Year: 1873

TIme-Admiral Polo Declines Acting
as Minister Pienipotcntiary-A De-
spatch from Minister sickIes Not Yet
Deciphered, ul


WASHINGTON. Nov. 20, 1873


The issue between our government and that Of
Spain is still pending, and cannot be settled till
Admiral Polo, the Spanish Minister, receives
further instructions from Madrid. his powers being
limited to the ascertanment OF what our govern
ment can be induced to accept as the alternative
OF war. Delay is still unavoidable though the
transfer OF the discussion to washington from
Madrid has facilitated the means of settlement.


THE PRESIDENT MUST HAVE THE vIRGINIUs.


The President will not consent to abate our
leading demand for the formal surrender OF the
virginius especially as he now believes the Cas-
telar government is strong enough to make
the actual delivery If 1t shall agree to give the
vessel up. The disqueting rumors OF plots
and conspiracies at Madrid to overthrow
CASTELAR, have had the effect to stiren the resou-
tion OF our government to adhere to the main
point that the seizure OF the vessel was an act SO
unjustinable and insulting as to imperatively re-
quire the repacemens Of the virginius under the
American nag, with appropriate ceremonies in
the nearest port OF the United States.


IF CASTELAR, IS TO FALL


through events In Spain, it would not be TO our
advantage to make concessions in respect to the
surrender OF the vessel that his successors





perfected when they came into power
and, therefore, beyond the reach OF
the reconsideration that they would claim for all
the remaining questions. IT. on the other hand, the
bty enough to outlast the restoration OF the vir-
gInius, the surrender of the surviving captives and
the release OF the embargoed estates of American
citizens in Cuba, the administration considers that
1t can safely enter upon


a MORE LEIsURELY SETTLEMENT OF WHAT WOULD


THEN REMAIN UNSETTLED, g0...
including the abolition OF slavery. 1t is believed
at the State Department that the yrginius will
released, and all this in time to preserve
to the administration the honors OF victory
regarded as fitting companion piece to the arb
tration of Geneva The latest advices from Gen.
ernment admits the strength of our position in
denoupcing the whole proceeding as illegal and
nsgrant disregard OF the sovereignty OF our nag,
and the feeble opposition it yet makes to pre-





to our national dignity is known to proceed
FROM IT'S FEARS RATHER THAN FROM ITS CoNvIc-


TIoNs


AS already shown in these dispatches the
prosecuted In Cuba, from the time or the san
culinary DEGREES of valmaseda against the
life, liberty and property OF all residents
OF Cuba within the limits OF Spanish
territorial jurisdiction have been adopted and
defended by the predecessors of the present Span
ish government, and discussions in the Cortes
and in the press have familiarized the Span
ish people with what they believe to be the
rights OF their government in suppressing
rebellion and the precedents set by our
own government IN q Similar case. Inc
surrender OF the virginius, it is admitted here,
would be apt to impress the Spanish people as a
grave reflection upon the ministers who have pre-
ceded CASTELAR, and Fgueras and a surrender or
Spanish rights and honor; but, on the other hand,
THE PREDECESSORS OF THE CASTELAR, GOVERN
are held to be responsible for the fatal weakness
in the present case-that is, compelling Spain to
concede our demand for the return of the vessel
They would not admit the existence OF ac-
tual war in Cuba, and so took away their
treaty and international rights as beger-
ents. If, contrary to the expectations OF
government. the Spanish government
should decline to surrender the vessel the pending
negotiations will be completely blocked, and the
President WIN continue the present preparations
for in anticipation OF the authority and means
that Congress will invest him with for the pur-
pose ofobtaining satisfaction.


These dispatches receive ample confirmation in
the situation OF the virgnus question at this mo-
ment II will be remembered that from the first
bhey WON ule RIouHu, upon nlgh autnorlty,
that the seizure OF the vessel and those on
board, with the summary trial and execution OF
part OF her crew and passengers. were acts that
could not become the subject OF prolonged dip
lomatlc discussion while the virginius re-
NAMED in Spanish possession, and such
Of her people as had not been put to
death were held IN confinement at Santiago.


OUR FIRST AND SECOND DEMANDS,
being those for the formal restoration OF the
ship to American protection and possession, and
the surrender OF the survivors, are still the
only stumbling blocks in the way OF peaceful
adjustment, or at least the first one is the only
dangerous cause Of immediate war The demand
for indemnity is one that it is admitted can