The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-02

pears pretty we'll fatigued. Consequently
be will take some little rest before be-
ginning active work on the message. He
has not yet determined what recommen-
dation will be communicated to Congress.
My own individual opinion is that but
little faith can be put in promises made
by Spain and this makes me hesitate
about accepting with any confidence her
latest proposals.
"In the first place she promised long
time ago that the reconoentrados would
be released. The result showed that this
promise has not been kept. Now she
proposes to release them, but keep them
under military supervision. Who can tell
whether she will adhere to this expressed
intention? Broadly there appears to be
three courses open to the President IN
dealing further with this matter. The
United States has presented its demand
and Spain has given her answer. Thus
the case stands While this brings halt
to the active negotiations which have
it does not mean that diplomatic relations
between the two countries are terminated.
fore such step is the last preliminary be-
fore an actual state of war.
United States Minister Woodford re-
mains at his post at Madrid and is said to
be entirely safe from harm. The Spanish
roinister, Senor Bernabe also remains at
HIS pOpU db WdSillu&uOu. luC CIlUlOrtA
condition Of affairs within recent days
has led him and his staff to consider what
disposition of their effects would be made
in case their position there became un-
tenable. From the Spanish standpoint
there is the same disposition as that
shown by the authorities here to regard
the issue as made up. The answer OF
Spain is looked upon as the limit OF
concession which Madrid will grant. LII
thara q fo ho the SnAr1EN
government looks to the United States SC
make it. This at least is the situation as
1t presents itself to those best informed
in Washington Of course it cannon
be foretold what Madrid will do in the
stress of circumstances within the next
two days.
But those best able to judge do not e1-
pect any further move from Madfla, as
they say that Spain has reached the limit
of her concessions
The Spanish minister has naturally
been centre in the exciting interests OF
the sday. He is fully conscious OF tne i,s
gravity of the situation and While sGlii
expressing hope for peace, speaks 10 MS
friends of the eventualities which may
come 70 one of them he said today thao
he could not believe that two NATIONS
made up of calm and sensible ! Peup,e wp ~
would rush into untold horrors OF ~ar
He added that 1t would bessa wlckeo allu
cruel crime for this result to be preclpi-
tated. The staff OF the legation IS
working day and night and the ngntms
in the legation office were burning untli
8 O'Clock this morning, while the secre-
taries and attaches were deciPherlng
cablesrams and in turn reducing oe- te
spatches to cipher for transm1ssio i 10
Madrid. The minister personally supei- +
intended all this work and no enorV ls
made to condense or spare expense ~ ~
presenting by cable the Information oe-
tween the officials here and at Madri,l.
Late this afternoon Madrid bulletin
was received stating that the Pope "ss
seeking to exercise pacific influences e.
inducing both Spain and the iusnTgengs
to accept an armistice in Cuba. Ii 'niS