The San Francisco call., 1898-03-24
If Spain ReSentS This There Will Be War,
 Perhaps.
Policy Having an English In- itiative to Which Opponents of the Administration Do
 Not Give Approval.
Call Office, Riggs House,
 WaShingtOn. March q

w mdICil
 Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just.' This is to be the ad- ministration's text in dealing with the Cuban problem. President Mckinley and his Cabinet realize that the Ameri- can Naval Courts finding will be that the Maine's destruction resulted from an exterior cause, but that the agency will always be a matter of doubt. The liability of Spain for indemnity will therefore be questionable. It was de- termined a week ago by the President and his advisers that no demand for indemnity should be made unless the Naval Courts report clearly showed that the Spanish Government, through it's harbor and police regulations, had been negligent in protecting a United States war vessel in the harbor of a friendly nation.
 The President is anxious to have the sympathy and friendship of European nations and of the world, and therefore it is believed that unless the Naval Courts report clearly shows an out side explosion and gross negligence on the part of Spanish officers in Havana harbor the President will waive his de- mand for indemnity. He believes that d uellldIlQ lOL luC 1CIlSl OL lltC OulLC1jA5 Cubans would be sanctioned by the civilized world, and that if Spain should refuse to allow this Government to al- leviate the distress of the CubanS and attempt to restrain the President in his humane work the sympathy of all the nations would be with this country. If Spain should by armed resistance seek to prevent the United States affording relief to the victims of Spanish cruelty the President would have just cause for armed intervention and European nations would not interfere.
 This, in brief is the policy to be pur- sued by the administration, and it is expected the President will take the first step in his policy of peaceful in- terventi0n" next week in the form of request for money at the hands of Con- gress to feed and clothe the reconcen- trados of Cuba. The money will un- doubtedly be promptly forthcoming, al- though it is now estimated that it will cost eight or ten millions of dollars to complete arrangements to properly care for the hundreds of thousands of sufferers. Congressmen believe Spain may not permit this without protest or perhaps armed resistance. The feed ing and clothing of the recGncentrados would practically destroy the whole Weyler-Blanco system of campaign and the last hope of starving the people of the island into submission. The Presi-
 
 permission for the landing of the pro- visions, and the United States will then proceed upon her charitable mission, using force if necessary to save the victims of Spanish inhumanity.
 If any blood letting results from this effort to feed the starving and clothe the naked, the President would expect to have his arms upheld by all the na- tions of the civilized world.
 Opponents of the administration crit icize this proposed method of interven- tion and characterize it as "kindergar- ten statesmanship." They believe Spain will certainly see through this millstone and will be prompt to announce her ac- ceptance of American charity, and that our country will simply be compelled to support the reconcentrados indefinitely or until the close of the war.
 It is said the suggestion of offering to feed the Cuban people was originally made to the President by Sir Julian Pauncefote, who assured him of Eng lands warm approval. Senor Polo de Bernabe, the Spanish Minister, was asked by The Call correspondent this evening if his Government would permit America to relieve the reconcentrados. He said it was a question he did not feel free to answer.