The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-18
WILL NOT PAY INDEMNITY.
A Semi-Ohicial Statement To That IF
feet Given out in Madrid.

MADRID. March 1.-THE following
semi-offical note was issued here to-day:
"The report Of Tie Spanish committee
on the Maine is not yet known, but the
statement OF several technical officers.
who have made q close examination OF
the scene Of the disaster show II was IN
disputably due to an internal accident.
American assertions To the contrary are,
therefore. deplored I'm official quarters. as
tending 10 mislead public opinion ano
render the situation still more difficult
from the standpoint of maintaining
friendly relations between the two cOun-
tries II may be- regarded as certain that
should the American technical commits
sion present a report declaring the dis
aster to be due 10 an external explosion.
the public here will refuse to accept such
a finding and any demand for an indemni-
" based thereon will be Indignantly re-
PEELED by Spain
AN INTERESTING STATEMENT.
WASHINGTON. d. c., March 1.-THE
semi-ofiicial statement given out at
Madrid advancing the Government S
view that a demand for indemnity based
on Spanish responsibility for the Maine
explosion. would he Indignantly repu-
dated by Spain, attracted much interest
in official circles. There has been little
doubt for some time that Spain was pre-
pairing for the contingency Of an adverse
report by the American Court of Inquiry,
and TO that end was preparing 10 antici-
pate and offset il by making clear the
Spanish Governments policy Of standing
by the report Of the Spanish commission.
The report Of the latter body was due
in Madrid yesterday. and, while its con-
illusions are not officially known. it is a
foregone conclusion that il will find that
the Maine disaster was due 10 acct
dent resulting from an internal explosion
This was foreshadOwed in the advance
utterances of Captain Pcral head Of the
Spanish commission. who stated publicly
several days ago that the theory OF eX-
ternal explosion was untenable.
MAY LEAD TO WAR.
Along with the semi-offcial statement
from Madrid that a demand for indemnity
would be Indignantly repudiated Is the
statement from other sources that Spain
has made IL clear to the authorities here
that Intervention may lead 10 war
The prospects of such intervention APP
pear 10 be seriously entertained by Spain.
and strong efforts have been made TO
avert II by showing that the condition
of the Teconcentradoes did not warrant
the step, and also that il would threaten
TO end all prospects Of further pacific ne
gotiatlons.
Both governments have been sounding
each other on the activity of the other
in searching for ships but there has been
little ground FOR objection ON either side.
as both have been in the same markets.
The administration explains its buying of
ships on the ground that SPANS attitude
has been so menacing as naturally 10
call for an augmented navy, while Spain
takes the same view that the activity in
the United States requires suitable pre-
variations by the Spanish navy.
The report that Spain had protested
against a filibustering expedition TO Porto
Rico cannot be verified as officials here
say this expedition has not got away.