The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-02-10

|DELOME IN TROUBLE.
Spain's Minister Severely Crlticlses
President Mckinley.
MINISTER WooDFORD IS NOTIFIED.
Spain Nili Be ASKED to Recall tts
Obnoxious Minister. 81 b
OFFICIALS ARB STIRRED Ut.
De LONE Does Not Deny the Authens
ticitx az tho Isctsrr--cnlln Mckin-
ley q Low Politician.
OFFICIALS ARB STIRRED III.

washington. February o.--The publica-
ton In a morning newspaper ofwhat pur-
ported to bt an autograph letter written BY
Senior pupuy do Lone. the Spanish min-
istcr to his friend, C,.nalcjas, criticislng
the president with the utmost freedom.
caused a sensation in official Washington
aud soon will be followed by Minister do
Lomes departure from the United States.
a., the outset there was n question as 10
The authenticity of the letter, but US BY
the clrcumstantiai evidence accumulated
under which ii was finally announced Off
cialy that the minister dcclincd to deny
tho authorship Of tho letter. all doubt was
dissipa,od and tho only question that re-
NAMED was rs to the line OF action to b
pursued by our government toward the
OFFENDING minister
The writing Of this letter is unaucstion-
lably an offenso against the amenities Of
diplomatic relations and such oifcnses al
most Invariably have been regarded In the
United States, as In other capitals, as suf-
ficient ground for the termination OF Off
| cial connections, AZ soon MS tho letter ap-
peared In the press the state department
officials began an effort to settle Its au-
thcnticity and when 1t had learned all that
could be developed on this point hld been
told and TINT the minister himself refused
to deny writing IT., the consideration Of the
next step began.
Assistant Secretary Day was in cons
sultation with the president on the subject
at least four times during tho official day
and then spent much time In framing hia
message to United States Minister Wood
ford at Madrid. The official statement Of
| the reading OF this message was ACCOM-
panied by u destination to indicate TIA
contents I d this timc.s the department
merely giving 10 the press the following
abatement:
/
Washington, February s.-Tho pnblica-
| tlon OF letter bearing the signature OF this
Spanish minister. Dupny dc Lone, ad-
dressed to Senior Clnuleias. and making
severe strictures upon President Mckinley,
has created a profound impression In Of
fetal circles and liz expected 10 bring about
important results In the immediate future.
Tho authenticity OF the letter can not b.
established from any official source nor ID
any denial of IL given from any quarter.
A strong impression prevails among those
most intimately acquainted with the gem
cral subject that the letter is genuine In
It's substantial textures. with some inac-
curacics OF translation. possibly through
design, from which the STRUCTURES Oh the
president arc made to appear more OFF
fonsiyc that strict Literal translation
would show. 1t is equally plain that the
letter was OF n personal and confidential
character. and for that reason Is baid 10
come under different head than public
communication or or a diplomatic charac-
ter.
Notwithstanding these reservations. the
fact that tho letter as a whole has reached
the public and that in the main II IL writ
ten, leads 10 the belief thatTit will receive.
official attention. Little doubt exists In
official quarters that II the gcnuincness Of
The letter is fully established II viii result
in the retirement Of Minister Dupuy de-
LONE and his replacement BY another min
Ister. Whether tho United States would
ask for his recall Ii In doubt. hut tho
Spanish minister himself doubtless would
take this occasion 10 relieve his government
from any possible embarrassment and
would seek relief from his post at Wash
ington.
At The Spanish legation every avenue "
inquiry as to the letter Ii closed, The min-
lister positively refuses 10 be seen concern