Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-03-17
STORER NAILS FALSE RUMOR
Minister to Spain Says He is on Leave
of Absence.
TREATY NEGOTIATIONS WELL UNDER WAY
No Obstacle TO Successful Accomplish
ment-King's Ascension TO BE
InformaI-ROyal Mind is
All Right.

NEW YORK, March 16.--Bellamy Storer,
United States minister to Spain, arrived
today on the American line steamer, ST.
Louis, from Southampton.
Mr. Storer was surprised to learn that
rumor had been circulated that he had
been recalled from his post and emphati-
cally denied that there was the slightest
foundation for such a report.
81 have no idea" said Mr. Storer how
such a rumoT could have been started. /
have simply come home on leave OF alb
sence for ninety days because at this time
there is no urgency for my presence in
Madrid. 1t Is not true that there has been
a hitch in the negotiations with Spain, and
on the contrary they have progressed most
favorably and there is absolutely no OBJ
stacle in view to the successful accom-
plishment Of the treaty.
'T may say indeed that the most i'm
portant provisions OF the treaty have been
fully agreed upon. So far as the ques-
tion Of the rights Of Spanish property own
ers in Porto Rico is concerned, the gov
ernment at Madrid is fully satisfied. The
negotiations of the treaty have been some
what prolonged, not on account of any re-
luctance on the part of the Spanish gov
ernment but merely because every con-
dition, and 1 may say every phrase in the
document, must first be presented to the
council of state for review and approval
Expects to Return in June.
lowing to the approaching accession of
the young king, the late ministry of
Sagasta was In effect simply a provisional
one, and as the final ratification had to be
left to the new ministry, an opportunity
was afforded me to apply for a short leave
Of absence. I expect to return to my post
early in June. My relations with the
Spanish government and with oficials OF
all classes have been Of the most pleasant
character and on all hands / have been
the recipient Of the most courteous consid-
GRAFTON.
81 regretted to notice in many OF the
American papers which received in Mad
rid, statements to the effect that the youne
king was physically and mentally unfit
! to receive the reins of government. That
| is untrue. He has been admirably brought
| up by most devoted mother, and see nc
| reason why he should not reign with honor
| to his country and himself He has grown
very fast and is a fine looking lad. He
takes a keen interest In military affairs
and shows to great advantage when he ap.
pears mounted on review.
Expects Mother to influence King.
what changes are likely to take place
in the cabinet, am not prepared to pre-.
| dict. II would not be surprising IL tht
queen mother would continue 70 exercis,
strong influence over her son. an their
relations have always been OF the mos
affectionate character"
Speaking OF the kings accession
Mr.. Storer said: There will be nc
formal coronation as the king o.
Spain is supposed to be borr
crowned. He will merely take oath Il
preserve the constitution and there will b,
the usual ceremonies. 1t was, in fact, {
question up to the last moment whether
the representatives of foreign government
should be specially invited to witness tn,
accession. Only the night before 1 lef
Madrid the ministers OF state PERSONAL,
informed me that the king would be pleased
to have representative OF the United
| States present On this President Roose
velt designated J. L. NJ. Curry to attend
as our representative. There was q pc
culiar appropriateness in the selection o
Mr. Curry as he was our minister at Madrit
when the young king was born"
| Mr.. Storer leaves for Washington to-
morrow to call upon the president.