The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-10
Washington. Feb. 0, 1S9


The publication in the morning news
papers of what purported to be an au
tograph letter written by Senor Dupuy
de LONE. the Spanish minister to his
friend, Canalejas, critic!sing the Presl-
dent with the utmost freedom, caused
sensation in official Washington. It
soon will be followed by Minister de
Lome's departure from the United
States.
AT the outset there was a disposition
to question the authenticity Of the let
ter, but as bit by bit the circumstantial
evidence accumulated until 1t was fin
ally announced that the minister de-
clined to deny the authorship OF the
letter, all doubt was dissipated. and the
only question that remained was as to
the line of action to be pursued by our
government toward the offending min
lister. The writing Of the letter is un-
queStionably an offense against the
amenities of diplomatic relations, and
such offences almost invariahly have
been regarded in the United States. as
In other capitals. az sufficient ground
for the termination of the official stat
us Of the letter-writer.
AS soon as the letter appeared in tie
press the State Department officials
began an effort to settle it's authenticity
and when they had learned all that
could be developed on this point, and
| had been told that the minister him
self refused 10 deny writing It, the con-
slderat.on of the next step began
Assistant Secretary Day was in con-
sultation with the President on the
subject a least four times during the
official day, and then spent much time
in framing his message TO United
States Minister Woodford, at Madrid.
The official statement of the sending
of this message was accompanied by a
declination TO indicate it's contents at
this time, the Department merely Civ
ing to the press the following state
ment:
Minister dc LONE does not deny
writing the letter This department
has communicated with General Wood
ford on the subject. Until that COM
| munication reaches the Spanish gov
ernment it would be improper to in
any manner state the contents of the
| message TO General Woodford"
While the Department refused 10 add
anything to this meagre announce
Inent, ii can be stated without question
that Mr.. Woodford was directed to lay
| the facts developed before the Spanish
government together with the state
| ment that in view of the minister's re-
| fusal to deny the authorship OF the
letter, the Spanish government is look
ed TO with confidence to deal with the
| case properly. This amounts to an in
vitation to recall the minister, presum-
ing that he himself has not already
taken steps to vacate his position. No
n NJ nj N
with the implied suggestion, hut in
case should there be undue delay in
acting. the State Department would
| feel called upon to move directly In the
| matter and give the minister his pass
| parts, as was done when Sir Julian
| Pauncefote's predecessor wrote the Gel
ebrated Murchcson letter.
The circumstances under which q let
| ter of this character could escape from
the privacy OF the two persons be-
| tween whom it passed cXcitcs much
comment. The general belief is that it
was never delivered to Senor Canalejas,
but was stolen while en- route. Canal
| cjaa was In Washington some months
| ago, and then went 10 Cuba for the
| purpose of observing the condition of
! affairs there. AS q former minister in
| Liberal aDfncts-haying been minister
of justice--and rs the editor OF FL Her
| aldo at Madrid, he was accorded n
| warm reception by Minister Dupuy de
| LONE, who gave banquet in his honor
| which was attended by q number OF
prominent public men. He then left for
| Cuba, and his mission necessarily
| brought him into continued corresponds
| cnce with Minister de Lone. AS the
| letter bears no date, what time II was
| forwarded can only be fixed by the CON
| text. That 1t was after the Presidcn :;
| message ia evident. The mention of
| the approaching autonomous cabinet
establishes that 1t was before the in
augura ton of the cabinet, January |.
| This places the letter, according to the
prevailing impression, as having been
written about the middle of December
| At that time Senior Canalejas IL under
| stood to have been in Havana. prosc-
| cutting his mission. The handling of
the mail Is done by the Spanish author
tiles, so that in this case it Is believed
! the loss of n letter of this character
could occur only in one Of two ways
| either through treachcry OF an official
| of the postal service or by being taken
| after 1t had reached the hotel where
| Scnor Canalejas was stopping.
THE RULE IN SACKVILLG'S CASE
| The rule as laid down In the SackvIllc
case is generally regarded as the
standard precedent for our guidance In
| such matters, though there are moi
lacking other prccedcnts. To plead
| that the letter was purely personal
that il was not even addressed to an