The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-04-04
Gives His Views On the Present
Critical Situation.
ON THE MAINE MATTER
QUESTION FOR DIPLOMATIC NE
COLLATION. ALONE.
His Side of the Story of the Recent
Negotiations With the United
States-Independence of Cuba or
Sale of the Island Not Mentioned
at the Conference.

London, April 4.-The Madrid CORES
pendent of the Standard, telegraphing
tonight, SAYS:
Il have been able to obtain an inter
view with Senior Sagasta, the premier,
and to elicit from him a brief state
ment with reference to the present
critical situation. In the course of the
conversation, Senior Sagasta said:
MAINE MATTER.
In our recent negotiations with the
United States we have used friendly
and conciliatOry language in express
ing our views. In discussing the mat
tiers in respect to the Maine matter, we
said we considered the question one
for diplomatic negotiations, and if we
and the United States found ii impoS-
sihle to come to an understanding on
the conflicting reports of the two COM
missions, then the matter ought to be
submitted to technical experts and be
the arbitration of q naval or other
power, which might be selected by mu-
tual agreement between the two gov
ernmentS.
RECONCENTRADOS.
Ion the second point We were able
to inform Minister Woodford that Gov
ernor General Blanco has issued a
proclamation authorizing the return of
the reconcentrados to their homes and
that the Spanish government had sent
e120000 to the relief of the dis
tressed and would devote to the same
object all the proceeds of relief in kind
and money amounting to e200,000
81, 600 000). which had been sent by
Spanish residents in Mexico. These
measures are supplemented by the as
sistance already given by the Cuban
autononist government. We have
never objected to relief being also sent
by the United States, on condition that
IL not have an official character or
bear the appearance Of Intervention.
ARMIsTICE.
I'VE did not object on principle to
an armistice to the Cuban insurgents.
We are, however, OF the opinion that
il should not behoove Spain to take the
and that a suspension of
hostilities ought to be asked for by the
insurgents. We suggested that the
United States government, If so in
clined, exercise its influence with the
insurgents 10 induce them TO apply for
an armistice. with q view TO further 4
the ends of peace, on the understand 4
ing, however. that the armistice would .
be destined to lead TO the submission
Of the Insurgents TO the new autonO
nous regime
CUBA NOT MENTIONED.
"Senor Sagasta assured me that the
question OF independence of Cuba or
the sale of that colony, or any invasion
Of SPANS rights was not mOoted in the /
recent negotiations.
Abiding to the report that Marshal [
Prim had intended in 1870 to sell Cuba,
Senior Sagasta said that such a sug-
the Americans, but was never accepted,
and that the parleying on the subject
was only kept up for some time to
avoid increasing the. acute tension
which then existed between the two
countries.
THOSE JINGOES.
"Senor Sagasta considers that since
he took Office in October last he has
lone everything possible TO satisfy the
Cubans and 10 preserve good relations
With the United States, and that, con-
'equently, no responsibility for the I.
present crisis, should it lead to a rup-
ure, should rest with Spain. He, how
.ver. does not believe that the last
spanish memorandum closes the door
o further negotiations. Those who
conducted them, ne said, had on both
des shown disposition to promote
cordial relations. and he only appre-
tended trouble from the pressure of the
inSoes on the executive at Washing q.
on.
SHOWN PRUDENCE.
''Senor Sagasta proceeded to say that
us government had addressed a mem
randum to the European powers, but
lad not officially taken steps to solicit
heir Intervention. He called my at :
ention TO the fact that the people and
he press of Spain had shown prudence.
and patriotism during the
risis. even the opposition having put !
10 obstacles in the way of the gov
rnment. This, he said, led him to be-
eve that all classes would cooperate
q the work of realizing peace in Cuba
nd facing the contingencies of the
uture.
SPOKE LIKE A STATESMAN.
He spoke throughout with the calm. ,
ubdued energy OF a statesman, alive !
D the eventualities of the situation
nd conscious that he had done his :
uty in endeavOring to avert war with ]