Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-04-16
END OF WAR
THIS YEAR
NOT LIKELY
This is Word Reaching Ma
drid- Spain able to Guage
War Currents.
Country DESTROYS Of Coop
Grating with United States,
But Couldn't War.

Madrid, April 1e.-Accordins to
some Of the advices reaching Spain.
tho end of the European war is not
likely to occur this year.
His Excellency. Senior Amaio
Gimeno, Spanish Minister for For
eign Affairs, expressed this view to a
representative Of The Associated
Press, in the course Of a conversa-
ton held at the Ministry of State.
Spain occupies a unique position as
the representative of most Of the ma
tons at war and as such she Is IN a
position to guage h currents OF In
formation which flow in from all the
conflict. She protected the interests
Of some of these countries from the
first, and has recently taken up most
Of the others laid down by h Unit
ed States on the severance OF relations
with Germany. Already. it had been
vaguely conjectured that the end of
III war wal q good way off, but this
authority based or the unusual OPP
portunlties If the central meiiatins
neutral to Judge, tho real conditions
1--WE have all hoped that this terri
bic conflict could be brought to a
close this year." the minister went on,
perhaps in the early months of the
year. But I am sorry to say some of
the information now reaching me is
contrary to these hopes, although l
am unable to make any positive state
ment, the end may come XXI year,
but yer that Is a matter of doubt. To
be sure there is always the possibility
of a sudden and more favorable turn
: of affairs which may bring a crisis
and an unexpected termination Of
hostilities. But generally speaking.
we are obliged to accept the evidences
Of the present.
Must Face Prospect.
TT 10 a fearful prospect" he added,
considering the enormous destruc-
ton, suffering and misery which the
people Of these stricken countries are
undergoing, n which is beginning
from the era of warfare. But fear
full as it is. that is n Of the unpleas-
ant realities Of the war which we
must face, and shape bur course ac-
cordingly instead Of being led by vain
'hopes."
Senior Gimeno 10 not only the guild
ing figure of spain's foreign relations
scientific as we'll as in public affairs.
Besides holding the portfolio Of Min
lister of State, he is q senator, a mem
Der Of the faculty Of the University Of
Madrid, a doctor of Medicine, an III
thor OF standard books or scientific
and medical subjects. five times a
member of the cabinet. and ono Of the
foremost men of the Liberal party
now in power. These many qualities
give him a position and authority in
Spanish affairs much beyond that of a
political leader.
Senior Gimeno was interested to
know the sentiment in the United
States in regard to the responses
Spain had given to the communication
Of President Wilson.
Had to Be Neutral.
I'VE are most DESTROYS to cooper
ate with the United States in every
way within our power" said the min
lister. But in this case Jul internal
conditions made it essential for US to
observe absolute neutrality. Being on
the continent of Europe instead Of
> across the Atlantic, it should be re-
membered that we are considerably
neare the conflict than America. We
a among us, too, different shades
Of opinion which are very strong and
need to be recognized M harmonic
ed. These conditions affecting our
internal political affairs were so
strong that a. strict adherence to neu-
trality was positively the only course
open to us. And so our responses to
the American communications have
been framed with the double purpose
of acting in accordance with the ne
cesslties Of Dur internal political af-
fairs, and at the same time preserving
and charging those relations Of
friendship which now bind America
and Spain g strongly together.
I'VE are glad to have tho oppor-
tunity to give evidence of his friend