New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-06
London. March 4. =

aver quito a friendship. We were at
rale together but not in the same class.
A, times. much later in life but at long
intervals we met: always on good If
,,over intimate terms. Woodford's nat
ure was expansive. and two or three
times he honored me with his conf
dence in respect of public affairs in
which he had been concerned.
The most important Of these related
70 his mission in Spain. He narrated
# length his very curious experiences
as United States Minister. He de-
scribed in outline the course of those
negotiations between Spain and the
United states which preceded the
Spanish war. He gave an account,
which | can only call startling. of the
last stages in long diplomatic con-
troversy abruptly ended by a declara-
ton of war. AS he spoke with great
freedom l said that l supposed l was
10 regard these revelations as conf
Dental. He answered:
"No. they are part Of the history Of
those times. Some of the causes which
brought on the war are we'll known
What | give you is statement Of the
reasons why there ought TO have been
10 war. AS / think there ought 20
have been none, it seems TO me that
the American people are entitled TO the
facts. The dispatches which support
that conclusion are on file in the State
Department. They must some day be
published. Meantime. they arc known
in part TO the Spanish Government. II
we chose TO believe what the Spanish
Government tells us, it would be clear
TO everybody how much of the re-
sponsibilty for war rests on their
shoulders and how much on ours. You
are at liberty TO make such use as
YOU think proper of what l tell you"
Nevertheless. did not at the time
make any use at all Of what Woodford
then told me- The mischief had been
done. Public opinion in America was
still in an inflamed state. Mr.. Mckin-
ey was still President and presently
became a candidate for reelection, and
then was reelected, and then muir
dered. No moment seemed 10 be op-
Fortune. Besides. thought il was for
Woodford himself to make public his
statement if he thought it desirable.
So far al | know, he never did. There
fell upon him certain amount Of
censure, as II he. minister acting on
instructions from Washington, had
done or left undone something which
might have averted war. He deserved
no censure. He deserved praise. / be-
Ucve the fact to be that he went 10 the
permissible limit of diplomatic discre-
ton 10 save the President and the
country from a preventable disaster
For = needless war is always d dis
astcr.
The essential facts may almost be
stated in a sentence. The details
should come in an official form. But
the essential fact is this: The Presi-
lent Of the United states had made
certain demands upon Spain with ref
arencc to Cuba. They had been re-
iected. Spain appears not to have be-
loved till the last moment that we
should make war in order TO compel
her TO govern Cuba as we thought she
ought TO govern il, or TO let her go
'onyinced at last that we meant TO-
she made up her mind to yield. AS is
the custom n that country, she maze II
N slowly. She was so slow that Presi-
lent Mckinley had become convinced
she would not give way
All along, he had been himself
AGAINST war: DESTROYS 10 use all reason
able means TO carry his point by peace
-ul diplomacy; though his notion OF
peaceful diplomacy included measures
and menaces which in any European
country would have been thought hkelF
10 lead. and intended to lead sralght
10 hostilities He was surrounned py
advisers who day by day and hour oy
hour assured him that the American
oeople had resolved 10 fight.
His friends said of the President ana
oerhaps he said Of himself, that his ear
vas always 10 the ground. Congress
was vhite-hot; and with Congress Mr..
NctinIev's relations were more inu-
mate than any other President ever
maintained. The atmosphere OF WASH
ing,on was superheated. Into the gray
est question on which a great people
could be called on TO decide poiitlcai'
personal and purely emotional inilu-
ences were allowed 10 intrude. 1eIiow
Journalism practically took command
OF the situation: which was t'ot "ha'
even Jefferson had in nina "heii u.
uttered his mischievous dicts1ii aO0u'
government by newspapers. 49,
Such was the state OF Things III "n'
the President sent his message 10 Co'''
gress announcing in effect that "p~'n
nod e,allv rejected the ultimatum ot
the United States.
In fact said General Woouioru'
the uliimatum had not been reJeo'ou
was still negotiating. / was con-
WINGED that the Gpaniards must give
way. asked fo. q free hand, ! aShe"
Gor tiroc never ceased TO strive TOT
peac.. Again and again l caoied 'he
President that his purpose could be at
tanned without war ! impioreo nm.
be pat.,nt. told him knew VIVA
Was in the minds Of the Spanish gov
" t,o.ry their METHODS,