Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-02-10
DDpIIY DE- LOAE'S BID BREAK
Vas So Jndiscreet as to Severely Crit
cize President Mckinley.

Wrote a Letter to a Friend, Giving
tbe President a Severe Roast and
Charging That He Is Catering to
the liable in Cuban Affairs This
Letter Got Into the Hands of the
Cuban Junta, at New York, and
They Promptly Gave 1t Out-De
LONE Refuses to Deny Its Au-
th9nticity, and the Spanish Gov
eminent Has Been Notified,
Washington, February 9.-The pub
leatons in the newspaper of what pur-
r1rted to be an autograph letter writ
ZEN by Senior Dupuy de Lone, the
Spanish minister, to his friend. Canal
eias. criticising the President with the
Utmost freedom, caused a sensation in
ollcial circles in Washington and soon
viii be followed by Minister de Lome's
departure from the United States.
At the outset there was a disposition
TO question the authenticity of the let
ter but as bit by bit the circumstant-
ial evidence accumulated, until it was
announced officially and finally that
The minister declined to deny the au-
thorship of the letter, all doubt was
llssipated and the only question that
remained was as to the line of action
TO be pursued by our government to-
ward the offending minister.
The writing of this letter is unques-
tionably an offense against the ameni-
ties of diplomatic relations, and such
5fenses almost Invariably have been
'egarded in the United States as in
other capitals, as sufficient ground for
ne termination of the official status
9f the letter writer.
AS soon as the letter appeared in the
press, the State Department officials
began an effort to settle its authentic
ty and when it had learned all that
ould be developed on this point and
had been told that the minister him
self
REFUSED TO DENY
writing it, the consideration of the
next step began.
Assistant Secretary Day was in con-
sultation with the President on the
--,L;oo+ -. 1oa-+ fO,,, +ir,oe d,,ripo II 10
lay, and then spent much time in
raining his message to United States
Minister Woodford at Madrid. The Of
icial statement Of the sending of this
message was accompanied by declin-
alton to indicate it's contents at this
lime, the department merely giving to
he press the following statement:
Minister de Lone does not deny
writing the letter The department.
has communicated with General Wood
ford on the subject. Until that COM
munication reaches the Spanish gov
eminent it would be improper to in
any manner state the contents of the
message to General Woodford."
While the department refused to add
anything to the meagre announcement,
il can be stated without question that
Mr. Woodford was directed to lay the
facts developed before the Spanish
government, together with the state
ment that in view of the minister's re-
fusal to deny the authorship of the let
ter, the Spanish government is looked
to with confidence to deal with the
case properly.
This amounts to an invitation to re-
call the minister, providing that he
himself has not already taken steps to
yacate his position.
No doubt is entertained of a COM
pliance with the implied suggestion,
but in case there should be undue de-
lay in acting, the State Department
would feel called upon to act directly
in the matter and give the minister
his passports, as was done when Sir
Julien Pauncefote'e predecessor wrote
the celebrated
MURCHISON LETTER.
In the absence of any official in
formation of the writing of such a
letter it would be manifestly unfair
to the Spanish minister and unjust to
make any statement at this time as
10 the intentions of the State De-
partment," said Assistant Secretary
Day, in answer to a question as 10
what procedure would be followed in
ireating the latter written by Senior
oupuy de Lone to Senior Canalejas. 1t
'aS said that up to noon the depart
ment was absolutely ignorant official
IF that 2t,..l a letter had been writ
ten. OF course, the publication in the
forming newspapers had been seen
aud they had created a sensation in
official circles.
As no denial of the authenticity OF
the publication has yet reached the
state Department, it is believed that
after a reasonable delay the matter
Will be brought to the attention of
-he Spanish government through Min
sjer Woodford, presuming that no
Aetion has yet been taken by
THE SPANISH MINISTER
~mself before that time, and change