The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-31
FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE.
Strength of American and Spanish Navies
Purchase of Danish Island.


Washington, March SO.-The senate
committee on foreign relations held
two sessions to-day. Commander
Bradford, chief Of the bureau of equip
ment, was before the committee for
several hours giving expert testimony
as to the relative strength of the navies
of the United States and Spain and
also advocating the purchase of the
island of st. Thomas of the Danish
West Indies, as naval station. The
committee as a result of its session,
agreed to postpone the completion of
the committees work on the Cuban
situation for few days in order to af-
ford time to the president to continue
his diplomatic negotiations with the
Spanish authorities. This concession
was the result of request made direct
to the members of the committee by
the president and it was granted by the
committee.
Previous to this action on the part
of the committee the president had
been informed that neither the COM
mittee nor the senate would be dis
posed to acquiesce in any agreement
for an armistice. This opposition is un-
derstood to have been made clear on
behalf of the joint republican and dem
ocratic steering committees of the SEN
ate and it is understood to have been
met by the president with the response
that this government would not press
the matter The president freely ad-
mitted to all visiting senators that the
negotiations with Spain were rapidly
approaching a crisis and said he felt
quite confident conclusion would be
reached by Friday night at the latest.
He asked that in view of this fact no
! action be taken by either house until
after that time. The representations
were of a character to satisfy the COM
mittee and when it adjourned one of
it's members who is among the most
radical of Cuban sympathizers stated
| that the committee was operating in
perfect sympathy with the president.
It's members feel that they will be free
to act when the president indicates a
failure of present negotiations with
| Spain. They think these negotiations
are for the freedom of Cuba and if
they do not so result, they expect to
report promptly joint resolution look
| ing to that end.
The actual proceedings of the COM
| mittee to-day consisted of a general
exchange of views concerning the sit
| uation and the proper course to be
pursued by the committee, of the refer
ence of the various Cuban resolutions
| to sub COMMITTEES; of the reading of
| part of the testimony of the Maine
court of inquiry and of an examine
| tion of Commander Bradford. Com
| mander Bradford besides being asked
| for information concerning the rela-
| tive strength of our navy compared
| with that of Spain, was questioned at
| length as to our torpedo boats and the
| length of time necessary to supply
| others Mr.. Bradford in his statement
| favoring the purchase of the island of
| st. Thomas said that its ownership
would be of vast Importance to this
| country for a coaling station in case
| of a war with Spain. There Is reso-
| luton pending before the committee
providing for the opening of negotia7
| tions for the acquisition of the island
and the disposition of the committee
after hearing Mr.. Bradford seemed fa-
| vorable to early affirmative action
| upon it. The committee was author
lied to sit during sessions of che senate
and will meet again tomorrow.