Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-09
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence of the Alexandria eazetto.l

1t is learned at one OF Inc foreign eu .
bassies that the Spanish government to-
day has under very earnest considera'
ton the issuance of proclamation de-
claring an armistice in Cuba. This de-
cree has not yet been signed so far as is
known here, nor does the information
indicate that final determination that
it shall issue has been reached as yet.
The measure, however, is being strong
ly pressed upon the consideration OF
Spain by some of the continental Eu.
ropean powers, which have acquainted
their embassies with the fact. 1t is the
hope of the powers urging this move
that by means of this concession war
might be averted, although it is realized
that the United States may not regard
the concession as adequate to meet the
case. The Spanish government, it is
said, holds to the position that 1t will
Weld everything to avert war save two
neutrality-suspicious. of Cuba and
American intervention. 1t insists that
if either of these latter moves are in
sisted upon by the United States as q
sine qua non and are carried into effect,
it will regard them as overt acts and as
placing the United States in the atti-
tude of taking the first and aggressive
step toward war.
Senator Burrows, who was att the
White House this morning, says if q COM
plete armistice is actually proclaimed
to cover period of, say thirty, sixty or
ninety days, contemplating the cessa-
ton of hostilities, it might present q
new aud important phase of the stu
alton confronting the country. For it
would mean a recognition of the bel
ligerency OF the Cubans, an official adj
mission of the existence of war, and it
is to be borne in mind that the object
of our intervention is the procuring OF
peace. Now are we justified in going
into war under the circumstances
when one of the parties offers to lay
down its arms, and, as to the bona tde
intention of such decree, are we to
question the good faith OF country
and ask if it means what it says? |,
might have a material bearing in the
present crisis, and it might not.
Inquiry in administration official cir
Giles shows that the situation still re-
mains unchanged. Nothing has beer
received recently from United States
Minister Woodford on the sub.
ject of a proposed armistice or indeed
upon any subject. Even an armistice
proclaimed by Spain there is authority
for the statement that it would not
change the purpose of the admins
tration to force matters to an immedi
ste issue. An armistice at this time, il
is said, would not result in the posi-
ponement OF contemplated action even
for day. Senators and Representa-
tives who called on the President this
morning stated that there was nc
reasonable expectation that hostilities
could be avoided, and that their bust.
nes at the White House related entire
IL 10 the contemplated action Of Con.
gaess on receipt of the Presidents mes
sage next Monday. The indications, it
is said, now are that the resolution
authorizing the President to intervene
10 Cuba will not embody any declera-
ton recognizing the independence OIL
the Island, but if such action is desired
by majority in each house it will be
made the subject OF q separate resolu-
tio1 to be introduced later. This con.
clusion had been arrived at, it is said,
in Difference to the wishes of the Presi-
dent.
The officials of the State Department
are awaiting with much interest to-day
dispatches from Consul-General Lee, at
Havana, which will tell of his safe de-
parture from that city for United States
soil. Secretary Long promptly put a
quietous on the rumor that another ship
had been blown up in Havana harbor.
He said in response to the interrogatory
of an Associated Press representative
that he was very glad to report that the
rumor was incorrect. Subsequently,
after investigation by telegraph, Assist
ant Secretary Roosevelt said that the
rumor was mere foolish invention.
According to the latest reports received
at the Navy Department there are now
two vessels at Havana, the tug Fern and
the coast survey steamer Bache, both of
which will be- used probably to convey
any Americans from Havana TO the
United States who cannot be accommo.
dated on the regular steamers. The ex.
pectation is tnat they will leave
Havana to-day or tomorrow at
the very latest. The United States
will then be without any naval
in the waters of Cuba.
There was story afoat during the day
to the effect that the President has de-
cided to designate Lieut.. Gen. John NJ.
retired, as az adviser to the
Executive. the Secretary of War and
the Commanding General of the Army
in the event of hostilities. Gen. Scho-
field has been very actively engaged of
late in organizing q! national volunteer
reserve to be ready for duty at the call
of the President. In connection with
this matter he has had consultations
with the President and the Secretary of
War, the latter of whom has given his
hearty endorsement to the scheme.
There is an act of Congress which
prohibits the designation by the Presi-
dent any retired officer to active duty,
but Gen. Scnofeld could serve volun-
tarily if he desired.
There no longer appears to be doubt
that she foreign relations committee of
the Senate will change its verdict on
the method of recognizing Cuban indie
pendence, SO as not to include the pre-
sent government of the insurgents and
to make the declaration one for inter-
yention only if the President represents
the necessity for thus limiting the &C
ton of the country. The movement to