The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-22
THE STATE OF THE CUBAN NEGO-
TIATIONS.

From the NJ Y. Sun.
We learn from Washington that General
Sickles has recently-on Wednesday last, we
believe it was-telegraphed from Madrid the
latest proposition in relation to Cuba which
the Government of Prim and Serrano had
communicated to him to be transmitted to
Mr. Secretary Fish, The Spanish rulers sub
stantially, though not in explicit terms, ac-
cept the United States Government as the
mediator between Spain and the revolutionary
authorities of Cuba, and propose to settle the
revolution upon the following basis:-
l. The revolted Cubans to lay down theirlarms
III. The Spanish Government to disarm and dis
only troops in the island.
III. A universal amnesty to be proclaimed all
exes to have the right to return, political prisoners
to be set free, conscated estates to be restored to
their former owners and all persons deprived of any
civil rights for political reasons to be invested with
them once more.
~. An election to be held in Cuba for deputies to
the Spanish Cortes.
v The Spanish Executive Government to pledge
itself to support in the Cortes whatever settlement
of the Cuban question the deputies from Cuba may
desire. If they want independence, the Government
will favor that: il they should decide in favor of
separate administration, with Governor appointed
by Spain, Legislature chosen in Cuba, and res
ponsble Mnistry-the system now practised in the
British colonies the Government will bind itself to
use its whole influence in the CorteS in favor OF
adopting that system.
We are not informed what reply MIR. Fish
has made to this project; but we do not
think we can err in saying that he has deci-
sively refused it, 1t is quite as Objectionable
and as foreign to his policy in Cuban affairs
as a former proposal from Madrid, which he
Immediately rejected. In the first place. the
Cubans will never lay down their arms on
such conditions. To, do SO would be to give
up without any tangible consideration the
great advantages which at such sacrifices of
life and property they have gained. tits true
they would get an amnesty and the return of
their confiscated estates, but these they will
soon obtain by force of arms if they continue
fighting. 1t is also true that Prim and Ser
rano promise to support their demands in the
Cortes; but if the Cortes should be against
them, this will amount to nothing, and they
will have to do it all over again. Of course
Mr.. Fish will not think of requiring the Gu
bans to assent to any such disadvantageous
terms He will rather at once direct General
| Sickles to reply that the proposal is declined,
| and that the only basis for negotiation is the
proposition that Spain shall recognize the in
| dependence of Cuba; that slavery shall be
| abolished; that mixed commission shall be
| appointed to determine the value of the pub
| lie property in the island, which, however,
shall not exceed 800, 600, 900, and for which
| Cuba shall pay; and that the United States
shall guarantee the fulflment of the contract
| by both parties. Such was his answer to a
| former Spanish memorandum, and such, we
presume, will be his answer now.
1t is remarkable that while the leading
journals of Spain very ably advocate the ces-
sion of Cuba either to the United States OF
to the Cubans, and while the public opinion
| of all Europe urges such settlement of the
controversy, the men who govern Spain
she uld continue to treat the question in g
mode so unsatisfactory and absurd. They
must understand that it is for the interest OF
the Spanish people to get rid of Cuba on the
best possible terms; and yet they daily around
the subject as though they dared not dea
with it in earnest. They ought to remember
that the period of time in which they car
hope to part with Cuba for price is daily
growing less, and that while negotiation tc
that end is yet practicable, it will soon be as
much out of the question for Spain to sci
Cuba as to sell Venezuela or Peru