The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-23
WHY CASTILLO SULKS
BELIEVES SPAIN SHOULD GRAB AT A
CHANCE FOR PEACE.
Her Continental Friends Do Not Fa-
yOr a Continuation of the Old
Ministry's War Policy.

LONDON May 23.-The Madrid CORE
spondent of the Daily Telegraph says: lone
point of interest in the reconstruction of the
Cabinet lies in the obstinate refusal of Senior
Leon y Castillo Ghe Spanish ambassador to
France) to accept the foreign secretaryship.
Every consideration has been brought to
bear in vain. His first reply to the premiers
request expressed the conviction that the
interests of Spain would be best served by
his remaining at Paris. Senior Sagasta an
swered, pointing out that the head of the
government was the best judge of the inter-
ests of the fatherland. and insisting upon
the ambassadors acceptance. To the sur
prise of everybody the ambassador persisted
in his refusal, and promised in a personal
interview to prove to Senior Sagasta that it
would be a grave mistake for him to leave
Paris
Il am enabled to state that the ambassa-
cdrs motive for refusal was the following:
Senior SagaSta's Cabinet is, by it's own
formal declaration, determined to carry on
the war with all possible vigor whereas
Senior Leon Castillo is aware that SPANS
friends among the powers, France in par
ticular, are resolved to insist upon her suing
for peace at the first favorable moment.
France possesses a tWo-fold interest in
having peace concluded-financial and
political. The former would be severely
damaged If Spain were utterly ruined and
the latter would suffer if the United States
retained permanent possession of the Philip
pines. The leading idea which actuates the
statesmen responsible for the political
scheme favored by Senior Leon Castillo is
that Spain must be worsted in the long
run, 1t is advisable to save as much as pos
sible from destruction and that the sooner
peace is concluded the more tolerable will
be the terms acquiesced in by the United
States. The most important of these terms,
in the eyes of Spain's friends and protectors
is the possession of the Philippines, which
can be utilized for further political combina-
lions later on.
ITO become d member of a war Cabinet,
therefore at the very moment when the
friendly great powers are resolved to press
on Spain speedy peace appears imprudent
to Senior Leon y Castillo, who is in possess
sion of all the threads of the negotiations.
Senior Sagasta's Cabinet is certainly de-
sirous of regaining popularity with the
country by prosecuting the war to the bit
ter end, but it il; highly improbable that
having heretofore implicitly followed the
advice of the continental powers it will re-
under the promise of future help, especially
if the United States valves all claims to the
Philippines. SPANS Importance as a polit
ical factor in the far East is now thoroughly
understood. and everything possible will be
done TO gain time and profit by it.. Her
position as Mediterranean power, her in
fiuence in Morocco, her well-disciplined
land and sea forces, and, above all, her
possession of the Philippines constitute the
political aspect OF the question. The first
and most important step at present, there
fore, is TO utilize the most propitious mo-
ment for concluding peace on the basis of
Spains retention of the Philippines. When
that time has come-and it is believed to be
very near now that the Spanish squadron is
at Santiago-Spain will be asked to propose
pour parlers, and friendly efforts will be
made to induce the United States to rest
satisfied with Cuba's independence or with
annexation and to abandon the scheme of
running permanently or occupying tempo
rarily the Philippines. These are the grave
considerations which determine Senior Leon
Castillo, who is party politician and
usually submissive to the head of his party
to insist on remaining as ambassador at
Paris
CAPTAIN of MOntserrat q Hero.
MADRID, May 22-7 p. m.-Captain Des-
champs, of the Spanish auxiliary cruiser
Montserrat which arrived Unexpectedly at
Corruna Friday evening from Cienfuegos,
having escaped the American blockading
ships reached Madrid this afternoon. In
spite of the existing state of siege immense
crowds awaited his coming in the APP
proaches to the railway station. The sta
tion the palace and other prominent places
were cordonned by police The populace
welcomed Captain DeschampS with the wild
est enthusiasm. and the police surrounding
the carriage in which he rode were scarcely
able to restrain the surging crowd from
embarrassing the horses. Captain Des-
champs was driven 10 the Plaza de INDIE
pendeneia, to the residence of the Marquis
Comllas 1t is reported that he has brought
dispatches from General Blanco for Senior
Sagasta. There was 10 disturbance of
order.
Senior Puigcerver minister of finance. has
submitted to the chamber bill temporarily
reducing the import duty on coal to one
peseta per ton. The conservative press criti-
cses the measure as calculated to injure
the native coal industry. Senior Leon Cas-
tilo WILL on arriving at Paris, continue his
negotiations with Senior Betances, the Gu
ban representative, for the submission of
the insurgents. Captain Deschamps has
handed to Lieutenant General Correa, min
lister of war, dispatches from General
Elanco.