The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-06-27

United. States and pocket the difference
il there should be any.
NiseOUnt MOuntmorres began his
campaign by posting or to John Hay.
the present secretary Of state. Wh0awas
American Ambassador here then He
told the ambassador that he might
soon be in a position to offer Cuba for
sale, and he wanted TO know # the
United states would Ike to buy. AIr.
Hay listened with hisneustOmary coUr-
tesy and inquired the price. The Wis
count thought Sic COG, 600 would be p
fair figure. According to the viscount's
story. Mr. Hay said that was doubtless
cheaper than war with Spain would
be
''Viu you pledge me your word,
asked the young peace enthusiast
that you viii at least lay the matter
before the president Of the United
States 20
Mr. Hay replied dryIy enough that
It vassnecessary to pledge his word, IS
he was in duty bound to lay any such
proposal before the president. proVid-
ing it was backed by responsible per-
sons.
It is stated that the ambassador
agreed to cable abe matter as war-was
likely to be declared at any moment.
and told the visCOunt TO come round
again in three days and get an answer.
ThereUpOn Lord MountmOrres set out
for the Spanish embassy in London to
see if Spain would sell Count Casa de
Nalentia. the ambassador was furious
that anyone should even dream of MAX
ing such suggestion, but he finally
was induced to lay the matter before
the Spanish government Word came
back from Spain by cable that the Of
fer would not be considered But that
was not enough for the young diplO-
mat He managed to get sufficient
credentials and rushed off to Madrid,
where he had a long interview with
the queen regent herself. She pointed
out to him how impossible it would be
for her 10 interfere Everything was
in the hands Of her advisers. and her
people, she said, were too frenzied to
listen to reason. 1t was too late for
anything but war. she feared. she
would communicate further, however,
with the embassy in London.
Even then the viscOunt would not
give it up. He thought the queen
might be induced to change her mind,
and so he dashed back to London
and drove to the Junior Carlton club,
where Mr.. Hay was waiting for him by
appointment. According to the story
the ambassador said acknowledgment
had taken place that would render the
purchase of the island by the United
States government impossible The
viscOunt was so sure OF getting better
word from Madrid as the result of his
interview with the queen that, accord
ing TO his account, the ambassador
finally consented to cable once more
TO Washington in the hope of holding
off hOstilities for fOFty-eight hours
more until the queens message shoulE
be received Later in the day the
Spanish embassy received by cable
from Madrid a resume Of the seIf-ap-
pointed ENJOYS interview with the
queen, but no word of approval for the
wonderful scheme. Two days later war
was declared. The viscOunt rejOiced
in the belief that he alone had succeed
ed in holding il off for two days.
Lord MOuntmOrres makes a good Iiv-
ing out of his newspaper work now,
and adds materially to his income by
lecturing about some of his strange
experiences. He is popular wherever
he goes, ana, as a friend of his said,
he IS Just a wild Trishman. no side