The L'Anse sentinel., 1898-07-30
INVASION OF SPAIN.
President Mckinley Informs the Pow
ers UnofiIciaIIy of His In
tentIons.

Washington, July 25.-President Nc
Kinley has taken pains to inform the
European powers unoflicially of his in
tentions regarding an invasion OF
Spain. The president hopes to end the
war without such move. but IL Spain
continues to fight there may be neces-
sity for such action. The information
given is outlined in the following state
ment, obtained from high source:
From the time that II was announced
| that an American squadron was to cross
the Atlantic there have been evidences
| or uneasiness on the part OF the European
powers. No definite statement was made
| by the administration as to the purposes
Of this naval demonstration. further than
that II was to checkmate any movement
OF Spain's reserve navy under Admiral
Camara
IAN assumption that crossing the ocean
meant bombardment OF Spanish cities has
obtained wide circulation. This, however.
has never been sustained by any official
statement OF the government 1t was ac-
cepted as possibly true by European pow
ers and added to the feeling OF disquietude
quite recently the president has received
communications upon the subject of Com
modore Watson's plan of campaign from
the ambassadors of this country at Euro
pean capitals. These letters show that the
disapprobation over the supp osed prospect
or the war being carried to the coast of
Spain has not reached the point of formal
expression and that there is presented
an opportunity, If one Is wanted. to relieve
the growing tension by Information as to
the real intentions of this country.
The opportunity has been improved
The president~has not waited to be asked
by the powers what the instructions of
Commodore Watson will be. He has not
given any excuse for concert of action
and possibly declaration of Monroe
doctrine In Europe. The uneasness has
not been allowed to attain that degree of
development But in purely voluntary
manner, and as If according TO European
powers, the same unwritten principle
which Is invoked for this hemisphere UNI
der the guise of the Monroe doctrine, the
president has conveyed the information
of his purposes, which 1t was known they
desired. but for which they have not yet
asked
Through diplomatic channels the ad-
ministration has scored n strong point in
keeping with the admirable handling
which International affairs have had un-
Der this administration. The powers
now fully understand that the United
States has no intention to invade Spain.
II Commodore Watson's fleet goes to the
other side, as 1t will be obliged to so unless
Spain sues for peace when the United
States has accomplished the objects of
the war on this side. the object will be TO
further cripple and destroy Spain's naval
power.
THE powers have been informed in an
indirect and in an unofficial but wholly
effective way that the United States will
much prefer not to carry hostilities to Eu-
| ropean waters, and that the administra-
tion will not do so If means can be found
to end the war without it. But. II after
the war has been fought out on this side
and Spain has nothing to save on this hem
isphere. that government shall still insist
on maintaining a hostile attitude, there
will be nothing left for the United States
to do but to cross the ocean and render
the enemy totally harmless by completely
destroying what remains of the naval re-
sources. The proprioty and necessity of
such action must be admitted by the
powers. This is what the preparation and
the holding of Commodore Watson's
squadron means"