Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-09
FOR AN ARMISTICE
A Proclamation Being Considered by
Spain.
URGED BY fHE EUROPEAN POWERS
Unwilling to Grant What This
Country Wants.
THE SITUATION UNCHANGED

L
day has under very earnest consideration
| the issuance of a proclamation declaring
| an armistice in Cuba. The measure is be-
ing strongly pressed upon the considera-
| ton of Spain by some of the continental
| European powers. which have acquainted
| their embassies with the fact. 1t is the
| hope of the powers urging this move that
| by means OF this concession var might be
| averted. although IL is realized that the
| United States may not regard the conces-
| sicn as adequate to meet the case. The
| Spanish government, IL is said holds to
| the position that it will yield everything
| to avert war, save two things. independ.
| ence of Cuba and American Intervention.
| Ii insists that IL either of these latter
| moves is insisted upon by the United
states as sine qua non, and is carried
into effect, Spain will regard it as an overt
act, and as placing the United States In
| the attitude of taking the first and aggres-
slVe step toward war. 1t is because OF
Spain's refusal to yield on either the in
| tervention or independence proposition
that the armistice proposal is not regarded
| as assuring change in the present out
look.
Discussed I'm the Legations.
The foregoing was the one ray of hope
for the peaceful settlement of the Spanish
ritely and officially verified from admin
Is stration sources 1t was none the less
discussed at the foreign establishments as
the one element promising to break the
deadlock now existing. While the State
Department gave out no information on
the subject, yet this was not construed as
meaning that it was not acquainted with
the peaceful trend of affairs at Madrid
On the contrary, there were intimations
that the advices received by the foreign
representatives including some of those
representing the continental powers, were
along the same line as the Information con-
veyed to the authorities here. 1t was the
general feeling that the main center Of
interest had again shifted to Madrid, where
all depended the extent of the con-
cessions granted. This. however, was quail
flied by the view In the highest diplomatic
quarters that an armistice granted at this
time would come too late to alleviate the
strain between the United States and
Spain. and, moreover. that it would be at
tended with difficulties in the way of Sc
curing the assent of the insurgents cal
culated to defeat the purpose in view.
France Taking the Lead.
In the pressure now being exerted at
Madrid it is known that the British gov-
British influence, so far as 1t is observable
here was exerted when the British ambas-
sador Joined with the other powers in the
presentation Of the recent mild note to
President Mckinley. expressing hope for
peace. Since then the ambassadors and
ministers have not considered any further
action to be taken at Washington, but all
the foreign influence has been directed on
Madrid In this France has again taken
the lead, while at the same time the
French ambassador at Washington, NJ.
ca mbon, fas been kept constantly ac-
quainted with the steps taken by his gov
erlment through its ambassador at Mad
rid Long cable dispatches passed late
last night and early this morning between
the French embassy here and the foreign
office at Paris Naturally, the nature OF
| these is a profound secret. 1t is beyond
uestion, however that they related to the
hoped-for solution the basis of Spain's
granting concessions.
Minister Polo Silent.
The Spanish minister will not discuss the
reports of armist;ce. So far as can be
learned, he has no official information. II
a decree had been actually issued he would
doubtless be Immediately advised.
In all diplomatic quarters. up to noon to-
day. information that the decree had been
| issued had not been received. although 1t
was expected almost hourly. The delay In
! its announcement led to some fear that
| the ministry at Madrid had not yet finally
| agreed to the concessions. As was stated
yesterday, this question of armistice was
IL der consideration by the Spanish minis
| ter Wednesday evening, with every pros-
pect at that time that a decree Of armis-
tice would be proclaimed. when Minister
hir,iS
Gullon was received. causing personal Of
fensc and for the time being checking the
| consideration of the armistice decree.
Since then Mr. WooGford has withdrawn
his note and the continental powers have
esain pressed Spain to make the armistice,
so that the present more conciliatory
| course OF the ministry is doubtless caused
| by these considerations.
The authorities Eere would not regard
the situation as improved by any decree
which feiled to include the prospect of
Cuban independence CT United States in
| terventfon. There is no doubt whatever
| that the concession will not 60 to the ex-
| tent Of even remotely suggesting indcpen-
dence or countenancing intervention.
Diplomats View.
Even the ambassadors and ministers most
friendly to Spain doubt whether an armis-
t1ce can exert any favorable lnnuence az
this late day.
In one Of these quarters it was stated to-
day that an armistice was beneficial only
when both parties accepted It, In this case.
# was explained. the two parties were the
Spanish government and the insurgents, 90
that the acceptance by Spain would stiIl
leave the matter open as far as the insur-
gents were concerned with every indica-
ton that :hey would reject It. In that
event. this high diplomatic authority point
ed ont, there could be no armistice except
In empty name. Since Franco and other
continental powers have urged Spain to-
wards armistice. 1t Is not doubted that
these same powers would seek to have the
ar'rissfce accepted both by the insurgents
and by The United States. There has beea
no suggestion. however, that these powers
would exert more than their moral infiu-
ence toward Its acceptance. At the var
ious embassies ana legations the idea 10