Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-04-03
RELATIONS WILL END THEN.
FRIENDLY OvERTUREs FROM AUS
TRIA OR FRANCE EXPECTED.
Full Report of Spanish Court of In
quiry Into the Maine Disaster
Received in WashinStOn-Pres-
ident Urged to Make
Maine Affair q
Casus BeIll.

washington, April line ISSUE oetWeen
the United States and Spain remains un-
changed. No communications having any
bearing upon the situation have passed be-
tween this government and Spain since
last Thursday night. when Minister Wood
ford transmitted the reply Of the Sagasta
ministry to the presidents propositions Of
two weeks ago. Both governments appear
to accept this issue as made up. and are
shaping their course accordingly. This be-
Ing the case. the view is universally enter
tained, even by representative men of the
administration. that congress-. upon receipt
of the presidents message early next
week, will take action which it is almost
universally expected must result in a SOW
erancs of the relations Of the two coun-
tries.
This was. in part. foreshadowed by the
action of the senate committee on foreign
relations to-day In agreeing to resolution
favorable to the independence OF Cuba and
for armed Intervention If necessary to Sc
cure independence.
With the crisis so near at hand, it is be-
Heved that If any European Intervention
or mediation is to come, 1t will be within
the next few days. 1t was said. however.
at the state department, late this after
noon. that no offer Of European mediation
| had yet been officially transmitted to this
government. It was the general under
standing that friendly overtures Of this
nature were looked for at almost any time
from France or Austria, and it was report
ed during the day that the presence in
Washington of Cardinal Gibbons and Arch
bishop Ireland was In connection with me-
diation from Rome, but 1t was stated on
| high authority at the state department that
| no overtures of this character had taken
| official form, nor was the state department
advised that any such steps were in con-
temptation.
| It is the understanding in official circles
| based upon Information, that the recogni-
tion of Cuban independence would not, An
itself, be regarded by Spain as casus BEL
II. But at the same time there is little
doubt that such recognition of Cuban inde-
pendence would be followed by the with
drawaI Of the Spanish minister and his
entire suite from Washington and the ter
mination of Spain's diplomatic representa-
tim at Washington. Such withdrawal IS
one OF the last steps preceding actual re-
| course to war.
It is probable however, that the with
drawal Of the Spanish minister. following
the recognition of independence, would not
be so much an indication Of war, as it
would be an emphatic protest by the Span
| ish government against the recognition Of
| the Independence of colony over which
| Spain aims to exercise complete SOW
ereignty. Although this recognition of in
| dependence is not considered casus belli
by which Spain could declare war. yet 1t
Is deemed in diplomatic circles as a step
| which would have consequences inevitably
terminating in war. For that reason it is
said that the recognition Of the independ-
ence of Cuba Is likely to be no less grave
than Intervention.
The Spanish minister continues to pre-
serve his outward calm, although he feels
that the relations are extremely strained
and that his stay in Washington may not
be long continued. To some of his diplo-
matte associates who called to-day, he said
| IDdI his COLSCleNCc Was pcllcStIy SiSdip dS
he thought that Spain's cause was a just
one, and for this reason he felt no agita-
ton His position is trying, however. as
the Spanish legation has been subjected
to a number of petty indignities within
recent days. These are of such petty
character that they have not been called
to the attention of the government officials.
| poI,cn oficers uere detailed fo see
that the offenses were not continued, and
that no acts Of vandalism or personal in
dignity were committed.
The state department to-day received the
full report of the Spanish commission
which Investigated the destruction Of the
battleship Maine. This document has been
expected fer some days. but 1t was not
until to-day that 1t reached Washington
| by a special messenger from Havana.
It proved to be most bulky and volumi-
nous document, of far greater length than
| the report Of the American court of in.
auiry. The text, as delivered to the state
department, is in Spanish, and 1t will take
| some time for the elaborate document to
be translated. 1t covers at least 10o closely
written pages Of official paper. double the
| size of foolscap. The Associated Press
early in the week gave complete and
Official synopsis Of this Spanish report, the
result of which is that the explosion of the
MaIne occurred inside OF the ship and that
no evidence existed Of any exterior ex.
plosion-
Admiral Irwin to-day was among the wit
nesses before the senate committee on for
Observation-Disclosures