The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-11

The De LONE letter has already at
| tracted the attention of foreign govern
| ments, and appears to be regarded 10y
| them as an important factor in the
| general Cuban question. Some of the
| foreign ministers at Washington have
| advised their governments fully on the
| occurrence. These were misleading at
| the outset, for members of the dlplo-
matte corps assumed that the letter
was forgery, and some advices convey
| ed this view of the case. Now, that its
| genuineness has been established, the
| facts have been sent to most of the
foreign capitals. No incident in recent
| days has caused such a sensation in
| the ranks of the diplomatic corps. There
| is universal regret among the ambassa-
donS and ministers who have been
brought into close social relations with
Senior De LONE. 1t has also aroused a
keen discussion as to the right of criti-
cism which q Minister can indulge in,
under the seal of a private letter. While
there is no general consensus of opinion
among diplomatic authorities, yet
many of them take the view that
it is not only right, but a duty
for minister to present every detail,
even of personal nature, which in his
Judgment may aid in a correct under
standing of n case. A distinction is made
by them between official and personal
letters.
The original letter written by De
LONE to Canalejas came into the pos
session of the department yesterday and
was carried by Judge Day, as the Sec
retary of State, to the Minister'S resi-
dence. The meeting could not have been
other than painful. There was no de-
nial on the part of the Minister. When
Judge Day learned from the Minister
that the letter was genuine the cable
gram to General Woodford was sent.
These instructions will go before the
Madrid authorities along with the Min
ister's resignation.
The State Department this morning
gave out for publication the substance
of the cablegram sent yesterday TO Gen
eral WOodford. The statement is as fol-
lows:
There has appeared in the public
print a letter addressed by the Spanish
Minister to Mr.. Canalejas. This letter.
the Minister admits, was written by
him. 1t contains expressions concern
ing the President of the United States
of such character as to end the Minis
ters usefulness as a representative of
his government in this country. General
Woodford. Therefore, was instructed at
once to say TO the Minister of State
that the immediate recall OF Mr.. Dupuy
De LONE is expected by rlle President. F"
When inquiries We're made at the
Spanish legation to-day as to how che
letter reached the hands of the Cuban
Junta. it was said that the statements
made by the Junta as to Canalejas re-
ceiying the letter were absolutely false
Private inquiries, it was stated. had
been made through a New York gentle
man which had disclosed that CanaIe-
jas never saw the letter. This inquiry
was sent by cable direct to Canaleias.
now at Madrid, and he was asked if he
had ever received letter of the charac-
ter described. To this Senor Canaleias
answered that he never received the
letter and knew nothing of its contents:
that If he had received it he would have
made an answer to the letter. There
has never been an acknowledgment or
an answer from Canalejas. After this
statement direct from Canaleias. the
Spanish authorities regard it as plain
that the letter was stolen in transit and
that the reports of Canalejas receiving
it and reading it to DIR. Congosto are
fabrications intended to cover up the
plan by which the letter was abstracted.
The fact that the envelope was not pro-
duced is taken as another evidence that
the letter was taken in transit, as the
envelope would have disclosed the post
mark, with the time of sending and re-
ceipt, both in this country and Havana
if it ever reached the latter place.
COAIAIEN TIN MADRID.
Madrid, Feb. 10.-All the newspaper
comments on the subject bitterly de-
nounce ''the business of stealing and
publishing private letter.
After the Cabinet council the Premier.
Senior Sagasta, told the correspondent
of the Associated Press that Senor
Dupuy De LONE had ''bravely'' admit
ted the authorship of the letter.
Madrid, Feb. 10.-E1 Epoca says:
"ScnOr De Iome's resignation having
been accepted, the international question
disappears. Nevertheless the Cuban
insurgents have succeeded in chasing
from Washington q representative of
Spain who has always displayed great
zeal to prevent filibIstering expeditions.
hut they have done so by tricks only
employed by the clients Of penitentia
rieS"
Correspondence Militar says:
"Jhe government should not have ac-
ccpted ScuCr De Lome's resignation.
lhe American attitude is offensive and
Illuminating 10 Spain"
El Correo Espanol, the Carlist organ,
says:
Events precipitate themselves, and we
are at the beginning of the end of our
respect for the United States"
La Nacional, the Weylerist organ, re-
Eroaches the government for yielding
10 the eXigencies of Washington, and
adds:
1.-The Americans have become our
lords and masters"
ST. JAMES GAZETTE.
London, Feb. l0.-The st. James
Gazette this afternoon, alone comments
upon the De LONE incident. 1t says:
"Senor De LONE has resigned, and it
was the right course, whether he wrote
or did not write the letter; but the in
cident is bound to make unpleasantness
between the two governments and add
to the chances of trouble about Cuba,
which are by no means so few as certain
authorities profess to believe"