Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-08
Cannot Admit Legality.

'If the German government, as it
says, expects that the Spanish people
and government will not close their
ears to the reasons which have caused
it's decision, and hopes that they will
and sacrifices of human life, it will also
understand that the Spanish govern
ment while disposed to lend at the
proper time it's initiative and support
to everything that could contribute to
the advent of a peace more and more
wished for, cannot admit the lega1ty
of exceptional methods of warfare.
Those methods, indeed, notwith-
standing SPANS rights as a neutral
and her scrupulous fulfllment or duties
incumbent on her as such, make more
difficult and even stop altogether her
sea trade, compromising her economic
life and threatening with grave dan
gers the lives of her subjects.
Ills majesty's government, support
ed more firmly than ever by the JUS
tice of it's position. does not DOUBT
that the imperial government, inspired
by the sentiments of friendship which
unite the two countries, will find. not
withstanding the severe eAigencies of
this terrible war. means of giving sat
isfaction to Spain's claims These
claims are based on the memorable duty
which binds q government to protect
the lives of it's subjects ard maintain
the integrity of its sovereignty so that
the course of national existence be
not interrupted For the reasons set
out his majesty's government feels
itself fully sustained in its position by
reason and law"
Conference at Madrid.
Premier Romanones and the Duke of
Alba, minister of the interior, met the
minority leaders at a two-hour confer
ence today and asked their support for
the immediate passage of number of
measures. including a credit of a bill
lion pesetas for public works Among
the projected bills is one for the re-
form of the foreign banking services.
another for the nationalizat ton of ex-
terror loans. a third for an increase in
the income tax and fourth for a sub
stitution of a tax on the profits of priv
LEGGED enterprises instead of the pres
ent tax on war profits. measure was
also discussed respecting the tobacco
monopoly.
proposals except that for a billion
pesetas credit and bill dealing with
the liquor question. These two mat
ters were reserved for a further con-
ference.
Unanimous for Neutrality.
Referring to the Spanish note to Ger
many the Diario Universal says that
the whole country is unanimously in
favor of maintaining neutrality, but
that that attitude does not exclude ac-
ton in the defense of national interests
or for the protection of national dig
nifty.
mo country could renounce its right
to that Defense" says the paper, be
fore the note of the central powers
without at the same time abandoning
its neutrality. The two ideas are per-
ton is unanimous. No one wants to
either to abandon the interests and
dignity of Spain before the caprices or
necessities of foreign powers"
Spain Expected to Resist.
PARIS. February S.-The Petit Paris
len commenting on the Spanish reply
to the German submarine note, says:
when country proclaims its SOW
ereign rights and the necessities of it's
national existence in condemning an
act which strikes at its interests it
follows that it is disposed, If necessary,
to resist any violation of it's rights"
Greece Is Embarrassed.
LONDON. February 8.-A dispatch to