The herald., 1898-01-01
De LONE Is Forced to Admit That
Blanco Must Win Battle
or Two

Associated Press Special Wire
MADRID, Dec. 31.-The Imparcial
calls upon the government to repeal
every action Of the United States savor-
ing of Intervention in Cuba" and adds:
There existssa widespread sentiment
against the conduct OF the United States,
but we do not think Gen. Weyler is the
most acceptable exponent thereof"
Continuing. the impartial criticizes
the government for stopping kilograms
referring to the generals protest to the
queen regent against the wording OF
President McKinley's message to con-
gress, and expresses the opinion that II
would have been to the governments in
terest not to hinder its publication.
The TEMPO is of the opinion that Gen.
weyler's protest demonstrates lack Oh
discipline in the Spanish army.
Gen. Weyler and other generals viii
be guests of Senor Robledo tonight. The
newspapers comment on this ana mint
at possible i'll results.
NOBODY SURPRISED
NEW YORK, Dec. 31.-The interview
with General Maxine Gomez, in which
the chief of the Cuban insurgents de-
clares that autonomy will never be ac-
cepted. was read with great interest In
the state Department and Spanish lega-
tion saws the Washington correspondent
of the Herald. The refusal Of Gomez TO
consider Spain's autonomy plan causeu
no surprise at the legation. Minister
De LONE has not at any time expected
that General Gomez would Immediately
accept an offer Of autonomy, though ne
does not credit all the statements that
have been attributed to Gomez IN some
official dispatches from Havana. he SAID
that he had believed for some time that
1t would be necessary for General Blanco
to achieve several important military
advantages before there would be gen.
eral acceptance of autonomy by the IN
surgents in the field.
The Red Cross Society has been In
vited by the administration to aid In
the collection of money and supplies for
the relief of the sufferers in Cuba.
The authorities here were astonished
at the statement cabled from Havana
that Consular Agent Madrigal of Sancti
Spiritus carried letter from President
Mckinley, to the insurgent commander
Gomez. 1t has even been reported that
when he appeared in Gomez's camp his
life was threatened, and he only saved
himself by representing that he bore a
communication from the President OF
the United States. If he made any such
representations they were false. There
Is good authority for the statement that
he "a rried absolutely nothing from either
the President or Secretary Sherman.
The President himself says that the sug-
gestion that he sent any communication
to Gomez by Consular Agent Madrigal
is absolutely false. Secretary Sherman
is equally emphatic in denying that he
bore any communication from the State
Department. j
Mr.. Madrigal was sent to the insu!-
gent camp by Consul General Lee to
take to Havana the effects of an Anieri-
can correspondent named Crosby,s who
was with the forces of General Gbmez
and who was shot in an engagement
some months ago. General Lee arr4nged
with General Blanco to permit Mr.. Mad
rigal to pass through the Spanish lines
to the insurgent camp for the PURPOSE of
securing these effects. Whatever else
the agent may have done has beenIwith-
out instructions. Although Mr.. MaIdrigal
was appointed Consular Agent Id Feb
ruary, the Spanish government has
never granted him an exeqratpr His
mission is looked upon as enyrely un-
official
Assistant Secretary Day hfs received
a response fgou1 the Ward lipe IN New