The Yale expositor., 1898-04-15
NOTES ON THE WAR SITUATION


Representatives of the six powers
of Europe seeking to avert war called
on President Mckinley. The govern
ments of Great Britain. France, Ger
many, Austria, Russia and Italy were
represented. Sir Julian Paunccfote,
the British ambassador. acted as spolles-
man and expressed the wish of the gov
ernments represented that war between
the United States and Spain should be
averted. President Mckinley replied
to the point. declaring that this nation
desired "a peaceful settlement of the
Cuban question, but made it plain that
we should continue our earnest and
unsslfish endeavors to fulfill a duty to
humanity by ending a situation, the
indefinite prolongation of which has
become insufferable." 1t is said that
the action of the ambassadors was
merely a pcrfunctory act on the part of
the powers, such as is frequently en-
ployed in European international con-
troversies for the purpose of demon
strating the attitude of the greatest
civilized powers in opposing war where
it can possibly be averted.
Madrid dispatches then made it clear
that Spain had intention of giving
up Cuba. Gen. Correa, the Spanish
minister for war said at the close of II
cabinet meeting: The cabinet consid-
cred every aspect of the situation on
the information of the foreign and
colonial ministers and especially in the
light of the reports of the ministers of
war and marine. The outcome of the
deliberations was the adhesion of the
government to all it's previous decisions
without modification, and resolutions
to that effect were adopted. War is
the better of two evils. 1t is better to
fight foreigners than to fight Spaniards
rising in indignation if their honor
and dignity are trampled on it for it"
Spain is pushing war pr parations
with feverish haste. Fifteen Spanish
men-of-war have been ordered TO leave
Cadiz for Cape Verde islands as soon as
possible, and several battalions have
started to reinforce the garrison at the
Balearic islands in the Mediterranean.
The provincial militia in the Canary is
Joseph Pauell Gibson, the British
electrician who supplied submarine
mines to the Spanish government, ca
bles from London: Il have not the
slightest hesitation in saying that the
Maine was deliberately destroyed with
5OO-poupd ground mine as invented
and supplied by me-" He makes posi-
a. Of aatt
mines for Spain TO plant in Havana
harbor. and describes the methods of
firing them, which would show that
Spanish officials must have been cogni-
zant. at least, of the plot to destroy
the Maine.
Inquiry at the foreign embassies and
legations at Washington makes it plain
that the action of the great powers in
presenting a joint note to President
Mckinley urging peace constituted all
that these powers will do. There is no
present purpose to take further action.
Gen. Woodford, the United States
minister at Madrid, has sent his family
to France and has himself taken up his
residence at the American legation.
He reported that he is ready to turn
his papers over to the British consul at
any moment.
President Mckinley has at last sub
mitted his message on the Cuban stu
alton to congress and the future of the
relations of the United States with
Spain and TO Cuba now rests with the
representative body of the nation.
No message in recent years caused
such widespread and intense interest,
No message was ever listened to with
more close attention by both galleries
and members at both ends of the
capitol. Yet there was no particular
demonstration of approval in either
the Senate or House, and the message
was referred to the foreign affairs COM
mittees of each house.