The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-08
UNITED STATES AND SPAIN
IMPORTANT EYENTS BEARING ON
THE TROUBLED RELATIONS.

4
THE TROUBLED RELATIONS.
No Less Than Five Occurred Yesterday
The Leading One Ia the Introduction Into
Congress of a Resolution Carrying $780,
100000 for Public Defense-Offers of
Ships to Navy Department Now Assum-
ing Formal shape-Things Needed More
Than Warships-Plerty of Money In the
Treasury.
Washington, March There was no
less than five important events to-day
having a bearing more or less direct
upon the troubled relations between
the United States and Spain, viz: The
Introduction in congress by Mr. Cannon
of resolution carrying $50,0000OO for
the public defense; the withdrawal by
the Spanish government Of it's intimat-
ed objection to the continuance in Of
flee of Consul General Lee: the order
ing of the cruiser Montgomery to pro-
ceed to Havana to replace the Fern;
the passage through the house of the
bill increasing the artillery by two
regiments, and the institution of nego-
tiations looking to the purchase of
warships for our navy.
The Lee Incident.
AS for General Lees case, in the
news of the satisfactory ending Of the
incident, 1t was noted that the loophole
had been left open through the failure
to make the complaint in anything like
an official shape. Some fear is ex
pressed that the consul general will not
find his post very congenial now that
he knows he is an unwelcome guest
in Havana, but the administration is
relying upon his devotion to the well
fare of the Americans in Cuba and
American interests generally to submit
. his own personal wishes to restraint
) and remain at his post.
Spain's Oficlal Disavowal.
Late In the afternoon Senior Dubosc
the Spanish charge, received O ciphor
cable from Madrid saying: "You can
disavow the rrrnor that any official
proclamation has been made for the re-
call of General Lee" This confirmed
Senior Duboscis view that a misappra-
hension had occurred and that some
intimation concerning General Lee had
been construed into a request or de-
mand for his recall which Mr.. l'ubosc
says with Dositiveness, was never in
tended.
The Leading Topic.
Mr.. Cannon's resolution probably Leo
all other topics in interest particularly
when 1t became known that 1t was the
result Of a conference between the au-
thor, the president, Senator Hale and
other leading spirits Il. congress. AS
there has been no explanation so far
of the purpose which prompted the in
PRODUCTION Of Mr.. Cannon's resolution
4 1t may be said that the money is want
ed primarily as an emergency fund. 1t
I is said by officials who still have the
disposition of this money that it by
no means follows because congress
places such sum in the control of the
president that he will feel bound to
spend all of 1t. Those who look for a
wholesale purchase of warships from
+ the bargain counters of European
: builders are likely to be disappointed.
The navy department at present is in
clined to make but one purchase of
this kind, at first at least, in the shape
& of substantial iron clad. 1t does de-
81 sire to get possession of several of
\ the larger classes of torpedo boat de-
+ stroyers, such as the Sokul, of the
Russian navy, vessels of 300 tons, able
to keep the sea in bad weather, a weak
point with our own boats and capable
Of enormous speed, such as 80 knots.
rS-. a. - ~ fNx- H. = all
times; they are built to order general
ly, and could not be procured in this
manner in less than six months from
the date of contract, unless special
prizes are paid.
# Offers of Ships.
The offers of ships to the navy de-
Il partment are now assuming definite
and formal shape. To-day Secretary
L Long received a call from A. F. Lane,
y representing the Maxim -Nordenfeldt
company, and the agent for several
# war vessels now nearing completion in
& large foreign shipyards. These include
s two cruisers Of the type of the Gin
cinnati, which are designed to be twen-
Il ty knot vessels, and two iron-clads of
+ IL knots, which would be called third
81 class battleships under our rating.
III These are now open to purchase and it
s is understood that Mr.. Lanes visit was
In this connection. The two cruisers
are $50 feet long, 33 feet beam, 16 feet
draft. They carry six 6-inch and four
5-inch guns and an auxiliary battery
% The ironclads have 1917 Inch belt OF
& Harveyized steel. Their armament is
@ two 10-inch guns, four 5-inch, two g.
# inch, six Founders and four pound
\ ers. Mr.. Lane regards these ships as
e first class in every particular as they
are designed on modern principles and
N are being built by one of the leading
shipbuilding firms of Europe. They are
s. well along toward completion and ali
four, it is said, could be in commission
s within few months. They were orig
y inally designed for one of the South
American republics but there is said tc
i be no obligation which would prevent
/ their acquisition by the United States
1 iMr. Lane recently sold the navy de-
I partment sixty of the Maxim Norden-
felt rapid fire guns and his standing
with officials is such as to giveshis
Representations as to ships muct
weight.
& Needed More Than Warships.