The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-04
THE LOSS OF THE MAINE.
The Senate Committee VIII Declare inc
Spanish Responsible

Washington. April 2.-The full Senate
committee on foreign relations mas pfaoVi'
cally agreed to accept the recoInlnehua-
lions of the subcommittee lot resoiu-
ton recognizing the independence OF
Cuba and recommending armed interven-
ton if necessary to secure IL.
This conclusion was reached after a ses-
sion that did not continue more than an
hour and SO far as can be learned there
was no division of opinion expressed in
the committee as to the propriety of this
courss. Senators Gray. Daniel and
Turpie were absent but the opinion is ex-
messed that none of them will make any
opposition to the reporting Of the resolu-
tion.
While the Foraker resolutions are made
the basis and the principal part of the
measure which will be reported to Con-
gress, there are some additions to them
and some unimportant changes in phrase
ology. The only essential addition is q
paragraph fixing the responsibility upon
Spain for the Maine disaster and citing
this as a cause for American resentment
| if not for war.
| The committee was in communication
with the President during the day and
was informed that while the President
would make an earnest effort to get his
message to Congress on Monday, he might
not be able on account of the great de-
mands upon his time, to got it in before
Tuesday. He will at the same time sup
ply copies of the consular correspondence
] There has been some doubts as to what
recommendations the President would
make, if any, in his message, but he gave
the members of the Senate who called
upon him today to understand that he
would recommend both recognition of
| independence and declaration in favor
of intervention. This would be in &C
cord with the committees action.
| At 11.30 tonight Gen. Grosvenor an
nounced positively after an extended con-
ference with the President that the mes
sage would not be sent to Congress be-
fore next Tuesday. The participants in
| the conference were Senator Hanna, Gen.
Grosvenor and Judge Thompson, presi.
dent of the criminal law codifcation com.
mission. Attorney General Griggs was
present for short time.
| Gen, Grosvenor said that there was
nothing new in the Spanish situation
tonight. "Not the slightest change ii
percept1ble, " said he. "The President is
carefully considering his message and il
| III c%o 10 -
mo-" he replied to an inquiry, III
will not be sent to Congress Monday. Il
will not 20 before Tuesday. 1t is ne
child's play to prepare such paper as thu
President will give to Congress and to the
country. 1t will thoroughly review all O.
this governments diplomatic negotia
lions with Spain relative to Cuba ant
will contain such recommendations al
will appear to the sense of right ant
Justice of the American people, just suct
recommendations as every friend OF Pres
4 ident Mckinley has reason toIexpect from
one so patriotic and devoted to his coun
try as he is
''Do you expect any action by Congress
on Monday in advance of the President
messageP" Gov. Grosvenor was asked.
"Oh, no." he replied. Congress viii
be entirely willing to await the action o.
the President Everybody thoroughly
realizes the Chief Executive of this re
public cannot be taken by threat in {
matter of this kind. He must have tiInt
to formulate his message in his owr
way President Mckinley for many
weeks has been under terrific strair
aud is beginning to show the effects of it
He will communicate to Congress and tt
the country as soon as possible and there
is no doubt that Congress will respect hi
desires in the matter.
During the conference the Associated
Press news that the Spanish torpedo boa
fiotilla had not yet arrived at Porto Riot
and that the probability is that it is now
at Cape de Verde islands was communi
Gated to the President. 1t was received
with much satisfaction, the President
reading aloud to the others the note con
yeying the information. Commenting
upon the information, Gen. Grosveno1
said: "That materially relieves the strair
upon the situation and modifes it oonsid
erably."