The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-26
Soon After the Naval Courts Report Is
Sent to Congress He WIFE Trans
NIT Another Message.
WILL PICTURE WOESOF CUBANS
AND ASK THAT RADICAL STEPS BE
TAKEN TO END THE HORRORS.
Situation Considered Critical by Mem
ious to Stop Spanish FIOtiIIa.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 25.-The President
and his Cabinet to-day considered the Of
fetal report on the Maine explosion during
two hours and half session in the middle
of the day, and at a subsequent meeting late
in the afternoon discussed and approved a
dispatch to Minister Woodford, at Madrid,
which, after being translated into cipher,
was put on the cable before midnight. In
this dispatch was given a synopsis of the
report of the naval court of inquiry, which
Minister Woodford was instructed to lay
before the Spanish government without de-
lay. At the close of the Cabinet meeting
several members said the discussion in
volved matters of a grave nature and our
relations with Spain would be strained to
the utmost.
The finding of the court, as stated else
where, is that the explosion was caused by
outside agencies. The testimony in no man
ner incriminates the Spanish authorities.
Minister Woodford will not be instructed to
make any demands for indemnity or to raise
the question of damages or reparation in
any form. 1t is not the purpose of the Pres
ident to make demands on Spain at present.
In other words, he proposes to set the Maine
case aside, leaving himself free to deal with
the broader issue of intervention in Cuba.
Later it may come up again, and probably
will, in the settlement, although in the opin~
ion of persons familiar with international
against Spain unless made now. However
that may be, the determination of the Pres
ident is fixed not to allow questions grow
ing out Of the destruction of our battle ship
to interfere in any way with or complicate
the general issue. This is, in brief, the posi-
ton which the President takes and the fore
going summary, which is made on the very
highest authority, conforms in every par
ticular to the forecast given in these dis
patches yesterday.
In order to relieve the tension and allay
the excitement it was decided to permit the
substance of the report to leak out in such
a way as to leave no doubt of the authen-
ticity Of the statement and at the same
time not to give offense to Congress, to
which the President is to transmit the re-
port with an official statement of his own.
This information was allowed to seep out
o -
time to catch the late editions of the after
noon papers, and too late to be of any use
for speculative uses on the exchanges. Sub
sequently, officials of the Navy Depart
ment felt it incumbent on them to deny
having given out the information The de-
NAL was unnecessary, because they had not
ton was very much nearer the White
House, and may be regarded as conclusive.
1t sets at rest all speculation as to the find
ings of the court, and leaves no chance
for guesswork, except as to the minor de-
tails.
A full copy of the report, and the testi-
mony on which it is based, will be mailed to
Madrid as soon as the typewriters can re-
produce the document. 1t is hoped, how
ever, that Spain may make immediate
acknowledgement of the cabled synopsis,
so that the fact may be mentioned by the
President in his message transmitting the
report to Congress. He may delay trans
initial day or two longer to await such
reply. The present expectation is that the
message and report will be referred to the
foreign committees of the two houses, to be
held there until Spain can cable reply,
after having received a complete ,opy by
mail This will take between two and three
weeks. President Mckinley has said that
he does not look for a climax before three
weeks. The 18th of April appears in the
of the pending situation.
Within a very few days after. the country
has been informed as to the circumstances
surrounding the Maine explosion the Presi-
dent will send in message on the Cuban
situation. He will set forth the horrors in
Cuba, which have been unofficially de-
scribe6, and will suggest relief measures.
The consular correspondence bearing on
this subject, which has been on the Presi-
dents table several weeks, will be the
foundation for his message, and will be laid
before Congress at the same time. This
viii be the entering wedge for American
intervention on the ground of humanity.
Intimations have been received that Spain