Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-03
OUR CRISIS ABROAD.
Interest In London on the Subject
Intense.
EUROPE REGRETS THE OUTLOOK.
Among Other Things Because II Fears
As6raVatiOn Of European Unrest.
SPAIN THOUGHT TO Be TEMpORIZING.
Best Informed LOndOnerS Still Hold to
This View Of lie Situation.
ACTIVITY AMONG DIPLOMATS.
Ii f. Believed the Madrid Govern
ment f. Seeking the Friendly
Omces OF Britain-French, Austrian.
and Russian Efforts.
Copyrighted, 1893, by the Associated
DreseN


Press)
LONDON. April 2.-The nervousness OF
the stock markets, which was emphasized
by sudden drop Of points in Spanish
tours at the opening Of the Stock Ex-
change to-day, has been fully reflected
in diplomatic circles, which have expe-
rienced almost as much difficulty as out
sders in extracting facts from the mass
of contradictory statements regarding the
Hispano-American crisis until to-day.
The distinctly warlike tone Of the great
mass Of the evidence, and the marked
divergence Of the United States demands
and SPANS proposals have led the ma
jority to conclude that the parting or
the ways has been reached, unless. with
in a few hours Senior Sagasta is able to
give assurances that the delay he asks
for will ensure the complete freedom Of
Cuba.
1t is not too much to say that all Eu-
rope regrets It, though for the present
some of the nations are thus moved be-
cause friendly nations are involved, and
others because they fear the war VIII
spread and aggravate the feverish Euro
pean spirit of unrest. Therefore, 1t Is
hoped that a solution will be found, even
though Spain is apparently intractable.
The best-informed persons believe Spain
IS only temporizing, as 1t Is recognized
there is difficulty in the Spanish Govern
menrs accepting without demur the de-
mands Of the United States. in view of
the danger Of the overthrow Of the
monarchy. So, though realizing the immi'
nence Of hostilites, the apparent hope
| less Of averting war has come as a SHOCK
1t was generally believed that the enor-
nous majority obtained by Senior Sagasta
| In the new Cortes would make him mas
ter Of Spain, and permit him to yield &c
| the inevitable; but, it seems that some
| 70 per cent. Of the voters, who dld MOI
participate in the elections including the
army and the Barcelona and other mer-
| chants. who are vitality interested In
| Cuba, do not propose to allow him free
| hand. They have been among the most
fervent in the patriotic demonstrations
Of the past few days.
| General interest in the situation Is in
tense. All the news bulletins are eagerly
scanned, and in the Hobbies Of the House
Of Commons yesterday evening there
were animated discussions OF the crisis.
which have given enhanced interest TO
| the statement OF a prominent ship-owning
member of the House of Commons that
| the United States during the day had
been Offering very large sums for ls-knot
| steamers.
SPANS DISINGENUOUSNES
Opinion in London has been little In
| fiuenced by the specious character Of
Senior Sagastas contemporaries. AS al
| official of the Foreign Office remarked
| 1.-THE Americans will naturally decline &c
accent such proposals as suincien'
| guarantee that a government whch ma
so longed failed to discharge It's duties
| can now give effect to its tardy CONVEX
| sion" He then added:
| "The responsibility resting upon eacf
party Is terrible. Happily, nothing VIII
| tend so effectively 10 quicken the feeling
| of responsibility among Spanish states
| men as the prospect Of having TO race I'M
mediately the grim consequence OF per
| sistence in opposing an uncompromisins
| force.
Reading between the lines OF Senol
| Sagasta's proposals, L have reason &c
| think he does not mean to drive matters
| to'extremes, and that he will learn from
| the construction put upon them that MS
| conditions will not relieve the Onlte'
| States of the duty OF intervention, com
pelled as 1ne Americans are by sense Of
| moral obligation TO take action in the
| matter. SO. II Senior Sagasta is as stronl
as he is unquestionably well-meaning, III
| will persuade his countrymen to accep
unreservedly the American conditions
SPAIN SEEKING MEDIATION.
| From the extraordinary activity at thu
| Spanish legation here, there IS reason Z
believe Spain is seeking the friendly OF
fees Of the Foreign Office. Indeed. Il Il
| gene 7i'y thought that frequent visits OF
/ the p.t of the French, Austrian, Rus
| sian. and Spanish ambassadors 10 thu
| British Foreign Office are connected witt
| the Cuban situation.
The newspapers. reaching the stage o
regarding war between the United States
and Spain as inevitable. are printing
maps of the area OF probable operations
details regarding the fleets, and fact
connected with the troops, preparedness
! Of the medical staff corps. etc.
The naval experts dwell upon SPAIN
disadvantage in having to act at such
distance from her naval base. One higl
authority recalled an interesting impress
sion derived abroad from Spanish man
| of-war. that the element which Will ten
| seriously 10 the detriment OF the Span
ish navy will be found in the contemp
with which the superiors regard thei
interiors.