Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-12


caucus decree.
The position of the democratic mem.
bers of the House foreign affairs COM
mittee is for independence and imme-
date and armed intervention.
The committee expects to have Gen.
Fitzhugh Lee before them this after
noon.
1t is rumored at the Senate that the
foreign relations committees report will
be declaration for immediate inter-
vention by the United States, and that
no action on the part of Spain short of
the evacuation of the island by the
Spanish forces will satisfy this country.
Il is also believed that there is an indi-
rect recognition of the right of the Gu
bans to freedom and independence.
The Senate committee on foreign re-
lations is finding it very difficult task
! to reach an agreement on the terms Of
| the resolution it will report. Many
propositions have been made covering
all the lines of possible intervention,
but the indications at the beginning of
tc-day's session were that there would
be return to the compromise PROPOSE
ton which was made prior to the re-
capt of the message. Indeed, q suffi-
cient number pledges had been secnred
to render the adoption of this course
quite certain. All the republican
members of the committee with
the exception of Senator Foraker
are understood to be willing to
report on those lines, and it is now be-
lieved that he may be induced to join
his colleagues. This compromise, it
will be remembered, involved the elm
| ination of the second of his declarations
recognizing "the republic of Cuba as
the true and lawful government of that
| island" and the retention OF his first
premise declaring shat the peo-
pie of Cuba are and of right
ought to be free and independent"
Senator Gray is the only democratic
Senator who now appears willing to
! join with the republicans in eliminat-
| ing the recognition of the Cuban re.
public, but his vote added to the votes
of the FIVE republicans would be suf-
ficient to secure the adoption of the
resolution and its report by the COM
mittee.
The diplomatic phase of the Spanish
situation is in statu quo. There are no
| new negotiations, and no further de-
velopments in the old ones. 1t is the
expectation that this status will con-
tinue for the present at least, while
Congress considers the subject. A de-
finite understanding has been reached
by the representatives of the six great
powers OF Europe that no additional
action from that quarter would be op-
perfume at this time. The armstice
has gone into effect in Cuba, but up to
later hour to-day no word had come
as to the attitude of the insurgents. i
they accept it the solution appears to be
simple. If they do not accept it the
expectation OF the Spanish government,
is that this will be made manifest with,
10 the next few days by continued hos
tilities by the forces Of Gomez and
others. IF the Spanish troops are at,
tackled while in garrison, they will
defend themselves and thereafter viii
feel free to take the aggressive. II
granting the armistice, it is known thai
the Spanish military authority did sc
as tender to the insurgents for mu
tual cessation of hostilities, but it is
viewed as being mutual understand
ing, 80 that if the insurgents do not &C
cept the tender it is understood that il
will not continue to operate as mean;
of keeping the Spanish troops passive
while under fire. Word reached here
to-day that the Spanish Consul at Key
West had retired from the consulate
there because of threats said to have
been made against his life. This is the
first removal of Spanish official in the
United States as result of the presen!
trouble. The consul at Key West re-
ported the circumstances in his case to
the Spanish minister at Washington and
said the feeling extended beyond the
consul, and included those Spaniards
at Key West that supported the home
government. AS result the consul
and number of Spaniards who have
been Lying there have removed to
Tampa, where it ia said their safety is
better assured. The Spanish Minister,
Senior Polo, feels that his predictions OF
a more hopeful turn in affairs have been
verified and there are no signs of i'm
pending departure of the minister and
his staff.
General Fitzhugh Lee arrived at $50
o'clock and entering carriage was
driven to the State Department. The
corridors in front of the Secretary's
door was jammed with people. AS Gen.
| Lee stepped from the elevator the
the crowd gave three rousing cheers.
General Lee bowed and vas immedi-
ately ushered into the Secretsry's
ROOM. Gen. Lee remained in the
building only few minutes, quickly
departing, accompanied by Secretary
Sherman and Assistant Secretary Day
for the White House. The State De-
partment at once telephoned the Sen
ate to arrange for fen. [ ee's appearance
before the foreign relations committee.
The ovation was repeated as Gen. Lee
went over from the State Department
to the White House. a mounted BIZ
cycle boy had preceded the carriage
carrying q onban flag, and this served
to stimulate the enthusiasm displayed
along the drive TO the White HHHisc
portico. At the railroad stetion when
Gen. Lee arrived the crowd was i'm
msase and exceedingly enthusiastic.
Senator Martin said to-day that war
looked more remote than it hos done
for two or three weeks; that the repub
licans seeled to be divided, land that as
they had control of both the admins