The Indianapolis journal., 1898-04-15

in charge of the French ambassador at
Washington, M. Cambon. They fill a dozen
or more large cases. each protected by
heavy wire screened doors. The transfer Of
these documents has not been ordered from
Madrid, nor has the Foreign Office at Paris
instructed NJ. Cambon to receive the
archives and act temporarily in behalf Of
the Spanish government. At the same time
a call by the French ambassador to the
Spanish legation and return call by Senior
Polo to the French embassy brought about
an understanding as to what steps would be
taken in the event of the retirement of the
minister.
Until to-day the Spanish minister has
continued to accept the social courtesies ex-
tended to him, these being numerous, and
including the hospitality of Cabinet officers
and others high in the government service
In view, however, of the reports of the
foreign committees in Congress and of the
grave trend OF affairs he has decided not
to accept further courteses of this charac-
ter, as it necessarily involves his coming
into close personal relations with public
men who may have participated in the
severe, and, in his judgment unwarranted
denunciation of Spain in official reports.
1t is the feeling in diplomatic circles that
Congress-the report of the two foreign
committees the passage of resolutions by
the House and the character of the debate
would make it incumbent on the Spanish
minister TO leave without further awaiting
eventualities which are now regarded as
unavoidable. But against this it is known
that the Spanish government will not
either by the withdrawal OF the minister
or any other conspicuous step, place itself
in position of having invited a recourse
to war. On the contrary, the entire policy
at Madrid, 1t is stated, is to remain passive
until the United States not only makes the
threat of war but executes it by unmis-
taxable overt acts.
1t has further been developed as the un-
mistakable policy of Spain that she will re-
sist armed intervention in Cuba as an at
tack on her sovereignty Although unoffi-
cial suggestions have appeared in the in
cpired press of Madrid that protest might
be made against that feature OF the Pres
ident's message suggesting armed interven-
ton, no such protest has been made, nor, it
is said, is there any present probability that
it will be made. The only certain feature
in this regard IL that the Spanish Cabinet
has resolved to yield to no pressure, no
matter how great, toward American inter-
Intervention as meaning war.
Cardinal Rampollas dispatch from the
Vatican to the Foreign Ofice at Madrid
stating that a peace settlement was still
likely, is known here to have been made on
advices sent from Washington two days
ago, which in no way reflect to-day's condi-
tion OF affairs. The advices were sent by
Archbishop Ireland, who, at the time Of the
dispatch, believed the tendencies were more
pacific, This, however, was before either
branch OF Congress had acted. What fur
ther views the archbishop has commune
Gated, IL any, to meet the changed condi-
ton Of affairs is not known, but the fact of
his advices to the Vatican two days ago
are known with circumstantial detail
There is in diplomatic circles renewed talk
of European Intervention on more definite
lines than heretofore. 1t has not yet adj
vanced to the point however, OF joint pol
icy or the exchange of notes either among
the ambassadors and ministers at Wash
ington or at the capitals Of Europe, and If
anything is done it probably will be only
after further appeal from the Spanish gov
errment similar to the appeal which in
drced the recent action of the powers. The
nature OF the this appeal, it Is pointed out,
would be to show that Spain's recent con-
cession granting an armistice was made
on the joint request of the powers, and taxi
ing the ground that, as the powers had
brought about this action by Spain, they
should lend their united influence In seeing
that time allowed to try the efficacy
of this concession. 1t is the belief among
diplomatists here that Spain will make this
appeal, and that 1t will meet with favorable
responses but word has not yet come that
the step has been taken.
The sentiment at the embassies and Legal
tions to-day was that the action in Con-
gress made war inevitable and that little
or no further chances remained to escape
from it.