco's repre-
! sentative only on the basis OF indie
pendence. With that understanding
they will agree to an armistice, while
the good Offices of the United States
are employed in arranging an indemn-
ity and other details under which Spain
might be willing to withdraw her
! troops and abandon the island The
Government cropping in circle, is the
| phrase applied to the final effort to
make terms with insurgents 1t does
not go fast enough to travel. Prob
ably the best thing for all parties is to
have the failure of the attempted ne
7 gotiationS with Gomez made known
promptly and emphatieally. If there
were faint prospect of success. this
could only come through double deal
! ing
! The fifteen propositions of Giberga
and Gown are still the basis of all Of
/ fers made to the insurgents Among
/ these is included the disarming of tn.
volunteers. This organization holds the
written assurance of General Parade.
authorized by Captain General Blanco,
n
! The Sagasta Ministry in Madrid in
dorsed the statement The volunteers
are petted. They are now taking part
I in the regular maneuvcrs Of the army
as well as in the artillery practice.
They could not be disarmed without
revolution, and the attempt viii never
| be made. Nevertheless the insurgents
have been asked to accept a scheme
! of enlarged autonomy, of which the dis
armament of the volunteers is part of
the programme. They will not be
fooled, nor will the volunteers be fooled.
The deception was meant to be prac-
ticed on the United States in seeking
to make it party TO the negotiations,
and, in a measure. responsible for their
failure. That was the policy of the
palace in Havana. 1t would hardly
have been adopted here had it not been
acceptable in Madrid
The autonomist Cabinet or the radi-
cal members of it, will not be left en-
tirely alone to serve as scapegoats.
General Salano, chief of the general
staff, while not indorsing all the arti-
cles of the programme OF final conces-
sions to the insurgents. has approved
of it in the main. He favored inviting
Gomez TO take part in the new Cuban
/ Government that was to be formed
With the Spanish flag as about the
only thing left TO Spain. A few other
.officers Of high rank who are devoted
to the monarchy. sympathiZe with Sa-
Elan9, and would join him in making
the sacrifice which these concessions
would demand. The majority of the
army officers, however. would revolt
against the propositions if there was
a chance for their acceptance by the
Insurgents just as they revolted in the
January riots against autonomy. That
these insubordinate army officers are
quiet is the best evidence that the at