New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-06
Woodford in Spain.
CHAPTER OF PERHAPS uNwRTTEN SECRET DIPLOMATIC AND
PERSONAL HISTORY
Copyright. 1918. by C. W. snsllcv,

uecidrlhg war rested with Congress
pd' II Noodford's dispatches had been
puDiiShed as they We're received. or If
the substance of them had been pub
ilSheu, who can say they would not
nave turned the course of events 20
peace 1t is alleged that the cabled
uitnmatum of our government was. by
order OF the Spanish Ministry. DELAYED
Ill transmission, and reached our min
iSter late. An indcfensble act. but it
may have had more motives than one.
Noodford's record at any rate. is clear.
That tho voice OF Continental Europe
was against us in this business is
known The attempt to organize
c3bal against us was the clear proof of
that Only the refusal of England 10
be party TO that manouvre prevented
its success The refusal has been sup
posed TO show that England. or the
English government, approved OF our
policy and methods and of our attack
on Spain. What It really shows is that
me friendly good will of England TO
the United States overbore all other
considerations. She stood by us be-
cause she was our friend: perhaps too
much our friend - inquire too closely
into details. Than the Spanish war
never was there a more striking exam
pie of the saying that war is brought
about not by specific grievances but by
state of feeling in one or both of the
bClligerents. And the conduct Of Eng
land served AS . corollary 10 that
maxim. since her support of our cause
was also due 20 a state of feeling
Later | discussed the subject with
President Mckinley. I had recently
come back from England and knew
something of the English view. : It was
a pleasant morning and the Presiden:
proposed a walk. So for an hour, from
1890 10 1870. we strolled about the
White House grounds The President
was cordial in his acknowledgment OF
the service England had rendered Us.
but when | explained what / believed
10 be the real ground of it, her friend
illness 10 US, and not mainly her APP
proVal of Ms w2r policy. his face grew
dark. ] was obliged 10 explain further
why | supposed the war was thought
TO have been an avoidable war; and
his face grew darker still. He
launched into a passionate defence Of
his conduct. He dealt with one ques-
tion after another but with the ques-
ton whether his purpose might not
have been attained without a conflict
he refused TO deal. He wrapped Il up.
very skilfully. in generalities.
Angry as he was, his debating powers
did not forsake him. He stated his case
with more forensic than parliamentary
astuteness: the tide of passion steadily
rising So far as ! could, | avoided
arguing, but my soft answers could not
turn away his wrath. He was like Mr.
Gladstone: able 70 ,onvincc himself OF
anything: and 10 close his mind TO all
facts and arguments which did not
square with his own view. The Greek
idea of Fate seemed 20 have possession
Of his mind. From the beginning %
all time it had been decreed there was
10 be this war; he was only an instru-
ment in the hands Of an inexorabio
power. He did not consurc Woodiord.
He did not contradict him. He passed
by on the other side. This last is the
only pleasant memory ! have Of talk
which was all storm and tumult.
Not 10 end on a tragic note. | VIII
mention n conversation between Cen
eral Woodford and Sir Henry Drum
mond Wolff, British Ambassador 10
Spain. They met IN Paris. Wolff asked
at once:
What arc you going to do with the
Philippines
ITS not for me- to say Have YOU
anything to suggest
II? It's no affair of mine
PERHAPS not, but | thought England
might possibly like TO take them Of
our hands
And Wolf, with his inimitablc, good
natured cynicism, answered;
"No; England j. not just now IN t1o
market for any more islands
But perhaps neither Of this pair OF
diplomatists was quite in jest or quite
IN earnest. g. W. =