Evening star., 1896-01-14
TWO CUBAN RUMORS
France to Recognize the Insurgents
for Commercial Treaty.
TO MONOPOLIzE THE ISLANDS TRADE
England to Loan Spain Money and
Take the Custom Houses.
SOLICTTUDE IN WASHINGTON

Within the past sixty hours the Cuban
situation has assumed complexion of
somewhat serious Importance to the United
States If the rhmors af1oat are true. 1t
was reported last week that the represen-
tatiVes OF the Cuban government had re-
ceived overtures from France looking to
the arrangement of plans whereby the
French republic would recognize the rights
OF the belligerents in the island. The invi-
tation, 1t was said, provided for the recep-
ton OF commission from the Cuban gov
eminent, equipped with fun authority TO
enter into broad reciprocity treaty be-
tween France and Cuba in return for the
recognition OF the latter by the European
republic.
To Control the Islands Trade.
AS stated here, this treaty was intended
to be even more generous than anything OF
the kind ever entered into between nations
and was to be practically the establishment
of free trade between the countries,
France thus to secure a virtual monopoly
of the Cuban tobacco and sugar trade.
Ihese negotiations are still in progress, &c
is said.
England to Loan Spain Money.
Another and more serious part OF the
complicated condition however, is found in
| the statement being freely made that Eng
| land has offered to give 81 ain another loan
coupled with provisions that are extra
ordinary. The provisions under which Eng
| land is said to have offered to restore the
depleted exchequer of Spain and enable
her to continue the war against the revolu-
tionists. are that she is to take possession
of the various custom houses of Cuba and
hold them as security for the payment
of the interest and principal of the loan.
| 1t is pointed out that no other country,
and particularly the United States, could
object to England thus taking possession
OF the custom houses, as she would hold
them merely a creditor just as she did
the custom house at Corinto, Nicaragua.
recently, which she seized in order to
| sure the payment of the indemnity, and
| which she held until that debt was paid.
This government did not interpose any
objection to the course OF England in that
| instance, even when the Corinto custom
house WAS forcibly taken, and it Is held
that the United States could not object, if
| II desired to, 10 Great Britain's control OF
the Cuban ports when 1T was brought about
! by mutual agreement between herself
! and Spain.
The Interest i'm OAicial Circles.
| Naturally this new pnase of the question
is receiving thoughtful attention in official
circles. and, coupled with the growing SEN
| timent all over the country and an fncreas-
ing belief on the part of Representatives
and Senators that the war being prosecuted
by The revolutionists is something more
than a mere uprising, there are many who
Relieve that political exisencies" as they
| are called, cannot very long withhold the
| recognition of the Cubans rights as bel
| l;gerents by the United States.
Those who are omen and ardent in their
demand for such action point out that the
| Spanish governne ent is evidently powerless
| to put down the revolution, and that any
10 ~croi vx-ish u1,ta1 hs4l. -
her another possession in the West Indies,
which would be practically the result of her
taking possession of the Cuban ports would
| be an additional menace to the sovereignty
! of the United States in the American CONT
| nent. 1t is considered highly probable,
| Therefore, that Cuba and its affairs will re-
| ceive n great deal more attention by the
administration and Congress than has been
| hitherto the case.
| A Cuban Representative on the SuL-
icct.
| Mr.. Gonzalo de Quesada, who lis one Of the
| Cuban representatives here in company
with President Palma, was asked by a Star
reporter today IL there was any foundation
| for the rumors that France was negotiating
with the Cuban revolutionists TO recognize
| them as belligerents In return for a reci-
procity treaty with their government when
1 it was finally established. MFR. Quesada said
| that he did not feel at liberty to say any,
thing on that subject, especially in the a5-
| sence of President Palma.
| In relation TO Spain entering into nego-
tiations with England regarding the Gus
| tom houses Of the island, Mr.. Quesaia call
ed attention to the visit of some representa-
| tives of an Anglo-French syndicate to Cuba.
| several months before the revolution, for
the purpose of ascertaining the condition
| of the island, and see IL 1t was advisable to
| make any loan. Mr.. QGesada said that the
| representatives, reported that some sort OF
| home rule must be given to the Cubans,
| otherwise revolution would come. This led.
he continued, to so-called reforms granted
| by the Spanish government, and he quoted
\ a paragraph from pamphlet published
| by the Cuban committee IN London some
| time ago in explanation of them.
The paragraph states that under a great
| pressure the Spanish Cortes granted what
is known the ABB rzuza law with re-
gard to Cuba, which provided for house
| of representatives in Cuba of thirty mem
| bers, Of which fifteen We're to be chosen
| by election and fifteen by the Spanish gov
ernment.
THE captain general, as chairman. with
| the decisive vote and right of veto,' says
the pamphlet, was authorized to dismiss
| any as far as ten of the members, and the
house was to continue nevertheless as Il
complete.
"As a matter of course the fifteen men,
| hers appointed by the government would be
| men ready to do anything ordered by the
captain general, and as, besides he could
dismiss as far as ten at any time, IL does
not require much perception to understand
| that the introduction of the said house
| would have rendered the conditions of Gu
hans more desperate even, IL possible. And
| so Ii would have been had the revolution
not broken out because already a secret
| transaction was on the way from the Span
| ish government to raise a loan OF fJ0o0000Q
guaranteed by the Cuban custom houses,
| and approved by the said house of repre-
| sentatives. On account of the revolution
| the transaction fell through"
"As that pamphlet was written In Lon
don'' said Mr. Quesada, '-the writer neces-
| sarily had to be vague in his statements OF
| the other parties to the transaction, but ft
| is generally understood that England was
| to have advanced the funds"