The San Francisco call., 1898-03-06
TO EXHAUST
 DIPLOMACY But the President Also Proposes to Meet
 Emergencies.
And Congress Will Be Found Ready to Back Up the
 Administration.
It Is Feared That Publicity in Con-
 Ships May Hasten Hosulities.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, March 5.-The Herald's Washington correspondent telegraphs: President Mckinley, I understand, very much regrets some recent publications to the effect that the administration has definitely decided upon a forcible intervention policy for the purpose of ending the war in Cuba. As has here tofore been stated in the Herald re- peatedly. no definite programme of ac- tion in this direction has been decided upon and none will be decided upon until after the report of the court of in quiry has been received. The Presi- dent will be prepared to meet any emergency that may grow out of the demand which may be made Tor rep aration. It is also his purpose to make some further representations to Spain in regard to the general Cuban ques- ton at an early date if there IS not speedy improvement in existing condi- tions on the island. Nothing he has in mind at the present time, however, contemplates forcible intervention un- less affairs on the island and the attl- tude of Spain should force that course upon him. It is still the policy of the President to exhaust all resources of diplomacy to avoid hostilities with Spain, but at the same time he is wise ly preparing to meet any emergency that may be thrust upon him as re- suit of either the Maine disaster or future representations which he will make for terminating the war.
 Congress is silently, but none the less effectively, standing by the administra- tion in all preparation for possible hos tilities with Spain which are being made. Members of the Military and Naval Committees and Appropriation Committees of both houses of Congress are frequent callers at the White House and at the War and Navy Departments, where the situation has been discussed in all it's details, and the needs Of mlll- tary and naval services have been ex- plained As a result of these confer ences the administration is proceeding with entire confidence that whatever may be done in emergency preparation which is not specifically authorized by law will be ratified by Congress There is certain legislation, like provision for new regiments of artillery and the naval emergency bill which was sent to Chairman Boutelle, which the admins tration would like to have put through. The President and his advisers are do- ing what they believe to be their duty
 
 ing every preparation that is possible without further legislation from Con- gress There is a desire upon the part of the administration and of leaders in Congress to avoid as far as possible anything that would serve to increase the irritation already existing. both in this country and in Spain. Debates on the emergency bills in Congress might tend to inf1ame the situation and make a diplomatic settlement of the Maine affair and the general Cuban situation more difficult even than it is now. Dis cussion and Congressional action on some matters might even defeat the plans of the administration. Especially is this true of any proposed purchase of ships abroad. Should ships now in foreign ports be bought 1t would be de- sirable to get them into the high seas before the actual commencement of war, and it is regarded as possible that the outbreak of hostilities might be brought on sooner in order to prevent ,is