Mr. Woodford to Mr. Sherman.
Madrid, April 8, 1898.
Sir: I have the honor to report that on April 3d instant I gave out the following interview:
In answer to the pressing request of the American and English newspaper correspondents in Madrid, General Woodford, the American minister, made to-day the following statement:
The obligations of my diplomatic position absolutely forbid my granting any interview or giving the slightest intimation as to the present condition of the diplomatic negotiations intrusted to my care. I came to Spain under the instructions of the President to secure peace in Cuba, with permanent peace between the United States and Spain—a peace that should be built upon the bed-rock conditions of justice to Cuba, with assured protection to the great American interests in that island. I have [Page 745] labored steadily to obtain this result. I have never lost my faith, and, doubtful as conditions may seem to-day, I still believe that these great and good purposes of my President may yet be secured. I shall not desist in my labors for a just and honorable peace until the guns actually open fire, and my faith is still strong that war, with all its horrors, can be averted. Enough blood has been shed in Cuba already, and I can not believe that the closing hours of the nineteenth century will be reddened by conflict between Spain and the United States. My country asks for peace based upon conditions that shall make peace permanent and beneficent, and I have faith that Spain will yet do what is necessary to assure justice for Cuba, and with justice peace is certain.
This interview or statement was published in all the leading English newspapers. I trust that its publication has been useful.
Yesterday morning, April 7, the newspapers in Madrid were filled with erroneous statements, and efforts were made to incite mobs against the legation and against my residence. While I had no fears as to my personal safety, I thought it wise to allay the excitement and strengthen the conservative influences, which are growing stronger each hour in Madrid and which are working earnestly for peace. Accordingly I gave out the following statement, which was printed in all the Madrid papers last evening and in all the morning papers to-day, and which has been telegraphed to all the papers throughout Spain:
United States
Legation,
Madrid, April 7,
1898.
The Madrid newspapers this morning are filled with statements concerning the American minister which are so inaccurate that he asks the courtesy of the press to correct them. He does this in the interest of friendship and peace. The proprieties of his diplomatic position forbid his making any statements with regard to his diplomatic action with the Spanish Government, but last September he gave to the Spanish foreign office written permission to publish the text of any official correspondence which he should have at any time with the Spanish Government. This permission is effective to-day, and the Spanish Government are at complete liberty to publish every word that he has ever addressed to the Spanish foreign office by letter, by memorandum, or by statement.
The second secretary of the legation, Mr. MacArthur, sailed for New York on Monday, March 21. His family left Madrid on Tuesday night, April 5, and will sail for New York about the end of April. Mr. MacArthur went to New York to resume the practice of his profession as a lawyer. He has resigned from the diplomatic service.
The wife of the American minister left with her niece for Paris Wednesday night, April 6. She is in poor health, and the excitements of the past two weeks have compelled her to seek absence and rest. The daughter of the American minister remains with him, and will remain with him at Madrid. He has not given up his residence in the Calle Nunez de Balboa, where he expects to reside so long as he shall remain accredited to the Spanish court.
The American minister has received nothing but courtesy from the people of Madrid during his residence here. He has never had the slightest apprehension for his own personal security or that of his family. He is working for peace, and, despite all rumors to the contrary, he still hopes that peace will be kept between Spain and the United States and that peace will very soon be again established in Cuba—a peace that shall be based upon absolute justice, with protection to the great American interests in that island and with the maintenance of the honor of Spain.
This publication has done good in Madrid and will do good throughout Spain. The end is still very doubtful, and I am working from sense of duty rather than with strong faith in success. Still this is evident, and on this I base what hope is left to me: The sober sense of Spain is slowly but surely coming to the front, and a few days (if these few days can still be had) will see a crystallized, public sentiment that will sustain the present Spanish Government, if that Government has the immediate courage to do at once the things that are necessary for peace.
Very respectfully yours,