Spain Stands Firm

Madrid, April 7. - A serious hitch has occurred in the armistioe negotiations, and the Cuban armistice proclamation will not be issued today. It also appears that Spain refuses to alter previous attitude in the Hispano-American imbroglio. The cabinet ministers held #long and earnest conference lastnight, extending until 1:30 this morning-. At the meeting it was decided to appoint a committee to organize and superintend the national subscription to inorease ! the strength of the fleet. A seml-official note issued after the adjournment says: The cabine t considered every aspect of the situation on the information of the foreign and colonial ministers, and - cspecially in the light of the reports of the ministers of war and marine. The outcome of th; delibrrations was the adhesión of the government to all its previous decisión., without modification, and resolutions to that effect were adopted. During the sitting the foreign minister made several visits to the palace. After the cabinet mee.ing and the .issue of the semi-offleial note, which was regarded as a serious announcement there was much excitement and bellicose talk in the city. The cafes were erowded with people, nll generally approving the attitude of the cabinet. It is asserted here that the ccmmunication from Rome, which the papal nuncio and the minister of foreign affairs placed before the cabiret after the regular meeting rad aöjcurned last night, asked wfiat concessions Spain would maki?. The cabinet, it is further stated, decided to reply that the government "SIMPLY KKAFF1RMED IT3 FORMER DECISIONS, ALREADY KNOWN TO PRESIDENT McKINLEY."