The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-03
THE ENGLISH VIEW.
1t is Believed That Spain is Only Tenn
porizing.- Would Regret to See War

pOflZlnS.- w QUA I(eSftJ 10 see w ar.
Copyright 1898 by the Associated Press
London. April 2.-'rhe nervousness Of
the stock markets, which was empha-
sized by a sudden drop of three points
i'll Spanish fours at the opening of the
Stock Exchange, has been fully reflected
in diplomatic circles, which have cX
perienced almost as much difficulty rs
outsiders i'll extracting facts from the
mass of contradictory statements re-
garding the Hispano-American crisis
until today.
The distinctly war-lke tone Of the
great mass of evidence and the marked
divergence of the United States de-
mands and SPANS proposals have led
the majority to conclude that the parting
of the ways has been reached. unless.
within few hours, Senior Sagasta is
able TO give assurances that the delay
he asks for will ensure the complete free
dom of Cuba. 1t is not too much to
say that all Europe regrets it. though
for different reasons, some because gen
timely friendly nations are involved. and
others because they dread that the war
bacillus will spread and aggravate the
feverish spirit of unrest already in evil
dence i'm the Old World. To the last
therefore, it is hoped that solution will
be found. even when Spain is apparent
ly intractable. The best informed per-
SOILS believe Spain is only temporizing,
as it is recognized there is difficulty in
the Spanish government accepting with
out demur, the demands of the United
States, in view of the danger Of Il revO-
luton and the overthrow Of the mon
archy. SO. though realizing the immi-
hence of hostilitieS. the apparent hope
essncsG Of ayerting war has come as
shock. 1t was generally believed that
the enormous majority obtained by
Senior Sagasta in the new Cortes would
make him master Of Spain and permit
him to yield to the inevitable; but it
seems that some 70 per cent. of the
voters, who did not participate in the
elections including the army and the
Barcelona and other merchants who
are vitally interested in Cuba. do not
propose to allow him a free hand. They
have been. among the most ferycnt in
the patriotic demonstrations of the past
few days.
General interest in the situation is in
tense. All the news bulletins are eager
ly scanned. and in the Hobbies of the
House of Commons yesterday evening,
there were animated discussions of the
crisis, which have given enhanced in
terest to the statement of Il prominent
ship-owning member of the House of
Commons that the United States, dur
ing the day, had been offering very large
sums for 10 knot steamers.
Opinion in London has been little in
fiueneed by the specOus character of
Senior Sagasta's counter proposals. As
an official of the Foreign office re-
marked:
THE Americans will naturally decline
to accept such proposals as a sufficient
guarantee that a power which has So
long patiently failed to discharge its
duties, can now be trusted to give effect
to it's tardy conversion"
The Foreign office official added:
'"The responsibility resting upon each
party is terrible. Happily nothing will
tend so effectively to quicken the feeling
of responsibility. Spanish statesmen, as
the prospect of having to face imme
diately the grim consequences of per
sistence in an uncompromising force.
Reading between the lines of Senor|
Sagasta's proposals, l have reason to-
think he does not mean to drive matters
to extremes, and that he will learn from
the construction put upon them that
his conditions will not relieve the United
States of the duty of Intervention, com
PEELED, as the Americans are. by a sense
of moral obligation, to take action in the
matter. SO, if Senior Sagasta is as
strong as he is unquestionably well
meaning, he will persuade his country
men to accept unresevedly the Ameri-
can conditions"
From the extraordinary activity at the
Spanish legation here there is reason toI
believe Spain is seeking the friendly
Offices of the Foreign office. Indeed. it
is generally thought that the frequent
visits of the French, Austrian, Russian
and Spanish ambassadors to the British
Foreign office is conencted with the Gu
ban situation.
The newspapers. reaching the stage of
regarding war between the United States
and Spain as inevitable. are printing
maps of the area of the probable opera
tons, details regarding the fleets and
facts containing the troops, ornaments,
preparedness of the medical staff cOrTG.
etc.
The naval experts dwell upon Spain's
disadvantage in having to act at such
Il distance from the naval base. One
high authority recalled an interesting
impression derived abroad from Span
:lsh man-of-war. that the element which
will tend seriously to the detriment of
the Spanish Navy will be found in the
contempt with which the superiors
regard their interiors.