Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-12
SPANISH AFFAIRS.

AS stated yesterday the message Of
the President, which was sent to Con-
gress on that day, was referred in both
houses to the committees on foreign
affairs. These committees are divided
as to the form of the resolution they
will report. Conservative Senators are
disposed to oppose any resolution not
in line with the Presidents recommen-
dations, but number of Senators will
insist upon the recognition of Cuban in
dependence aud possibly immediate in
PREVENTION. The same division exists
among the republicans in the House OF
Representatives, but it is thought prob
able compromise may be arranged.
Democrats in the House are almost
unanimously in favor of recognition OF
Cuban independence and forcible inter
yention. The resolution reported by
the Senate committee may depend to
some extent on the evidence to be SUBJ
mitted by Consul General Lee, who will
appear before the committee on his ar
rival at Washington.
The President sent to Congress with
his message the reports of United States
consuls in Cuba on the conditions in the
island. The misery of the reconcen-
tradoes is described by General Lee and
the consuls at Cienfuegos, Metanzas,
Santiago de Cuba and Sagua la Grande'
Consult General Lee estimates that 200,-
900 persons died in four provinces from
starvation and disease, Consul HYATT,
at Santiago, expresses the opinion that
a census of the island taken to-day
would show that two-thrds of the resi-
dents are missing and that the Spanish
army would make no better exhibit.
A Washington dispatch states that
negotiations are still being conducted
by Col. John ]. McCook and others,
representing the Cuban insurgents. for
the purchase of the island. Minister
Pole Bays that Spain cannot entertain q
proposition to sell Cuba, but he has
been in conference with the purchase
commission representing Cuba. Col.
McCook has COMMUNICATED with the ILL
surgents in the field both as to the pur.
chase proposition and the armistice.
a letter received by the Cuban junta
in Jacksonville, Fla. from Gen. Gomez
is said to have conveyed the ,ntorma-
ton that the Cuban cormander-in-
chief is fully prepared to cooperate
with the United States navy in reduc.
ing HaVana in the event of war. Gen.
Garcia has crossed the trocha, and the
forces of the two commanders are noy
being led westward toward the capital.
Kumors that Gen. Woodford would
leave Madrid yesterday were emphati'
cally denied by that gentleman. He
added, with apparent significance,
that he did not expect to be recalled
or to be given his passports by Spain.
A dispatch from Rome says: 10 an
interview yesterday Cardinal Rsmpolls,
papal secretary of State, declared that
he was satisfied and hopeful of the out
come of the Pope's latest action. He
added; 81 am expecting telegram
from Washington, which may announce
an approaching solution of the diff
culties."
A dispatch from Washington says
The action of Spain in Offering on ar
mistice, without even awaiting the con-
sent Of the insurgents. is considered of
capital Importance Representatives of
the powers, and they feel that it JUS
titles further delay On the part of the
United States. France and Austria
have already intimated to this COVE n
ment that there is a limit in action
against Spain, beyond which they
would not let Us 60 githout protest.