The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-15
SOME INSIDE HISTORY.

The State Department at Washington has
received, through secret channels, copy of
the Red Book of Spain, containing the dip
lomatic correspondence during the recent
war, and, of course, much inside history.
The Red Book is filled with government Sc
crets, and is published for the use of the
government exclusively. The craftsmen
who print and publish it are sworn to Sc
crecy, and after limited number of copies
are printed the plates are destroyed. The
present volume contains all the orders of
the Spanish government from the beginning
of the late war until the close Of hostilities.
including the inside history of the steps by
which NJ. Cambon, the French minister at
Washington, induced to act as
mediator in bringing about peace nogotia-
TONS The various orders and dispatches
contain astounding revelations of the impo-
tent state of affairs in the Spanish Cabinet
during the war and are in striking contrast
to the braggadocio, blufing attitude main
tanned before the world. One of the most
interesting features of the book is the meas
ures adopted by Spain to sue for peace and
her anxiety for it while wishing to avoid
the appearance of anxiety. A comparison
of dates shows that she was anxious for
peace several weeks before it was assured
The first dispatch looking to mediation by
| the French minister was sent on July s,
1898, five days after the destruction of Ger
vera's squadron. and week before the cap
| ture of Santiago. The destruction of the
| fleet occurred on July and the capture of
Co ba On no of I'm %
| Spanish minister of foreign affairs wired
| the Spanish minister at Paris as follows:
See the secretary of state for France and
ask him to have the French ambassador at
Washington see the President of the United
States and sound him gently the terms
be be agreed on. You should act With haste in
| this matter but not with apparent haste or
| anxiety. as such action might prejudice our
cause. You should be very discreet in this
undertaking, as the Americans are tired of
the war and would like to retire. They
must not be given the impression that We
are discouraged or that our resources are
fast ebbing.
The date OF this dispatch shows that it
was the destruction of Cervera's squadron
that determined Spain to sue for peace. 1t
must have been seen at that time that the
capture of Santiago was inevitable but if it
could have held out a few weeks longer
| Spain might eventually have got somewhat
better terms. But this was not TO be. To
the above dispatch the Spanish minister at
! Paris replied that the secretary of state for
! France earnestly desired an ending of the
| war; but the French President was out of
the city and the secretary could not do any
| thing till he returned. week later San
| tiago surrendered. These were long days
| for Spain. On the 10th OF July the Spanish
| minister for foreign affairs wired the min
| lister at Paris again TO Press the cause and
insist on having an early reply. Be quick.
| but do not appear in too much Of a hurry"
| on the I'D the French secretary OF state au-
/ thorized the French minister at Washington
/ TO act as mediator. and on the sd the Span
| ish minister OF foreign affairs sent him in
| structions by way of Paris. Now the wires
/ were kept hot. The French minister at
| washington wired the Spanish minister at
/ Paris that he could not decipher the In
/ structions because he had not the key. The
Spanish minister informed his government
| and the latter wired the Spanish consul at
| Montreal TO send the key TO the cipher TO
the French minister at Washington by pri-
vate messenger. When the French minis
ter deciphered the instructions and called
on President Mckinley to present them ha