Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1898-04-08

INV 'ieeu mat war was inevitable and
ABOUT to be declared While thew look
upon the situation as grave, the general
sentiment among them is that the ma ttar
mas not yet progressed beyond the rance
OF diplomacy and a pacific solution. For
,nat reason there was a strong inclina.
ton shown today to wait until the nres.
.ue'it message was sent to congress. the
leehng being that the real issue could not
De determined until the message had heep
submitted
Al the outset Spain was most earnest
lof mediation, and to this end addressed
a note to the powers about 10 DAYS AGO
Now, however, as the prospects for medi.
alton appears to be growing, the Spanish
authorities seem to be less inclined to-
ward this course. This may be due to
the TACT that Spain had looked on media
'ioh as an indirect form of intervention of
the European powers in favor of one of
the'r own number The Spanish note
developed, however, that the powers were
not ready for any such radical step.
France made the first declaration.
through Premier Hanotaux. in the
French chamber. that France would
treat both parties alike as friends This
was an unexpected reverse for Spain, as
she had felt that French ownership of
Martinique, Guadalupe and other islands
would incline her to sympathy with
Spain in defending her sovereignty over
Cuba.
1t was stated by one of the amba ssa =
doris today that any move in the form of
mediation would first assume form BY an
exchange of notes among the European
powers, which could be done speedily by
telegraph in case of a war crisis seeming
at hand. In such event the general un.
Outstanding among the diplomats here is
that Great Britain France, Germany and
Austria would be consulted, as their COM
mercial interests would be seriously Grip
Piled by war between the United States
and Spain. While Russia and Italy also
might be consulted owing to their influ-
ence In European affairs, yet their imme.
date interest in the Spanish American
conflict would be far less than that of
the other countries mentioned.
1t is probable that negotiations will be
opened by this government with Denmark
to allow cable messages to come over the
French line from the Danish island of st.
Thomas to the United States. With the
Leeward islands. of which st. Thomas is
a center, as the probable center of any
naval operations which may result from
the present crisis, it is recognized as OF
vast importance to secure facilities NOT
controlled by Spain.
| Bernabe'M Busy Day.
Senior Bernabe, the Spanish minister
and his staff had busy Sunday. al
though it did not bring any developments
changing the situation. His last official
exchange with the authorities was on last
Friday, after SPANS answer had beer
received, since which time negotiations
have been at a halt. This. however, has
not lessened the Spanish minister's ac
tivity in keeping his government fully
apprised as to the general aspect of af
fairs in this country. The elaborate man
ner in which this cable intelligence has
gone to the authorities at Madrid is prob
ably without parallel. 1t is understood
that when the situation began to assume
its most serious aspect single cable dis
patch sent by the minister to the foreign
Office cost $1,000. Another dispatch cost
500 and another $500. In this way
Madrid authorities are kept in clost
touch with the condition of affairs, moi
only as it relates to official negotiations
but more particularly to those circum
stances which will permit the Madric
government to gauge the situation al
Washington.
Secretary Sherman gave dinner las
night at which the Spanish minister wa!
one of the guests. Senator Lodge of thu
senate committee on foreign affairs ant
Colonel Fred Grant of New York wer
also among those present. The presenc'
of the Spanish minister at the home o
the secretary of state was void of sig
nificance, except as showing the pacif
outward appearance of affairs. Benz
purely social gathering, the Spanisl
situation was not alluded to.
There was comparative quiet about tn
White house and the departments to
dav. The members of the cabinet did no
call on the president during the earl.
part of the day nor did they visit the de
partments. The White house was in 1t
usual state Of Sunday quiet.
Snid to BE in Pay of Russia.
SL.nnbn; A nril 5-It Is a announced tha