The Yale expositor., 1898-04-15
! AN ARMISTICE PROCLAIMED
Spain Places Uncle Sam in a Very
Embarrassing Position.
CEASES POSSIBILITIES IN CUBA.
Cuban Representatives at Washington
Say IL Is "a spanish Trick to Delay
Action Proposed by United States
Spain sim Preparing for War.

After repeatedly, and with much
force. declaring that she would never
submit to the United States interior
ing with her rule over her colonies in
the western hemisphere, Spain has
been brought to very different state
of mind. In all of her talk of grant
ing an arm stice and giving Cuba au-
tonomy Spain has taken pains TO in
sist the United States should withdraw
her naval forces from the vicinity of
Cuban waters, and should leave the
Cubans TO act for themselves without
physical or moral support from, the
United States. As the war clouds
darkened and there seemed to be no
chance of avoiding a struggle between
United States and Spain the latter
backed away down and officially an
nounced that the queen regent had
granted an armistice without condi-
tions. The note further stated that
her majesty's government had granted
liberal institutions to the island of
Cuba, which the coming Cuban parlia-
ment would develop; recalling the con-
dolence and sympathy expressed by
the queen regent and her government
on the disaster of the Maine and the
horror this disaster had occasioned to
SPANS heart, and appealing to the
courtesy and sense of justice of the
United States government to enlighten
public opinion upon the attitude of
Spain. The note also repeats the offer
of the Spanish government to submit
the Maine question to experts desig-
mated by the maritime powers of the
world.
The Spanish minister at Washington
delivered the documents in person TO
the state department. He notified the
authorities that word had come from
Havana that Gen. Blanco had been
prompt in executing the orders of the
regent, and that the proclamation of
armistice had been duly promulgated.
The first effect of this will be to
bring about complete cessation of all
Spanish hostilities throughout the is
land. 1t remains to be seen how far
Gen. Gomez and the insurgents in the
field entertain this view. If they re-
TO continue it and thus the resort to
arms will continue as it has been dur
ing the last three years. There is lit
tie doubt, however, that strong influ-
ences will now be brought TO bear to
induce the insurgents to suspend hos
tilities, so that terms for a complete
settlement may be reached. 1t is
pointed out that the influence of the
pope was relied upon to a considerable
extent with the insurgents, as they are
part of a country which is thoroughly
Catholic and loyal to Rome. While the
influence of the great powers is not
likely to be exerted in any material
way against the insurgents, yet this
influence will be brought to bear as
far as possible from every moral stand
point. The influence of the United
States government also will be very
material factor in case the present
crisis between the United States and
Spain is averted and the armiStice is
accepted in Washington as Il tentative
ground for the solution of the Cuban
problem.
Thinks Spain Merely Wants Delay.
The attitude of the insurgent advis-
ers at Washington is that of rejecting
the armistice. Senior Quesada of the
iunta declares that the armistice was
simply Spanish trick, designed to
create the impression that the insur-
gents were unreasonable.
This opinion seems to be the one
which has crept into many minds. The
press of London and Paris appeared al
most unanimous on that point and
when the talk of Gen. Correa, the
Spanish minister for war is taken into
consideration it gives deal of credence
to the surmise. He says: 1T is an
error to say that the government has
granted an armistice to the rebels. l
would never give that before leaving
the ministry, because il would be the
same thing as recognizing the bellig-
erency of the rebels. The govern
ment has granted the wishes of the
powers that she should cease hostilities
during the delay which Gen. Blanco
judges prudent for preparing peace.
The armistice is not to prevent the
Spanish government continuing its
military preparations and placing the
peninsula, the Canaries, the Balearic
islands and Porto Rico in state of de-
| Tense"
A dispatch from Madrid says that the
ambassadors of France, Germany, Rus
STA and Italy waited upon Senior Gullon
the foreign minister, and presented
joint note in the interests of peace.
Senior Gullon replied that the Spanish
cabinet was unanimous in considering
that Spain had reached the 'limit of
international policy in the direction of
conceding the demands and allowing
the pretensions of the United States"
A dispatch from San Juan de Porto
Rico announces the arrival there of the
Spanish cruisers Vizcaya and oquendo.
4.