The herald., 1898-03-25
Is MET By SPANISH COUNTER
CLAIMS
FIFTY MILLION FOR THE MAINE
Offset by a Demand Of a Hundred
Millions For Losses Through
United States Filibusters

|
the World from Havana says:
1t Is most probable indeed it is almost
certain, that If the United States gov
ernment claims indemnity for the loss
of the Maine, Spain will put in a counter
claim for hundreds of millions of dollars
for damages through filibustering expe-
ditions fitted out in America and per-
mitted to sail from American ports.
| One of the highest Spanish officials in
Cuba stated that spains answer to an
American demand for Maine indemnity
would surely be as indicated. He re-
luctantly admitted that a blank refusal
to pay for the battleship would not be
backed by Europe, but he seemed as
sured Of the fact that should Spain offer
to pay promptly. say $50.000,000 for the
Maine If the United States would pay
$100, 100000 for Spanish losses through
Cuban f1libustering. Austria and France
would at least endeavor to make the
matter one of arbitration and thus to
give Spain the thing she has been clam
oring for the last three years and the
only thing she has gained-time.
| Should Spain's indemnity for the Maine
disaster become question for an inter-
national board, and should its decision
be the deciding point of American inter-
vention, either America will have to feed
Cuba at least q whole year more or the
Cuban race will become practically ex-
tinct. For delay after delay will surely
consume that much time.
If the Cubans are to live, the United
States will have spent by that time as
much for their food as the cost of the
Maine. If they are to die. the quicker
their misery is ended the better.
Although hundreds Of tons Of food
have now been distributed to starving
Cubans and the Bishop of Havana
blesses America for it's saving Christian
life, the Spanish government in Cuba
still denies that there is misery In Cuba.
TREATY COMPLICATIONS
NEW YORK. March PA dispatch
to the World from Madrid says:
Colonial Minister Moret denies the val
idity of the protocol supplement to the
treaty, negotiated in 1877 between Caleb
Gushing, the United States Minister to
Spain, and Calderon Collantes, the
Spanish Minister Of Foreign Affairs.
That protocol prescribes the procedure
in the trial Of American citizens in Cuba
and exempts them from summary trial
by drum head caurt-martial.
There has been manifested of late in
political quarters and reflected in the
press a disposition to claim that the
protocol is not binding on Spain.
Senior Moret tells reporter Of the
Epoca that Senor Collantes went out of
office without having signed the proto-
col, and that his successor, Manuel Sill
vela, declined to sign it. Therefore, ac-
cording to a custom prevalent, Senior
Collantes ultimately signed the treaty,
though he had ceased to be Minister of
State.
1.-THE protocol never was published in
the Gazette" Senor Moret added, "and
for that reason the Supreme Court would
deny that the protocol is law of the
realm and would reduce it to a mere
convention not binding on Spain"
Commenting on this view. lawyers
point out that the Supreme Court could
not have considered the protocol bind
ing, as no reference whatever is made to
it in the decision Of the case OF the
Cuban Chief Sanguilly. The Epoca, TAX
ing up the cudgel to defend the Conser-
yative party and Canovas, who always
deemed the protocol of 1877 binding, as
serts that the text of the document
shows that it was signed in Madrid
January 2, 1877, and that Senor Collantes
only ceased to be Minister of State
January IA, when he was appointed Min
lister of. Justice in the same cabinet.
The question will be discussed In the
Cortes at the coming season.
The Imperial says:
1.-THE Liberals must remain in the
breach to the bitter end, keeping in re-
serve all other political worthless and
forces for formidable contingencies al
ready looming up on the horizon, which
will require such assistance to preserve
and recognize much that is indispens-
able to the existence of Spain herself" p"
Most of the Madrid newspapers, In
Guiding the ministerial journals, print
editorials and news articles to prepare
the public mind for an early revelation
Of the fact that the reports of the Am
ercan and Spanish commissions OF in
vestigation into the cause of the Maine
disaster and certain to clash. But they
give it to be understood that this is
not likely to cause rupture or even
serious complications.
The Liberal hitherto favorable to the
present cabinet and for years an advo-
cate of home rule in the West Indies,
publishes a long and strongly worded
article lamenting the election arrange
ments in Cuba and Porto Rico, especi-
ally the conduct of the Imperial govern
ment and the politicians of all shades
as exercising an influence, even putting
pressure upon the new rulers of those
colonies to such an extent as to demon
strate that the new regime has very
little altered the old practices and sys-
TENS.
CABINET DIVISIONS
NEW YORK, March 24.-The Her.
AIDS Madrid correspondent has been as
sured by a gentleman who holds gov
ernment position that it is untrue that
any warship was going to accompany
the torpedo squadron. On the other hand
it is said that the Infanta Maria Teresa,
whose preparations have been pushed
forward very much Of late, will be the
cruiser.
1t is stated that the new cruiser bought
from Italy will be called the Canovas.
The Spanish government is very un-
easy at the publication of the statement
that the United States proposed stop
ping the torpedo squadron.
The strong censorship and the know
ledge that the cabinet is divided and
war; although the peace party still holds
it's own, cause anxiety here.
WANTS MORE TIME