The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-05-15
SPANISH PROTEST TO FRANCE
CRUISER HARVARD GIVEN REF
UGE AT MARTINIQUE.
American Vessel Is Thus Saved From
Capture-French Cable Not Used
In the Interest of Spain.

Washington, May 14.-Oficial infor-
nation reached here today that the
/ Spanish government had filed a protest
at the foreign office in Paris against
the permission given by the French au-
thorities at Martinique to the United
/ States auxiliary cruiser Harvard to re-
main in the harbor of St Pierre Mar
! Unique, for seven days to make neces-
sary repairs. The French government
has taken speedy action on the protest,
and insists that the United States
/ cruiser, having been disabled, has a
| full right to remain seven days or such
! time as may be necessary TO complete
I her repairs. and that in the meantime
/ no steps will be taken to have her
leave the French port.
The Spanish demand is an important
development in the present critical sit
uation of the West Indies. as it serves
I to- permit France to give a conspicu-
Gus evidence of her friendly attitude to-
wards the United States. and to offset
the insinuations which have been made
against French favoritism to Spain. 1t
also makes clear for the first time the
plans of the Spanish admiral to have
the Harvard forced out of the harbor
at Martinique and then to capture her
with his swift cruisers and torpedo
the Spanish warships to attack her
while she is inside the harbor The
most the Spanish admiral can do is to
wait outside the harbor in hopes of
taking the Harvard as she leaves, 1t is
evident from the filing of Spain's pro-
test that she had fully expected the
Harvard to leave St. Pierre, and that
the Spanish ships were lying in wait
for her. But a wait of seven days
ha N
ships can go to the relief of the Har-
ward hefore that time. Moreover, while
the capture of the Harvard would be
valuable incident to the movement of
the Spanish squadron, ii is obvious that
it cannot shape it's entire movements
for the next seven days in order to ef-
feet this one capture.
Had the French authorities decided,
in view of the protest that the Har-
ward must leave at once, her position
would have been extremely critical, as
her batteries are insignificant compared
with those of the big Spanish war
ships, and her f1eetness would not avail
when the Spanish ships command the
harbor entrance, and had 30-knot YES
sells among their number. AS it is, the
navy department is relieved of all SER
ious apprehension of the Harvard, as
the French government irsures her
safety.
STATUS OFF, THE CABLE.
By a strange coincidence the French
ownership of Martinique is bringing
protests from both quarters, the Unit
ed States as well as Spain, although
those from this country are entirely I'M
official. and are expressly discounte-
nanced by the state department. They
relate to the use of the French cable
system between the United States and
tn West Indies, limitations being that
these served to assist the Spanish au-
thorities and to embarass the officials !
at Washington.
There appears to be no ground for |
this suspicion, as it is pointed out that |
the French cable company is working |
against it's own interests by such l
course of action, and that, moreover, it /
would subject itself to the danger of /
having its cable cut at Coney Island, /
where it makes the landing.
1t developed today that General !
Greeley, chief of the signal service, had /
laid down a strict course of action for
the cable company, to which the COM
pany fully acceded. On Thursday Gen
eral Greeley notified the company that
the government was reliably advised
that Spain was secretly using the
French line to send messages from two
Spanish officials in London to the Span
sh authorities at Cuba and Porto Rico.
He said this doubtless was without the
knowledge of the company. He then
aid down certain classes of forbidden
messages. These included messages
Spanish officials in code or CT
oher messages, and messages inimicai
% the United States in its present war
against Spain. Exceptions were made
IF messages signed by the president
md members of the cabinet, and also
messages from central governments and
heir replies in Washington. General
Greeley said he had no desire TO exer-
Use military control or supervision over
he French cable line, and, as long as
he necessities Of war permit, preferred
hat the company should look after its
'wn affairs.
While granting this permission, how
yer. General Greeley says it was with |
he distinct provision that the COM
any would allow its agents and en-
loyees to refuse TO receive any mes I
age he had forbidden to be sent. Mr..
4urienne, the agent of the company, :
ave General Greeley written assur-
noes that all the. foregoing conditions
would be fully observed, so that the ;
United States authorities are now fully I
against the use of the ]
able for purposes inimical to the gov {
rnment.