The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-09
On the Steamers from Havana and
Other Cuban Ports.
EFFORTS TO SECURE UNITY,
Senators Feel That They Are Gaining
Ground "A Joint Meeting of the
Leaders ofthe Various Parties
May Consider the Whole
Cuban Question in Ex-
ecutive Session.

WASHINGTON, April S.--Good Friday
passed in Washington with not a ripple
on the surface either at the White House
or the Capitol, to show that the United
! States is on the bring Of war. Both
| Houses Of Congress had adjourned until
Monday, and at the Executive Mansion
there was no rush OF eager and excited
pubic men. At only the War and Navy
Departments were there signs OF an I'M
| pending conflict in the rush Of immediate
orders TO u host Of naval officers to re-
port at once for duty on vessels to which
they were assigned and in conference
| among bureau chiefs on details of war
| preparations
FIRM RESOLVE.
! And yet the resolve was hrmer than
| ever that unless Spain yielded TO Amer
/ ica's Cuba demands the United States by
| force OF arms would move on Havana.
There was still some discussion Of Gu
! ban affairs which revolved around two
| propositions namely Intervention without
| recognition OF national independence of
the Cuban insurgents, and Intervention
/ with concurrent recognition OF the inde-
]
ment OF Cuba. Some public men hovered
/ between these two propositions and favor
/ ed a compromise.
There was no definite lead which IL
| could be stated with anything like author
/ itativeness. which course would be adopt
| ed, but the unsettled state OF public
/ opinion in the matter indicated that
events of the next few days. the strength
! OF the arguments Of the forthcoming pres
/ idenual message or distinct utterance
! from our Consul-Gener0l to Cuba might
be strong enough 10 influence balance TO
| either course.
The Cabinet held its usual Friday ses-
! sion. but its meeting brought no change
in the Spanish situation, indeed II was
chiefly Significant in establishing that
| no change had occurred: none was ex-
| pected and that the programme OF action
on the part Of the United States govern
ment was already made up. The Presl-
dents message remains unaltered. and
this being the last Cabinet day before
the message Will go TO Congress, altera-
| tions are unlikely between now and
Monday. barring altogether unexpected
| developments from Madrid.
After the meeting Cabinet officers stat
ed that the message would be sent to
Congress on Monday, no change in that
respect having been considered and all
causes for delay having been removed.
The feeling that an end had come to
| diplomatic talk, and that action alone
| remained was shared In all quarters. in
Guiding the foreign embassies and lega-
tions, where the ambassadors and minis
| ters expressed the feeling that all had
been done in Washington that can or
will be done in the cause Of peace.
SLIGHT HOPES.
What is going on at Madrid gives
slight hope OF Spanish concessions there
as will alter the present situation. There
are no negotiations being exchanged.
only preparations going on
Certainly this is true as to the United
States and there was no evidence to-
day that the Spanish government would
recede. II is even doubtful whether a
| concession OF an armistice by Spain
would be sufficient at this late moment
TO turn 'he situation into peaceful chan
| nels.
Preparations for all eventualties are
being hurried 10 completion. General
Lee will leave Havana tomorrow, prob
ably on the small naval vessel Fern.
now in Havana harbOr, although IT was
| said at the State Department that he
| might take one OF the Plant Line steam
ers. At that time also the other United
States cOnsus and most OF the American
citizens residing in Cuba, will be out Of
the island. Official reports received here
to-day stated that large numbers OF
Americans were leaving on the several
steamers from Havana and other ports
Entire quiet has prevailed there up to
this time. The United States Consul at
Porto Rico is also preparing 10 leave.
| No instructions, il Is definitely stated
have been sent to Minister Woodford
concerning his withdrawal from Madrid
that being left to his discretion. The
prospects Of his withdrawal have been
fully considered. however. and there is
reason 10 believe that in the event Of his
retirement the British Ambassador at
Madrid will look after American inter
ests and afford protection 10 such Ameri-
cans as remain in Spain. This. Il is sta ted
in an authoritative quarter, is part OF a
comfy between the United States and
Great Britain and reciprocal in return
for protection afforded British subjects
on a former occasion.
MINISTER POLO.
The Spanish Minister at Washington has
received no instructions as TO his depar-
ture nor has he made preparationssto go,
although his department Is I'm such shape
that he could leave In a few hours after
receiving orders from his government 20
depart.
In the event OF the complete cessation
| y HtEOlldllOHS II Netii DC tiltd ildl AO-Nd9
showed the seventh consecutive day since
the Spanish Minister has called at the
State Department.
War preparations are proceeding sys-
tematically, but 'the larger details Of
preparation have been shaped and there
Is little more to do than to see these
regularly executed. While there are
many naval movements, there has not
yet been any decisive orders affecting
the movements OF the fleets
report was current to-day that the
Spanish fleet OF cruisers had sailed from
Cadiz for American waters. There was
no confirmation OF this either at the
Spanish Legation or at the Navy De-
partment.
TO SECURE UNITY.
At the Capitol the Senator's who are
devoting themselves to the task of Sc
curing a resolution on the Cuban ques-
ton on which practical unanimhy can
be obtained, were quite active and when
the day closed felt that they had made
appreciable progress.