New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-31
7 MARCH 81. 1898. -SIXTEEN PAGES.
STANDING BY THE PRESIDENT
TWO IMPORTANT MEETINGS OF THE
FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE.
ACTION ON THE CUBAN RESOLUTIONS BEFORE
1T Observation-Disclosures OF ST. THOMAS
FOR A coALING STATION FAVOR
ABLY CONSIDERED

ABLY CONSIDERED.
Washington. March 3O-The Senate Commit
tee on Foreign Relations held two sessions to-
day and adjourned a few minutes Defore
o'clock without reaching any agreement
Commander Bradford Of the Bureau of Equip
ment, was before the committee for severai
hours giving expert testimony to the relative
strength Of the navies of the United States and
Spain and also advocating the purchase or the
Island of ST. Thomas of the Danish West Indies
as coaling station
The committee as a result Of It's session agreed
to postpone the completion Of the work on the
Cuban situation for a few days In order to ahord
time to the President to continue his diplomatic
negotiations with the Spanish authorities ihiS
concession was the result of a request mace ul-
rect to members OF the committee by the Presi-
dent. and It was granted by the entire commit
tee without any murmur Of dissent.
Previous to this action the President had been
frankly informed that neither the committee nor
the Senate would be disposed to acquesce III
any agreement for armistice. THIS opposition
Is understood to have been made clear on peha'i
of the joint Republican and Democratic steer
ing committees of the Senate. and it is under
stood TO have been met by the President WIN
the response that this Government would not
press the matter.
NEGOTIATIONS APPROACHING A CRlSis.
The President freely admitted to all visiting
Senators that the negotiations with spain were
rapidly approaching a crisis. and said that ne
felt confident conclusion would be reached Dy
Friday night at the latest He asked that IN
view OF this fact no action be taken by either
house unit; after that time or until the present
negotiations could be brought to close If he
;.,.x Lfc nnF
to the basis upon which he was proceeding they
did not repeat the information in the Senate
Some intmated belief in the authenticity OF
proposition to allow the purchase Of freedom
for the island. but declined in all cases to state
whether this belief was based upon statements
made by the President.
The representa tions were. however. OF char
acte- to satisfy the committee and when 1t ad-
iourned one of its members who is among the
most radical Of Cuban sympathizers said that
the committee was operating in perfect sympa-
thy with the Presiderg. It's members feel that
they will be free to act wher the President IN
dcates a failure Of present negotiations Win
Spain They think ttose negotiations are loT
the freedom of Cuba and if they do not so result
they expect to report promptly a joint resolution
looking TO that end.
The actua. proceedings Of the committee to-
q
concerning the situation and the proper course
to be pursued: Of the reference OF the various
Cuban resolutions to q sub-ccmmittee; .. the
reading Of part of the testimony OF the Maine
Court of Inquiry. and Of an examination OF COM
rnander Bradford Chief Of the Bureau OF Equip
ment Commander Bradford was asked to sup
ply the Information at mis- command concerning
tn, relative strength of the United States Navy
compared with that OF Spain, and was ques-
toned at length as to the torpedo-boats ana the
length Of time necessary to supply others.
sT. THOMAS FOR A COALING STATION.
He also gave his views relative to the impor-
tancs OF purchasing the island Of st. Thomas
from Denmark the ownership Of which. he saio'
would be OF vast importance TO this country TOT
a coaling station in case of war with spain.
There Is a resolution pending before the commit
tee providing for opening negotiations for the
ACQUISITION Of the island and the disposition o.
the com-nittee after hearing Commander Brad
ford. seemed favorable to early affirmative ac-
ton upon IL.
The COMMITTEES was authorized to sit during
the sessions OF TIE Senate and will meet again
tomorrow.