The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-04
POPE WILL NOT MEDIATE.

men. IUO AtOhl NEulhNS anu wv ii'h ~
ton: also river men. commanded by Com !
mander Porter.
POPE WILL NOT MEDIATE.
Washington. ID. c., April 3.-Assist-
ant Secretary of State Day has author
lied an official denial of the statement
that the Pope is to mediate between
this country and Spain.
At the White House the dispatch W as
also promptly and emphatically denied
INTERVIEW WITH SAGASTA.
The Spanish Premier Says Al Glasses
Will Cooperate Toward Realizing
Peace in Cuba.
London, April 4-The Madrid cores
pondent of the Standard, telegraphing
late tonight, says:
Il have been able to obtain IN inter
view with Senior Sagasta, the Premier.
and to elicit from him g brief state
ment with reference to the present criti-
cal situation. In the course Of the con
versation Senior Sagasta said
LIN our recent negotiations with the
United States we have used friendly and
conciliatory Language in explaining our
views. Respecting the matters i'll dis
pute with regard to the Maine disaster,
we said we considered the question to
be one for Diplomatic negotiation, and
that IL we and the United States found
it impossible to come to in understand
ing on the conflicting opinions of the
American and Spanish commissions as
10 the cause of the disaster, the matter
then ought 70 be submitted to technical
l ~ g rs,nl
or other power, who might be selected by
mutual agreement between the two gov
cTnmentS.
''On the second point we were able to
inform United States Minister Wood
ford that Governor Gene n Blanco had
issued Il proclamation authorizing the
return OF the reconcentradoS to their
homes. and that the Spanish govern
ment had sent 10000 pounds sterling
| (600,000) to the relief of the distressed
| Cubans, and would devote to the same
| object all the proceeds Of relief IN kind
and money. amounting to 100000 pounds
sterling Isl 100000 which had teen
sent by Spanish residents in Mexico.
| These measures are supplemented by
the assistance already gwen by the gu
ban autonUmist government We have
never objected to relief beng sent by The
United States on condition that il did
not have al, official character or bear
| the appearance Of intervention.
WANTED AN ARMISTICE.
1--WE did not object in principle to an
armistice for the Cuban insurgents. We
are. however. of opinion that it does not
! behoove Spain to take The initiative,
and that suspension Of lostilities
| ought TO be asked for by the insur-
| gents. We suggested that the United
| States government might. Il so inclined,
exercise its influence with the insur-
gents to induce them to apply for an
armistice, with a view to further the
ends of peace, on the understanding,
/ however, that the armistice would he
destined to lead TO the submission of the
insurgents TO the new autonomous reg
ime." ~
| "SenOr Sagasta assured ME that the
question of the independence of Cuba
or the sale of that colony. or of any
invasion of Spanish rights was not
mooted in the recent negotiations. Al
| luding TO the report that Marshal Prim
had intended in 1870 to sell Cuba, Senior
Sagasta said that such a suggestion was
made to Marshal Prim by the Ameri-
1 cans, but was not ever accepted and
/ that the pareying on tire subject was
only kept up for some time to avoid in
creasing the acute tension which then
existed between the two countries.
"Senor Sagasta considers that since
| he took office in October last he has done
Everything possible to satisfy the Cubans
and to preserve good relations with the
United States and that consequently
L IL
should it lead to rupture, will rest with
| Spain He, however. does not believe
that the last Spanish memorandum Closes
the door to further negotiations. Those
/ who conducted them, he said, had on
both sides shown disposition to pro-
mote cordial relations; and he only APP
pretended trouble from the pressure of
the iingoes on the Executive in Washing
| ton.
| NOTES TO THE POWERS.
"Senor Sagasta proceeded to say that
| his government had addressed memo
randum to the European powers but had
/ not officially taken steps to solicit their
intervention He called my attention
to the fact that the people and press of
| Spain had shown prudence, forbearance
and patriotism during the crisis, even
| the opposition having put no obstacles
in the way of the government. This, he
said. led him to believe that all classes
would cooperate in the work OF reall-
zing peace in Cuba and facing the con-
tingencies of the future. He spoke
| throughout with calm, subdued energy
of u statesman alive to the cventualltles
of the situation and conscious that he
had done his duty in endeavoring to
4 -, tb.h nj
of Spain in manner that would create
equally grave consequence at home.
! Il regret to say that some of the
Madrid papers show i'll humor against
England for not showing as much SYM
patihy with Spain in her trial as the
continental courts and governments, as
| we'll as tEe press are supposed TO do.
| The Impartial to-day has a long and
angry article denouncing England as
seeking an American alliance to make
up for her isolated position in Europe