Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-28
Spanish Minister Calls Upon Assistant Secretary
Day.
Mckinley Has No Thought of Backing Down From
His Position Relative to Cuban War--Peace-
full Settlement Not Abandoned.

Washington, March 27.-The president
saw a number of the members of the
cabinet at the White House today. They
dropped In one by one until those pres
ent included Secretaries Bliss, Alger,
Gage and Attorney-General Griggs
With them also were Assistant Secretary
Day Of the state department, who pre-
sumably had some dispatches to show
the president. The gathering was not
a special cabinet meeting in the sense
in which that term is generally used,
but was simply talk between the presi-
dent and his advisers, such as occurred
last Sunday, concerning matters on
which he desired to consult them.
The Cuban question and report of the
Maine court of inquiry were topics dis
cussed, but so far as could be ascer-
tained, nothing conclusive was deter
mined, one of the members Of the cabi-
net saying subsequently that there was
nothing new or startling in the situa-
ton.
The presence of Judge Day would in
dicate that there were advices from
Minister Woodford, but further than
the acknowledgment that communica-
ton was in progress between the state
department and the minister, nothing
could be aScertained.
At the state, war and navy depart
ments during the earlier portions of the
day. there was little semblance of the
Sabbath Chiefs of bureaus, clerks, mes
sengers and telegraph operators were
at work. Probably never since the days
of the late war have so many officials
gathered at the war and navy depart
ments on a Sunday, dispatches that
came over night, regarding the move
ments of ships and other matters, We're
received, and as many of them required
prompt answers in the present emer-
geney replies were forwarded.
Secretary Long, however, did not ap-
pear at the navy department during the
day. as most of the matters requiring
attention were those that could as well
be attended to by bureau officers and
their assistants Mrs Long has been i'll
for some time and the secretary in part
shook off official cares and spent the
major portion of the day with her. In
the afternoon, in company with Miss
Long, the secretary drove to the Wash
ington navy yard, and inspected the
dynamite cruiser Vesuvius which is hav-
Ing her gums adjusted and repaired. The
vessel has been at the yard about a week
and great crowds have been there to see
her. Assistant Secretary Day spent a
portion of the Sabbath at the state de-
partment and there received a call from
the Spanish minister, a rather unusual
procedure, indicating important matters
for consideration.
The conference lasted some time, but
Its nature could not be learned.
Commodore Winfield S. Schley, just ap-
pointed the commander of the flying
squadron left here tonight 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
other vessel of the squadron now at
Hampton Roads is the Massachusetts,
The Texas is in New York receiving her
ammunition hoists, and the Columbia
and the Minneapolis are at League Is
land, where the final work preparatory
to their sea service is being hurT1edly
done The Columbia and Minneapolis
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 between the govern
ment of this country and that OF SPAIN
looking to the maintenance of peace for
the present, at least There is good
authority for saying that Spain's present
wish is to secure a cessation of hoStlll-
ties in Cuba rather than to engage IN a
war with the United States, and that IT
is more than probable that the negotla-
tions between the government of the
limited States and the Sagasta ministry
will take that turn in the immediate
future.
The present Spanish ministry has pro-
fessed a pacific disposition from the be-
ginning, and the indications are strong
now that it will avail itself OF the good
offices of the United States to the full
est extent that public opinion in Spain
will allow, in bringing to an end the hos
tilities in Cuba. To what extent the
United States may go in assisting Spain
In her present design of securing an
ar1nistice is not yet determined, but the
conservative element in the adminlstra-
tfon considers the manifestation OF this
desire on the part of Spain for even a
temporary peace, a direct result +
Presidents McKinley's diplomacy, and it
is naturally disposed to contend that the
president should be left free for the pres
ent. at least, to pursue a policy which
promises much in the way OF preventing
war between this country and Spain,
and also of bringing to close
the hostilities in Cuba Hence
there will be an fort on the
part of those peacefully inclined in
congress to continue to hold the more
radical element in check and to prevent
inf1ammatory utterances until this
promising diplomatic lead may be ex-
plotted.
On the part of the administration, it
Is said the development of the situation
wiiIgfot require a great length of time,
ard hence there will be no extended de-
A'policy has been fully determined up
on by the president, as already ex-
planned. 1t is to bring the Cuban war to
a close, This will be accomplished by
pointed intervention If necessary, but II
is considered far preferable that the end
should come as the result Of peaceful ne