The herald., 1898-02-13
SPANISH MINISTER'S SPEAK
EvINCING A DESIRE TO AVOID
A CONFLICT
Personal Allusions Cause No Grief.
But Spain Should File Declara-
ton of Intention
Associated Press Special Wire


terviews with Senor Gullon, the foreign
minister. and Senior Moret, minister OF
the colonies, of the Spanish cabinet.
Senior Moret said the De LONE letter
incident was regarded both in Madrid
and Washington as absolutely ended
from the moment when the assistant
secretary of state conferred with Senior
Dubosie. Senor Moret said: although
there exists in the United States party
eager for war and which strived to pro-
woke conflict President Mckinley will
try to avoid one, and the Spanish gov
ernment also will do its utmost to avoid
any fresh friction which would make the
relations between the two countries
more strained"
SAGASTAS STATEMENT
NEW YORK, Feb. 12.-Premier Sa-
gasta made the following statement re-
garding the Dupuy De Lone affair to
Madrid correspondent of the World last
night:
1--WE were profoundly surprised when
the first intimation of the occurrence
came by the first telegram from Senior
Dupuy De LONE saying that he had been
advised that the American newspapers
were about to punish a letter he had
written to Senor Canalejas which con-
tanned strong criticism of President Nc
Kinley. He added that this might make
his remaining in Washington undesir-
able. Therefore he placed his resigna-
tion at the disposal of the government.
las we were at a loss to understand
the matter. INSTRUCTED the Minister of
Foreign Affairs to telegraph again, d
recting Senior De LONE to inform us of
the contents of the letter.
"Senor De LONE replied that he did
not recollect them.
de LONE resigned the night before
the letter was published. Meanwhile,
the text of the letter was published in
New York. Then Senor De LONE ca bled,
renewing his request that his resigna-
tion be accepted soon, as his position
was impossible. He desired to leave
America, because Assistant Secretary
Of State Day had called upon him to ask
II he was the author of the letter, which
he had admitted.
$50 we went into council at the Pa
lace, having decided to tell the Queen
that Senor De Lome's resignation was
necessary. And in another council, held
steps required to place the legation in
the hands of the able First Secretary,
who is thoroughly acquainted with all
the pending political and commercial
questions that will not suffer delay
until a successor to Senior De LONE
reaches Washington.
1.-THE Cabinet discussed many eligible
candidates, coming to the conclusion to
0f No ofre soil
Spain's future representative from
among the diplomats who know the Eng
lish language, have served in the United
States and are competent to conduct
the commercial negotiations.
'T firmly believe that the incident, al
though unpleasant for us, will not al
ter our present highly satisfactory and
friendly relations with the American
Government. What confirms my belief
Is that Gen. Woodford, after his inter-
view with Senor Gullon, declared him
self satisfied with the solution the
Spanish Government had given to this
affair before he presented his note on
the subject, in accordance with cabled
instructions from the State Department.
When we first heard of the De Lone
letter. we sent for Senor Canalejas, who
assured us that he never received the
letter and that it must have been stolen
in his hotel at Havana. Senor Canale-
Jas seemed astonished that Senior De
LONE should have written him so, as he
had only made his acquaintance through
q letter of Introduction from Colonial
Secretary Moret, when he went to Wash
ington and had noticed that Senior DE
LONE always spoke to him in the highest
terms Of President Cleveland
His dispatches contributed to the ex-
cellent impression this government had
formed of President McKinley's disposi-
tion and his ability to assist us in keep
ing up the friendly relations, of which
we firmly trust the crowning will be, ere
long, a treaty of commerce between the
United States, Cuba and Spain."
Some of the Conservative Madrid
newspaper organs of Gen Weyler and
of Romero Bobledo, show disposition
to take up the cudgel for De LONE, al
though the majority of the press, no
tably the Liberal and Democratic or
gans, including even the Imperial and
the Heraldo, censure him bitterly for
having played into the hands of the
adversaries of Spain in Cuba and the
United States.
M'KINLEY's POLICY
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-The policy
of the administration concerning the De
LONE incident can be stated briefly and
definitely-and on authority not open to
uuestion-as follows:
!. The President Is awaiting the full re-
port of the United States Minister at
Madrid, whose brief report already re-
ceived states that full details would be
forwarded. So far as the personal allu-
sions of the late Minister to the Presi-
dent are concerned, the incident is un-
doubtedly closed. No demand has been
or will be made. regarding these allu-
sions, though should any demand be
made, 1t will be regarded as a graceful
act for Spain to act on the matter.
Regarding the question of Spain's
good faith on the question Of reciprocity
and inferential autonomy for Cuba. if
not disavowed voluntarily, the question
may become the subject of diplomatic
correspondence. though as to this mat
Ter. as has been stated heretofore the
President will await Minister Wood
tord's fuller advices before anything is
decided upon. 1t is felt to be most de-
virable that this government should
have no doubt as to Spain's real pur-
poses and feelings on those vital ques-