The Portland daily press., 1898-03-28

y
| Vesuvius which is having her guns ad-
justed and repaired. The vessel has peen
at the yard abouta week and great CROWDS
| have been there to SEQ her AsslsIanu
Secretary Day spent a portion of the SAB
bath at the State Department ana tnere
| received call Of the Spanish minister,
rather unusual procedure. indicating I'm
portant matters for consideration. The
conference lasted some time, but lts
naturo could not be learned.
Tonight Commodore Winfield Schley,
just appointed commander of the Lying
squadron" left here for Norfolk. 1t Is
expected that tomorrow he will hoist his
flag on the Brooklyn, which is to be the
flagship of the fleet. The only vessel OF
the squadron now at Hampton Roads is
tho Massachusetts,. OF the remaining
three the Texas is in New York receiving
her ammunition and the Columbia and
the Minneapolis are at League Island,
where the final work preparatory to their
sea service is being hurriedly done. The
two latter will be at Norfolk about the
middle of the week. The developments of
the day in the Cuban situation showed
steady progress in the negotiations be-
tween the government OF this country
and that OF Spain looking to the main
tenance of peace, for the present at least.
There is good authority for saying that
Spain present wish is to secure cessa-
tion of hostilities in Cuba rather than to
engage in war with the United States,
and that it is more than probable that
the negotiations between the government
of the United States and the Sagasta
mediate future. The present Spanish
ministry has professed pacific dis
position from the beginning and the in
iications are5strong now that it will
avail itself Of the good offices of the
United States to the fullest extent that
public opinion in Spain will allow in
bringing to an end the hostilities IN
Cuba.
To what extent the United States may
go in assisting Spain in her present de-
sign of securing an armlstice is not YET
determined, but the conservative element
in the administration considers the mani
festation of this desire on the part OF
Spain for even temporary peace, a
direct result of President McKinley's
diplomacy and they arc naturally disposed
to contend that the President should be
left free for the present, at least. to pur-
sue policy which promises much in the
way of preventing war between this
country and Spain, and also of bringing
to close hostilities in Cuba. Hence
there will be an effort on the part of the
peacefully inclined in Congress to con-
tinue to hold that body in check and to
prevent infiammatory utterances there
until this promising diplomatic lead may
be exploited.
On the part of the administration it is
said, that development of the situation
will not require great length OF time
and hence that there will be no extended
delay. A policy has been fully deter
mined upon by the President. 1t is to
bring the Cuban war to a close. This will
be accomplished by pointed intervention
If necessary, but it is consideration far
prefera Bile that The end should como as
the result of peaceful negotiation rather
than that it should be accompanied by
hostile demonstration on the part of the
United States, hence the disposition of
the President is to give Spain fair op-
portunity to secure an arm1stlce with the
Cubans and to allow her reasonable
time in which to come to an understand
ing with the hostiles. 1t can be stated
upon high suthority that there had been
no abatement OF the Presidents intention
to see that the war is terminated when it
is closed upon terms that will render the
Cubans practically free people. 1t is
not believed that they would accept any
thing less nor the Americans would be
satisfied II we should encourage o settle
ment that would not be acceptable to the
@ ubans.
If there should now be an armistioe it
would be with the concession made by
Spain at the instance of this country that
negotiations should be opened Immediate
Iy with the insurgents looking to the
establishment Of permanent peace upon
these terms. 1t has long been the hope of
the administration to bring Spain to the
point Of making preparations of this
character as basis of settlement most
satisfactory to all parties concerned and
it is hoped from Spsin's attitude that this
has arrived, The friends of the admins
tration feel that the situation is a very
critical one and that much will depend
upon the course Congress may pursue.
In the meantime the President will. on
Wednesday, send in his message asking
shat an appropriation be made for them
and of the destitute Cubans.
AuSTPIA To SETJ, SPAIN A SHIP