ntil October 1, itself meantime to act as mediator
between the Cubans and Spain. Spain replied that an armistice would be
granted, to last at the pleasure of the Spanish commander, if the Cubans
would ask for it themselves; and that already General Blanco had
abandoned the "concentration" system. This was of course regarded as
entirely unsatisfactory to the United States, but the peace-loving
President McKinley hesitated to report to Congress his dissatisfaction
with it.

Meantime the Pope semi-officially expressed to both governments his
earnest desire for the maintenance of peace; but to no effect. The
German government, strongly sympathizing with Spain and seeking to
foment ill-feeling between the United States and Great Britain, had its
Ambassador at Washington, Dr. Von Holleben, form a cabal of the chief
members of the Diplomatic Corps, to call on the President with what
amounted to a suggestion of mediation, maliciously persuading the
British Ambassador to act as spokesman of the delegation, in order that
any resentment or odium should fall upon him and his country; but the
President with admirable temper and resolution declined with thanks all
foreign meddling in a controversy which concerned only the United States
and Spain. The Spanish government proclaimed on April 10 a suspension of
hostilities, in deference to the wishes of the Pope and of the great
European powers. It was reported officially to the United States
government that this armistice was granted without conditions, though
General Blanco's proclamation declared that it was to continue only at
the pleasure of the Spanish commanders. The Cuban government, through
Maximo Gomez, replied that it had not sought the armistice and would not
accept it unless Spain agreed to evacuate Cuba.

The President of the United States at last, on April 11, laid the whole
matter before Congress in a message which for calm moderation in the
presence of unspeakable provocation, for convincing logic, for lofty and
unselfish benevolence, for keen and just perception of existing
conditions, and for valorous resolution to deal with them in the only
satisfactory way, must take high rank among the great historic state
documents of the world. After reviewing the story of the Cuban
revolution and the condition into which it had plunged the island, he
said: "The war in Cuba is of such a nature that, short of subjugation or
extermination, a military victory for either side seems i