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Show Spanish Minister Believes Conflict Will Not Close in Year 1917. FEARFUL PROSPECT Spain Desirous of Maintaining Friendship of United States Will Co-operate. MADRID, April 19. (Correspondence (Correspond-ence of The Associated Press ) According Ac-cording to some of the advices reaching reach-ing Spain, tho end of the European Avar is not likely to occur this year. His Excellency, Senor Amallo Gi-meno, Gi-meno, Spanish Minister for Foreign Affairs, expressed this view to a representative rep-resentative of The Associated Press, in the course of a conversation held at the Ministry of State. Spain occupies a unique position as the representative of most of the nations na-tions at war and as such she is in a position to guage the current of information infor-mation which flow In from all the quarters directly connected with the conflict. She protected the interests of some of these countries from the first, and has recently taken up most of the others laid down by the United States on the severance of relations with Germany. Already, it had been vaguely conjectured that tho end of the war was a good way off, but this was the first expression from one in authority based on the unusual opportunities oppor-tunities of the central mediating neutral neu-tral to judge the real conditions and outlook. "We have all hoped that this terrible terri-ble conflict could be brought to a close this year," the Minister went on, "perhaps "per-haps in the early months of the fall and certainly by the end of the year. Eut 1 am sorry lo say some of the in formation now reaching me is contrary con-trary to these hopes, although I am unable to make any positive statement, state-ment, the end may come next year, but even that is a matter of doubt. To be sure there is always the possibility of a suddon and more favorable turn of affairs which may bring a crisis and an unexpected termination of hostilities. hos-tilities. But generally speaking, we are obliged to accept the evidences of the present. Fearful Prospect Ahead, "It is a fearful prospect," he added, "considering the enormous destruction, destruc-tion, suffering and misery which the people of these stricken countries are undergoing, and which is beginning to bo felt by the people far removed from the era of warfare. But fearful as it Is, that Is one of the unpleasant realities reali-ties of the war which we must face, and shape our courso accordingly instead in-stead of being led by vain hopes " Senor Gimeno is not only the guiding guid-ing figure of Spain's foreign relations during the war, but he is eminent in scientific as well as in public affairs. Besides holding the portfolio of Minister Minis-ter of State, ho is a senator, a member mem-ber of the faculty of the University of Madrid, a doctor of medicine an author of standard boons on scientific and medical subjects, five times a member of tho cabinet, and one of the foremost men of the Liberal party now in power. These many quantities give him a position and authority in Spanish affairs much beyond that of a political leader. Senor Gimeona was Interested to know the sentiment in the United States in regard to the responses Spain had given to the communications communica-tions of President Wilson. "We are most desirous to co-operate with the United States in every way within our power," said the minister. "But in this case our Internal conditions condi-tions inado it essential for us to observe ob-serve absolute neutrality. Being on the continent of Europe Instead of across the Atlantic, it should be re membered that we are considerably nearer the conflict than America. We have among us, too, different shades of opinion which are very strong and need to be recognized and harmonized. These conditions affecting our internal intern-al political affairs were so strong that a strict adherence to neutrality was positively the only course open to us. And to our responses to tho American communications have been framed with the double purpose of acting in accordance with the necessities of our internal political affairs, and at the same time preserving and enlarging those relations of friendship which now bind America and Spain so strongly together. Friendship for U. S. ' "We are glad to have the opportunity opportuni-ty to give evidence of this friendship," friend-ship," the Minister went on, "in representing repre-senting the United States through our diplomatic and consular olficials throughout Germany, and In Austria, too, if the necessity arises. We are strengthening our staff of officials at all points in Germany by reason of these new and important duties and, in deference to the wishes of the United States, we are making changes in the personnel so that the interests of the United States will be looked after at all consular points through Germany by native-born Spanish subjects, sub-jects, and not by German or other foreign for-eign subjects who may be employed in the local Spanish consulates. This requirement is necessitating a reconstruction recon-struction of our diplomatic and consular con-sular staffs in Germany, as wo wish to observe the desires of the United States to the fullest in having none aut Spanish subjects look after the interests of the United States." This change of personnel in the Spanish consulates of Germany, which Senor Gimeno announces, will overcome over-come a situation which had been pointed out by some of the American consuls passing through here from Germany on their way home. They stated that at Cologne and some other points the Spanish consul now in charge of American interests was a lor.nl Oprmnn rrcirlpnt This snmr condition prevails in the American and British consular service. Where local residents are often employed in consulates not of sufficient Importance to wamuit sending a native-born American Am-erican or British consul, Spain is seeing see-ing that such a situation does not apply ap-ply to tho care of American interests in Germany. "It is Spain which has accepted the representation of tho United States," said the minister, "and I am seeing to it that Spanish subjects only shall be in charge of these interests. All our preparations have been made for taking tak-ing up tho relief of Belgium and invaded in-vaded France, begun by the American relief commission, if the necessity arises." Senor Gimeno was asked what measures meas-ures Spain had adopted to protect her food supplies because of the world shortage resulting from the war. Embargo on Food. "We have prohibited the exportation exporta-tion of practically all tho essential articles of food," he said. "This does not moan an embargo on all "exports, but only on those affecting alimentation alimenta-tion and nourishment. This is a measure meas-ure of protection which other countries coun-tries In Europe are taking. The others oth-ers have suffored much more than we in Spain, but wo are taking no chances chanc-es on having our food resources drained drain-ed off by the fighting nations. The cost of living has Increased considerably in Spain because of the war, but noth- ing like the Increase in other countries. coun-tries. "Because of this precaution, we have prohibited the export of wheat, flour, potatoes, beans, vegetables of all sorts, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, butter, and the whole range of daily household requirements. But this does not interfere with the exportation exporta-tion of our products of iron, olive oil, fruit and other articles not essential to the food requirements of our people." peo-ple." When asked if these restrictions on export trade were due to the dangers of transport through the submarine zones, Senor Gimeno said: "Not at all. The submarine question ques-tion has nothing to do with our prohibition pro-hibition of exports. It is merely a matter of self-protection against possible pos-sible want among our people should the increasing demand for foodstuffs become acute later, in case of short crops among the nations which are giving all their energies to fighting instead of producing food." Will Encourage U. S. Trade. Senor Gimeno had a closing word to say oh the good relations -fretween Spain and the United States, and his belief that out of the war would ariso an even greater- community of interest inter-est between Spain and America, north and south, a community which he will seek to encourage and develop commercially, com-mercially, politically and In every branch of international intercourse. Senor Gimeno later read over the foregoing and authorized its use. on |