The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-06
spANIARps WERE RESPONSIBLE
So Captain sigsbee Told House com n''
tee Yesterday.

tee Yesterday
| Washington. April 5-Some diplomats
| have suggested meeting OF the represen-
| tatives in Washington OF the european
| powers in order to see II soneUh1ns can
| not be done to preserve peace. ~ rev
| by the Diplomats, who 7eslfe european
mediati m that any mo must be made
at once il at all. - -Azaszz.
MANNERS of the House have been IN
| formed today that vessels have been de-
spatched to Havana to take OFT General
Lee and our consular oIncers as We'll as
| the Americans who desire to leave the
| island.
Tbe State Department has received %
dssnatch from Consul General Lee saying
that in case war is declared he will not
he able to get the American citizens out
of Cuba before next Sunday.
Captain sigsbee in the course of his ex-
animation before the House committee on
foreign affairs today stated 1t to be his
opinion that The Maine was blown up by
a submarine mine, located by the Spanish
authorities.
As to whether it was fired by the
Spanish authorities he declined to express
an opinion. He told the committee what
he had testified TO before the board of in
uuiry about the buoy to which the Maine
was anchored being the most unfre
ouented buoy in the harbor. The position
in which the ship WAS placed, he said,
was such that he could have fired Upon
both forts at the same time.
An intimation is thrown out that a
declaration of war will not be made just
vet beca,-Se General Lee has cabled that
it will require several days to get the
Americans off the island.
In response to representations received
from General Lee the treasury department
has telegraphed DR.. Drummer, the
quarantine officer at Havana, directing
him to permit all Americans who desire
to do SO, to leave Havana without certif-
Gates Of examination.
There has been much impatience over
the delay on the part of the Senate foreign
relations committee, notably Senator
Frye But in view Of all the oircum-
stances the committee lost little time TO-
day in reaching a conclusion to delay it's
report until the message should be re-
ceived tomorrow. The document will be
referred to the committee Immediately
upon it's presentation in the Senate and it
will be reported back to the Senate as
promptly as circumstances will permit.
Representative Quigg of New York, be-
fore he entered the committee room, said
that Spain would be responsible for the
blowing up of the Maine. He is in favor
Of reporting resolution instructing the
President to drive Spain from the western
hemisphere.
The Republicans of the House foreign
affairs committee we're hurriedly called
together at three O'Clock this afternoon.
yesterdays CABINET MEETING.
Washington, April 5-Assistant Score.
tary Day was at the White House by half
past eight O'Clock this morning and went
over the situation with the President.
Assistant Secretary Day before leaving
the White House for the state department,
said there had been no late communica
tions between the Washington and Ma
drid governments though he had not yet
looked into his department for this morn
ing's cablegrams and mail.
Asked as to the armistice reported to be
in course of negotiation between Spain
and the insurgents he said he could not
discuss that matter and that all the ad
ministration had to say had been given
out already.
A downpour of sIeet and rain tended
to keep away the crowds from the White
House, but there was considerable
contingent from Congress. Senator ALI
son and Representative Cannon were
there, but disclaimed any knowledge
of important developments.
MIR. Dingley was also in conference.
While there is much reticence on the
part of all these leaders, it is understood
that the revenues to meet war emergen-
Representative Grosvenor took occa-
sion to deny story that the President
desired Congress tosframe any resolution
SO that it would empower him to inter
vene whenever in his discretion, 1t might
be deemed advisable, and thus secure
some further time before precipitating
action.
While the message was considered by
members of the cabinet last night, it
remained for today to review it carefully
and give it it's final touches after a
further statement of the individual
views of the members. To this end the
leaders who remainedEwith the President
until the assembling of his official kfami-
" of advisors, gave the executive the
benefit OF their suggestions.
The message once a complete state pa
per (and it may bs so regarded with the
final endorsement of the cabinet), a draft
of 1t will be cabled Immediately to Minis
ter Woodford for presentation to the
Spanish government.
The cabinet meeting was not of un.
usual duration, but extreme difficulty
was encountered in obtaining details
concerning it.
A cabinet ..officer, however, authorized
this much: "The situation of the Span
ish affairs remains unchanged. The Pre-
sident's message is practically complet-
ed and is now being copied. The pres
emu purpose is W senu IL 10 Ooneross w.
morrow.
COURT TO BE DISSOLVED.
Washington, April 5.-The last chapter
in the history Of the court of inquiry
which investigated the loss of the battle
ship Maine. was written at the payy de-
partment today in the orm of letter to
Capt. Sampson, commander of the North
Atlantic squadron, notifying him that
the department had no further instruc-
lions to give in regard to the work up
on the court authorizing him at his dis
| erection to dissolve the court and thus end
| it's official existence
THE VATICAN PROPOSES ARMS
TICE.
Roma nril K * IN n ~, -Tbara hoe