The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-10
De LONE REFUSES TO DENY.
srEps TAKEN TO HAVE SPAIN RE
CALL HIM.

1ecting on FrSsAVehe
SCAN brushed Aside-The Request
Cor tbe Recall Understood to Have
poou Already CabIed Minister
WoodfOrd at Madrid.
v,ebineton, Feb 9.-The publication in
na morning papers of what purported to
10 an autograph letter written by Senor
nrn,v de LONE, the Spanish minister, to
his friend. Senior Canalejas, criticising the
PRESIDENT with the utmost freedom, caus-
o3 sensation in official Washington, and
soon will be followed by Minister de
1ome's departure from the United States.
A. the outset there was a question of tha
authenticity of the letter. but circumstan-
tial evidence accumulated until it was
6rallv announced officially that the min
ister declined TO deny the authorship, and
all doubt was disspated and the only
nuesdon that remained was as to the line
of action to be pursued by our govern
nent toward the offending minister.
The writing of this letter is unquestion-
ably an offense against the amenities of
Diplomatic relations, and such offenses al
most Invariably have been regarded
in the United States as in other capitals
as sufficient ground for the termination OF
the official status of the letter writer.
As soon as the letter appeared in the
Press, the state department officials began
an examination to settle its authenticity.
and when it had learned all that could be
developed on this point and had been told
that the minister himself refused to deny
writing it, the consideration of the next
step began.
Assistant Secretary Day was in consulta-
ton with the President on the subject at
least four times during the official day,
and then spent much time in framing his
message to United States Minister Wood
ford at Madrid. The official statement of
the sending of this message was accom-
panied by a declinations to indicate its
contents at this time, the department mere
" giving to the Press the following state
ment:
Minister de LONE does not deny writing
the letter. This department has commu-
nicated with Gen. Woodford on the sub
ject Until that communication reaches
the Spanish government it would be i'm
proper to in any manner state the contents
of the message to Gen. Woodford."
While the department refused to add
anything to this meager' announcement, it
can be stated without question that Mr..
Woodford was directed to lay the facts
developed before the Spanish government,
together with the statement that in view
OF the minister's refusal to deny the au-
thorshp of the letter, the Spanish govern
ment is looked to with confidence to deal
with the case properly. This amounts to
an invitation to recall the minister pre-
suming that he himself has not already
taken steps to vacate his position. No
doubt is entertained of the compliance
with the import Of the suggestion, but in
case there should be undue delay i'm act
ing the state department would feel called
upon to move directly in the matter and
give the minister his passports, as was
done when Sir Julian Pauncefote's prede-
cessor wrote the celebrated Murchisen let
ter
Inasmuch as the line of action in that
case may form the basis for action in
ms, always presuming that the Spanish
minister does not himself cut the knot
ana relieve the government from the ne
ceSsity of performing a dsagreeable duty,
II may be stated that with Lord Sackville
the department of state, itself, initiated
the action.
4he de LONE incident was almost the
soie topic of conversat ation among the mem
pers OF the House. Its contents were con-
siuefed such a manifest breach of diplo-
macy that many refused to credit them.
chairman Hit, of the foreign affairs
committee, Chairman Dingley of the ways
1uu means committee, and other leading
Hepupheans, declined to express any opin-
Ion at this time
Oh the assumption that the letter was
au1hentc, however, the opinion was al
most unanimous that no self-respeoting
government could tolerate such criticism
u lts chief executive, and that Minister
u9 Lomes words had put an end to his
useIulness at this capital.
ootHe rear was also expressed that the
teOdu OF Minister de LONE while affairs
were in the present delicate condition
rnsht precipitate crisis. The Democrats
We much more free in the expression of
uplhon that the Republicans.
Nf' Berry, Dem, of Kentucky. a MEM
per Of the foreign affairs committee. said
tue letter proved to be genuine, the
Hpanish minister should be made to 'wallS
1He plank" A diplomatic officer who
t%OuId so far forget the first principles of
',s procession as to so outrageously criti-
1lse the official head of the country to
"NSh ne is accredited is not deserving
Vi sympathy. His government should be
.olI,led as soon as the genuiness of the let
grata." - -'o''- '-'-
william A. Smith. Rep, of Michigan, a
coll u tne foreign aftalrS committee
aS'"' l regard the letter, if authentic
serious affront calling for as radical
s@Vnent as was administered to Lord
90, NFllie-West in 1885,
ayhator Cullom, a foreign relations COM
i"''ee man, said: "The genuineness of
al e letter is too uncertain to Justify Its
ce,t.uSsslon' but if genuine Mr.. de LONE
.,,Jyaihly would deserve dismissal"
to ~ Is very serious matter said Sena-
cray of the committee on foreign re-
Ga-e5si o,ols too serious, indeed, to discuss
sr,-Iiessly Mr.. de Lone Is entitled TO a
I1lpehslon of judgment until the RESPONSE
ny NY IS more definitely determined than at
-, ~ II is true" said Senator Foraker, also
~ "elnner of the foreign relations commit-
Mr' de LONE ought to be Immediately
b'yen his passports"
ets.lator Spooner-If true, 1t is a gross
t.'.k and most astounding, but / cannot
genuneness % ~
sla.or Hawley-It Is a matter for the
~, department to deal with, and does
MI ior the present come within the do
~ oI Congress. l have no doubt II viii
Popery handled by the department
"a iuator Stewnrt-The sentiment express
sta - IN llne with Spains policy and dispo-
On We do everything to conciliate the