The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-08
SpAINASKS FOR MORE TIME.
WANTS THE UNITED STATES TO
eIVE AUTONOMY n FULLER TRIAL.

0DASANO"&
minister woedford Cables Briefly ire PurboTt
or spain's Reply 20 ais note OF last De-
eeuber-The Bnttieship maine Ordered TO
Remain st Havana Tor an Indefinite Period.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 7.-Late tonight q cable
message was received FROM Minister Wood
ford. It was delivered at tho White House
and was translated there from the secret
Geographic code into plain English. Gen.
woodford reported that he had been notified
, that the text Of the answer Of the Spanish
Government to the note addressed by him
to Sehor Sagasta in December. and to
which reference was made in President Nc
Kinley's annual message to Congress, was about
completed and he would DO able to furnish
! this Government with q synopsis Of It in two
OF three days. While not aware Of the full
contents Of the communication, he had been
given to understand in general terms. he said,
that tho Spanish Ministry requested the
United States to give the policy of autonomy
a fuller and fairer trial before taking any ac-
ton In the Cuban situation. The Minister also
gave in his despatch the important information
that the note did not change the situation be-
tween Spain and the United States in the least.
All official Washington was imbued to-day
with tho idea that another and in all proba-
bility the final crisis in the relations between
Spain and the United States over tho Cuban
question is approaching. This view was based
largely. but not wholly. on the press dispatches
from Madrid In regard to tho character of tho
communication reported to have been sent by
Senior Sagasta, the Spanish Premier and Mini
ster OF Foreign Affairs, to Gen. Woodford, tho
United States Minister.
In the absence OF official advices tho depart
ment could not with accuracy forecast the con-
tents of the Spanish answer, but the authorities
have no doubt that the note was based on tho
Representations made in the second communica-
tion of Minister woodford, In which he refuted
the contention OF Sagasta that this Gov.
eminent had not been active or sincere
in its efforts to prevent flibustering. In
his annual message to Congress President
Mckinley, after remarking that this charge 10
without any basis in fact" said: Firm In
the conviction Of a wholly performed obligation,
due response to the charge has been made in
diplomatic course" 1t Is understood that the
President was mistaken in the statement that
the reply had been sent. Inquiry at the State
Department showed that It was not transmitted
until several days after the date of the annual
message. Thed apartment was notified that the
Spanish answer would BIO delivered in four or
Ave weeks after its delivery. and for that reason
the officials are confident that the note to which
the dispatches from Madrid refer is the expect
ed communication.
That tho Spanish Ministry should take occa-
sion in answering the Of the United
States concerning the enforcement Of the neu-
trality laws to ~criticise the views Of the Presi-
dent as expressed In his message to Congress.
and to reiterate that Spain intends to settle the
Cuban question without the interference Of this
country. has caused some surprise here. 1t
shows a change in the conciliatory policy of the
Liberals expressed in tho qualification of most
of the desires OF the United States in regard
to ainelioratine The condition Of the Cubans.
In some quarters IL is regarded rs q threat to
this Government not to go too far. but the more
general impression appears to BIO that the semi.
official intimations as to the character Of the
note are for home consumption in the prelim-
mary contest to the coming general election FOR
representatives to the Cortes. But until the
Spanish answer has been received officially the
United States will not be in a position to take
cogniZance of Spain's stand.
day that the battleship Maine would remain at
Which was assigned to reiievo her, viii probably;
take the place Of the Maine at The Mardi Gras
programme is strangely at variance with the
assertions make by the department last week
a few days because her men were chaf.
ing under their enforced stay on ship
to SSaf have emu ''f bad eject on the health iiA' Of
officers and crew. The intention to send a small
cruiser to succeed a the Maine air eh was .se considered osid the 2
eSos AAStA - eS FSStS ~
announcements that nothing serious in the
Cuban situation was likely to occur. A reason
able deduction from the resembling Of the orders
to Capt Sigshee to take the Maine to New Or
leans is that the situation ia too critical to per-
nit a vessel smaller than the battleship to
represent American interests in Havana.
In Congress the same feeling prevails that
something detrimental to the alleged friendly
feeling between Madrid and Washington Is
about to occur. Senators and Representatives
friendly to the Cuban cause are anxious to take
some action that will bring matters to a head. 1t
was reported to-day thatSenatorMaso sol OF Illinois
will introduce tomorrow q resolution calling on
the President to intervene forcibly TO settle the
bloody strife. and that he will ask for its i'm
mediate consideration. This method of pro-
cedure may not be effective, but an minated
discussion of the Cuban situation at this time
OF political uncertainty and tendency toward
hysteria in Spain is likely to provoke some act
that will cause the United States to take a posi-
tive course.
The general belief in Washington is that the
initiative in any conflict between tho two Gov.
ernmcnts will come from Spain, despite present
conditions there. financial ard physical, and
very little consideration is given to the sugges-
ton that the United States will make tho first
hostile move, at least until the fighting season
ends.
Commander Converse of the cruiser Mont
Gomery reported by telegraph to the Navy De-
partment that he had sailed from MatanZas for
Santiago de Cuba. He said that everything was
quiet at Matanzas.