The New York herald., 1870-01-10
Consul General P1ulnb's
Report.
Negotiations With Spain for the
Purchase Of tho Island.
-Four Propositions from the United States
and Four from Spain.
cv3A WILL SOON DA OuRS

IL any CONTINUATION were needed OF the despatch
sent you some days ago to tue real status OF the
Cuban revolution II could b, found In the report
since made to the state Department BY Consul Gen.
erai Plumb. Tnat gentleman has Just returned from
an extensive tour through Cuba, in the conrse Of
which ne had the most favorable opportunities for
correct observation, and afforded facilities not
enjoyed by either OF the coltendlng parties.
statements coming from either the Spanish author
tiles or the Cuban leaders might well be taken cum
OrGnO sails Interest would naturally give The most
favorable nue. 10 reports emanatlng from the one
side the other But IT is fair 10 suppose that Mr.
Plumb being Unitel States oincal, mud no interest
one way or the other, and that what ne might say
or write would DC entitled be received az the I'M
partial testimony Of one VINO had no other OBJECT
than the cuc.daton or the truth aud tho furnishing
Of correct Information to his government. sAsi.
Now, when add TO the above the further fact that
when Mr.. Plumb went ont to CUBA TO represent our
government ne was an ardent sympathizer with
the revolutionary movement, perhaps viii attach
greater weight 10 his statements pro Hispansd. But
when ! asset that Pumb's sympathy with the
'Cubans was 80 strong before his departure for Ha-
vana rs TO induce the usually discreet Spanish Mn
lister here (Senor Roberts) to express to secretary
Flsn surprise that an avowed enemy OF 81 ain should
be appointed to act us Consul General in the "cyer
faithful ise,n at q time when proprlety suggested
discharge the duties Of post faithfully and sats-
iactoriiy to botn Spain and the United States Inaye
suppled still stronger reason Tor believing the
calm and dspassionate report which Mr.. Plumb has
seen ut to submit 70 the state Department..
q And know whereof l write wnen venture to
state that selor Roberts did thus converse with Sec
retary Fish about the appointment OF lamb Con-
sui General to Havana. know that Roberts con
versatton on the subject assumed very nearly the
form Of protest against Plumbs appointment end
confirmation.
Well, this Plumb's repor. is summed up very
:. ...-iha1 the rebellion u cqoa y practcay at
On END. In other Words y Il n..o,aucnoly ana de-
pioraDle conirnatipno Of my former despatch on tue
same subject. #s3tu fHF @fa 155s s
/ Mr.. Plumb stas.s that there are few thousand
rches still in an attitude OF deelared hostility 10
Spanish ascendancv In Cu0a bat that they are des-
ttute entirely or political organization anu have
almost discipline military point OF view. Iney
are scattered in various localities he declares aud
confne themselves TO tbs prosecution OF gusrilla
warfare, NOT being strong enough to conirolt tho
Sranards in open nyht IN any considerable num-
bers. and not holding single position OF the
slightest importance in strategic or pot,eal view.
Mr.. Plumb adds that tn.s style OF warfare, owing
to the peculiar topography OF the island b. car
course 1t will be embarrassing to the spanish
authorities 1t cannot strengthen the cause of the
patriots to any degree They w.ll never he thinks,
make the slightest headway by their present ,odus
Operandi. vst D 4 as en
Now this is pretty stunning report right on the
heels Of my recent statement that the Cuban rebel
lion is on its last legs. But i assure you give it
JUST as have Obtained from the highest sources
OF information ana that neither Mitigate exay-
geratc 1t is studlously PLAIN statement purpOsely
80 on account OF my own sympathles In the ooste
direction. g HH rN t teE4ts. 81.
THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH SPAIN ABOUT CUBA.
The secret history OF our diplomatic correspond
ence and Conversations with tue authorities or
Spain concerning the rebellion In Cuba, and our
to put end to It, either by rendering good
Offices by actual purchase OF tns island mas never
been fully published. am not sure tnat have all
che essential facts 70 give connected account or
these negotiations, but within the past few days
become possessed OF some desired links in the
chain Of required facts wnich think enable me to
supply you with better statement OF the negotia
tlons than has yet found It's way into print. In
giving this statement snail nave to republIsh some
matters which have from time to time appeared In
my teegraphic correspondence.
TENDER or THE .sFRIENDLY oFFTCEsu OF OUR
GOyERNdESr
On September 8 Minister SickIes received de-
spatch from Secretary Fish directing HIM, IN view
OF the deplorabe condition OF AFFAIRS In Cuba. TO
tender 10 the Spanish government the friendly
oncesn OF the United states IN tire hope OF bringing
about an umicable understanding between the
contendlng parties. BE 1t noticed that we did not
offer to mediate, but to lnterpose merely sour
friendly onlces.n There Is distinction here which
perhaps the mass OF readers do not comprehend.
Mediation Is interpretation which can only be sug-
gestcd or offered wnen two independent ma
tons are at war, have some grave subject OF con-
troversy pending Friendly otticesn are allowable
when d.ficulty, warlike or otherwise, exists be-
tween recognized nation and some OF Its depen-
dcncIes or colonies, as between Spain, the home
government. and Cuba, the colony governed.
Minister Sicxles on receiving this dispatch com.
muncated without delay with the Spanish govern
ment In an interview with Silvela, the Minister OF
Foreign Affairs OF Spain General SIckes formally
rendered the good ofices OF our government.
Ibeeve but am not certain, that subsequently
Sickes put this tender In the shape Of a 1orpa dip.
lomatic communication In writing However, the
tender was received ,. syeIa on the Pct e Spain
s,s expressions Of thanks, ahd accepted
win stf.- son. SO far 80 good. .,es.sa4~'.
without ne'1a.., ne settlement Of the terms Of =
,.s,. :, ono,, 10y ~ ,o rs Or good onccs mus
accepted. Secretary Fish made Ia. ia''a'i' - ~
drew up four propositions, which he opposed as
the basis for the settlement OF tve diilcultes be-
tween Spain and her colony.
These propositions was able to send you at the
time but for the sake OF q clear understanding 1
repeat them now. They are as foIlows:--
Fis'st-Recognitton OF Cuban independence.
SecoDd-lndemniLcation 10 SPAN, to be paid from
the customs revenue Of the island.
ThifG-AbOlition OF slavery.
FUuyii-Cessaticn OF hostiities pending the set
uement on the above terms.
The indemniacaton provided for In the second
proposition was TO have been obtained by the
hypothecatlon OF the customs Of the island, which
amount to from si5,ocoooo to sls,ooo0oo year suf
cient to secure the interest or whatever mlgnt
be agreed upon as tho purchase money, aud
leaving fair sum for sinking fund.
Free Cuba, In the character Of o new re-
public, OF course would have little credit
aud 1t was proposed 10 permit her to issue bonds
for the payment or say $780, 600 Oo0 guaranteed by
the United States, which proposed to act trustees
nr