ECHOES FROM EUROPE

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2094, 16 April 1898, Page 2

ECHOES FROM EUROPE

The situation between America and Spain is dangerously near the verge of war, so near indeed that one almost despairs of peace being preserved. The United States House of Representatives by an enormous majority has authorised the President to use force to secure.,,Cuba a stable and indegendenlT government The Spanish 'backed up there caii bb no doubt by public opinion, have resolved to resist armed intervention on the part of America in Cuba, as an attack on the sovereign rights of Spain. The feeling in Madrid is intensely warlike. Great crowds are parading the streets demanding a declaration of war, and the American embassy has had to be guarded to prevent attacks by the mob., The city is under martial law While the Government, however, have formally resolved to not take the initiative against America, they have made it clear we think that any attempt to coerce Spain by physical force will lead to war. The report of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate on the Maine disaster, directly accusing the Spanish authorities-of causing the explosion, and the captain and officers of the warship of gross and criminal ne ghgence, caused an extraordinary and disgraceful scene in the House, members fighting and rushing about like madmen,and hurting offensive epithets against the. members of the committee.