The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-10
GOSSIP OF THE DAY.
How the RumOrs Regarding the
Armistice Was Received.

How the RumOrs Regarding the
Armistice Was Received.
WASHINGTON. April SIT is learned at
one of the foreign embassies that the Span
ish government to-day has under very earn
est consideration the issuance of a procla-
nation declaring an armistice in Cuba. This
decree has not yet been signed, so far as is
known here nor does the information indi-
cate that a final determination that it shall
issue has been reached. The measure, how
ever, is being strongly pressed on the con-
sideration of Spain by some of the CONT
mental European powers which have ac-
quainted their embassies with the fact. 1t
is the hope of the powers urging this move
that by means of this concession war might
be averted, although it is realized that the
United States may not regard the conces-
sion as adequate to meet the case. The
Spanish government, it is said, holds to the
position that it will yield everything to
avert war, save two independence
Of Cuba and American Intervention. 1t in
ssts that if either of these latter moves is
insisted on by the United States as a sine
qua non and are carried into effect it will
regard them as overt acts and as placing
the United States in the attitude of taking
the first and aggressive step toward war
either the Intervention or independence
propositions that the armistice proposal
is not regarded as assuring a change in the
present outlook. The foregoing was the
one ray of hope to-day to the darkness of
the Spanish situation, and even this could
not be definitely and officially verified from
administration sources, though the State
Department undoubtedly is acquainted, per-
haps unofficially, with all that is going on
at Madrid.
In the foreign pressure now being exert
ed at Madrid it is understood that the
British government is taking no part. The
extent of British influence, so far as it is
observable here, was exerted when the Brit
ish ambassador joined the other powers in
the presentation of the recent mild note to
President Mckinley expressing hope for
peace Since then the ambassadors and min
listers have not considered any further ac-
ton to be taken at Washington, but all the
foreign influence has been directed at Ma
drid. In this France has again taken the
lead, while at the same time the French
ambassador at Washington, NJ. Cambon,
has been kept constantly acquainted with
the steps taken by his government through
it's ambassador at Madrid. Long cable dis
patches passed late last night and early
this morning between the French embassy
here and the Foreign Office at Paris. Natur-
ally the nature of these is a secret, but it
is beyond question that they related to the
hoped-for solution on the basis of SPANS
granting concessions.
The Spanish minister would not discuss
the reports of an armistice So far as could
be learned, he has no official information
If decree had been actually issued he
doubtless would be advised Immediately In
all diplomatic quarters up to noon to-day
information that the decree had been is
sued had not been received, although it was
expected almost hourly, and the delay in
announcement led to some fear that the
Ministry at Madrid had not yet finally
agreed to concessions. AS these dispatches
stated yesterday, this question of armistice
was under consideration by the Spanish
minister last Wednesday evening, with every
prospect it is asserted, that decree of
armistice would be proclaimed when Min
lister Woodford's imperative note. to Minis
ter Gullon was received, causing personal Of
Tense and for the time being checking the
consideration of the armistice decree. Since
Their Mr.. Woodford has Withdrawn his note
and the continental powers have pressed
Spain to proclaim the armistice.
1t is doubtful, however, whether the au-
thorities here would regard the situation as
improved by any decree which failed to in
clude the prospect of Cuban independence
or intervention and it is said there is no
hope entertained that the concession will not
go to the extent of even remotely suggest
ing independence, or countenancing inter
vention. Even the ambassadors and minis
tiers most friendly to Spain doubt whether
an armistice can exert any favorable influ-
ence at this late date. In enc of these quar-
tiers it was stated to-day that an armistice
was beneficial only when two parties accept
ed it, In this case, it was explained, the
two parties were the Spanish government
and the insurgents, so that the acceptance
by Spain would still leave the matter open,
so far as the insurgents were concerned
with every indication that they would reject
it, In that event, this high diplomatic au-
thority pointed out there could DE no armis-
tice except in empty name. Since France
and other continental powers have urged
Spain to issue an armistice, it is not doubt
ed that these powers would seek to have an
armistice accepted both by the insurgents
and the United States. There has been no
suggestion, however. that more than peace
full influence would be used to induce its
acceptance, and at the various legations the
idea is secuted that y naval or military
forces from the European powers would
operate against the insurgents in order 10
compel them to accept the armistice.