The record-union., 1898-04-08
The CLOUD
CROWS
DARKER.
War is Thought to be
Inevitable,
Unless There is a Surrender
on the Part Of Spain.
PIeadings of Foreign Powers With
Madrid Cabinet UnayaiIing.
The Sagasta Ministry Insists That It VIII
Not ReCede From the Conclusions
Already Reached In Re-
gard to Cuba.


longer anv doubt as to the purposes
of this Government with respect to the
situation in Cuba War in the opinion
of the Administration, is inevitable, eX-
cept for the unlooked-for event of the
surrender on the part of Spain.
The Presidents message. which he
had intended to send to Congress yes
terday, has not been changed in any
particular whatever. and embodies TIE
unanimous views of the Cabinet. with
out the slightest variance or exception.
Any movement to avert war now must
come from Madrid. and must concede
American demands, including an end to
Spain's domination in Cuba.
Three features stand out plainly in
the developments of to-day. At noon
the six great Powers of Europe, through
their representatives here called at the
White House and presented to Pres1 :
dent Mckinley joint note expressing
urgent hone for a peaceful adjustment
between the United States and Spain,
to which the President replied with un-
mistakable plainness as to the duties
and unselfsh efforts Of this Government
to terminate the present situation IN
Cuba
Another and probably the most Sig
nifcant actual step showing the final
ity reached by the United States Gov
eminent was the authoritative state
ment that Consul-General Lee would
leave Havana on Saturday. This step,
it is known, will be regarded by Spain
as it will terminate the medium of Of
fetal intercourse between the United
States and the island.
Third and almost equally important,
was the ominous tone of press advlces
from Madrid, where the war fever seems
to dominate. Instead of the concessions,
the opening of prison doors and the
other manifestations of peace and good
will which Holy Thursday was expected
to bring forth, and the more definite an
nouncement of action that would bring
peace to Cuba. the heavy guard about
Minister Woodford's house, the impera-
tive character of his note. the war ut
terances of Minister Correo and the
turbulence at the Spanish Capitol, left
little hope that pacific councils would
prevail.
Negotiations are proceeding at Ma
drid on the part of this Government,
but the Powers of Europe, it is under
stood, are doing their utmost to per-
suade the Spanish Government to yield
and avert war.
On the highest authority it can be
stated that no instructions have been
given as yet to Minister Wocdford con-
templating his withdrawal, the only step
in that direction being the determine
ton that General Lee shall leave Ha-
vana on Saturday.
SITUATION NOT CHANGED.
The note Of the European Powers,
presented to the President to-day, has
not. in the opinion of the members Of
the Administration, changed the situa-
ton in the slightest degree. What pres
sure was brought to secure even this
mildly expressed hope that further ne
gotiations would result in the maintcn-
ance Of peace is not known. but it is
confidently believed that it is the result
OF persistent appeals on the part of
Spain for some expression in favor OF
peace between the two countries.
The note is not regarded in any sense
as a protest against the course being
pursued thus far, or as likely to be
adopted to secure a stable Government
in Cuba. Some Of the Governments rep
resented in the note are known to be
in full accord with this Government III
its purposes with respect to the Cuban
question, and therefore any theory thai
the note was intended as a remonstrance
is not regarded as tenable.
The reply of this Government, which
had previously been read and approved
by members of the Cabinet. is not con-
sidered as indicating any change in the
fixed purpose of the President to inter
vcne in Cuba at once, nor IS il belize eti
that it was the expectation of the ma
jority of the foreign representatives
present that the United States should
change its policy or regard the joint
ncte as other than an expression III
behalf of peace and without special
significance.