Mr. Woodford to Mr. Sherman.
Madrid, February 12, 1898.
Have received telegram asking full report of de Lôme incident. Report acknowledges the receipt of telegrams and continues as follows:
Endeavored all the morning of yesterday (Thursday) to obtain personal interview with the minister of foreign affairs, but he was engaged with council of ministers. I did not succeed in seeing him until 4 o’clock p.m. I then stated that it was with great regret that I must read to him the dispatch which I had received from my Government, relating to Spanish minister at Washington. Then read to him. At his request left him a copy of the telegram received by me from the Department; and added that I would communicate to my Government at once by telegraph such answer as his excellency might make. He replied that the Spanish Government sincerely regretted the indiscretion of the Spanish minister at Washington, and that his resignation had been asked and accepted by cable before our then interview. He added that the first secretary would be placed in charge of legation, and a new minister will be appointed as soon as possible, who may be expected to reach Washington in about fifteen days.
It is possible that I misunderstood Spanish minister in what he said about asking minister’s resignation. He may have said that the resignation had been offered instead of asked and accepted by cable. Spanish minister for foreign affairs was very courteous, cordial, and direct. In public evidence of the cordiality of personal relations subsisting between the Spanish Government and myself, it was at once arranged that the Spanish minister for foreign affairs and minister for the colonies should join a small dinner party which I am giving to-night (Friday).
Report ends here. While Spanish feeling grows more bitter against the United States each day, I do not think the De Lôme incident will be likely to affect diplomatic relations here, while it might delay negotiations in Washington as to commercial treaty. I still believe that the Spanish Government will make no further concessions, and will insist upon their own time to crush rebellion. I think they mean just what they say in their note of February 1. In conversation they tell me they have now done all they can, and that we ought to issue a new proclamation, and prevent filibustering expeditions, and break up New York junta at once.