Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-09
SPANISH AFFAIRS.

Dispatches from Madrid state that
both the United States and Spain are
standing firm 10 the positions they have
taken and that no new negotiations on
the disputed points are in prospect At
the same time there are signs that war
may be averted at the last omeut.
Premier Sagasta, it is said, was forced
to take position tending in the direc-
ton of war because the ministers cf
war and marine threatened to resign
unless he followed that course. The
country could not spare the services Of
these two important officers at present.
The dispatches from Madrid, after pass
ing the press censor, are distrusted in
diplomatic circles in London, where the
belief prevails that Spanish Cabinet
, crisis, and probably revolution, is i'm.
inent. A member of the Spanish Cab.
met says that the government would
weaken Itself by concessions antagonis.
tic to public sentiment.
A dispatch from Washington received
at Madrid late yesterday afternoon
states that no negotiations will be ur-
dertaken by the American government
except through Minister Woodford,
who is instructed to negotiate only on
the basis of demand for the immedi.
ate cessation of hostilities in Cuba aud
the furnishing of aid to the reconcen-
tradoes. Premier Sagasta says the
Spanish government has no intention
of opening new negotiations.
U. S. Minister Woodford sent a mes.
sage to Washington that the publica.
ton of his statement had done good,
but the end was still very doubtful.
The Spanish minister at Washington
has received no instructions from Mad
rid in regard to his withdrawal from
Washington. In the event of this with.
drawal, the archives Of the Spanish Gu
bassy will be intrusted to the care Of
the French ambassador. The Spanish
minister denied report that he wJud
take passage on the Italian school ship
Amerigo Vespucci, which has just an.
chored below Washington.
After the cabinet meeting in Wash
ington yesterday it was stated that
President McKinley's message would
be sent TO Congress on Monday without
alteration. Members of the cabinet
expressed the opinion that war was APP
parently unavoidable and that hostiIi-
ties would soon begin. Conservative
Senators claim that they have received
assurances from majority Of the Ser
ate committee on foreign relations that
they will oppose recognition of the
Cubans A large number of republi-
can members of the House are in favor
of both Intervention and recognition
but they say they will not break with
the President except as last resort.
The New York Herald's Washing.
ton correspondent says: Spain has in
dicated her desire not to engage in
war with the United States by agree.
ing, it is understood, to the armisrce
suggested by the Pope and advocated
by France, Italy and Austria.
A dispatch from London says: There
is we'll founded report prevalent here
that strong representations have been
addressed through the ambassadors of
the powers to Madrid e1horting
the Spanish government to meet
the American demands in q con
ciliatory spirit. This action ~ol
the powers, it is believed, must
greatly strengthen the hands of the pa
cific section of the Cabinet, and. even if
it fails in its object, may preciptate
crisis, and crisis in the present state
of acute tension in Madrid might easily
lead to revolution.
The formidable Spanish squadron
which has been modified at Cadiz left
that port yesterday for the Canary
Islands. This is regarded as an i'm
portant element in SPANS plan Of
operations, The Spanish torpedo ne-
tilla at the Cape Verde Islands is max
ing hurried preparations for sea.
P. c. Hanna, American consul at San Juan,
Porto Rico, has been ordered to leave the IS
and, an outbreak against foreigners bcing
feared there.
A dispatch from Havana dated yesterday
evening says the Cubans are gathering 10 con.
siderable numbers around Havana and threat
IN to make dash on the city at any moment.