The San Francisco call., 1896-03-01
1t Will Require Joint Resolu.
tion to Secure Rights of
Belligerency.
STATE DEPARTMENT TACTICS.
Gathering Information to Show That
Insurgents Are Not as Strong
as Represented.

atOr Lindsay OF hentuCky, one OF tHe du-
ministration spokesmen on the Cuban
question, had an interview with Secretary
Olney to-day concerning the Cuban reso-
lutions now pending in Congress. Those
who have visited the White House and the
StateDepartment say that there is manifest
anxiety on the part OF the officials as to
the outcome. but they express hope that
the affair will not lead to hostilities.
Leading administration men express the
belief that when the "demagogues" in
Congress have made their speeches inter-
est in the matter will subside. State De-
partment officials declare that the insur-
gents are not nearly so strong as they have
been represented to be in the press and in
Congress, hence the reluctance of the ad-
ministration to recognize them as bellig-
erents or to acknowledge their independ-
ence.
Consular officers in Cuba have reported
this to the State Department, and there
fore the administration is reluctant to ally
Itself with losing cause. State Depart
ment officials declare that Congress has
been misled, and that the insurgents cam
not hold out much longer. 1t is hinted
that President Cleveland intends to call
before him influential members of Con-
gress and tell them that the time is rot
yet ripe for recognition of the Cubans as
belligerents.
Administration people are curious to
know what form Congressional action will
take. A concurrent resolution will not re-
qGire action of the executive, and, it is
said, will be no more binding upon him
tha els ha of
one OF the State legislative bodies.
The resolution as it passed the Senate
merely expressed the sentiments of that
body with regard to the situation in Cuba,
but was in no wise mandatory in its terms.
1t is held, therefore, that it does not in
crease the Presidents responsibilities in
the matter, inasmuch as the execution of
its suggestions is left practically to. his
discretion just at present. The adoption
of the joint resolution requiring the action
of the executive either in approval OF dis
approval would, however, put decidedly
different and more serious aspect on the
question.
While it is stated in official circles that
the President would deprecate the neces-
sity for action on his part one way or the
other just at this time, he would undoubt-
edly approve bill recognizing the bellig-
erency and even independence of Cuba,
more in Difference to almost universal de-
mand for such action rather than because
he really believed it the best thing to be
done under existing conditions.
The feeling that to veto the message
would only serve to postpone recognition
of the insurgents would probably induce
executive approval.
Assuming that the executive acts at
once upon the resolution so far as to grant
belligerent rights to Cubans, the best au-
thorities in Congress on international law,
say the only advantage the Cubans will
derive from it is that they may then have
ships OF war (if they can get them) with
out being regarded and treated as pirates;
and they may issue bonds and borrow
money, as any nation may, if they can
find any one willing to take the risk of ac-
cepting such a contingent security as they
are able to offer. The right to ship arms
and men to Cuba will not be affected by
their recognition as belligerents, but on
the other hand our vessels will at once be-
come subject to search.
If the President goes to the full extent
Of the suggestion of the resolution, and
besides granting belligerent rights, takes
steps to secure the independence of Cuba,
it becomes a graver matter. That, it is be-
lieved, would amount practically to our
Government granting assistance to Cuba
and might lead to hostilities between this
country and Spain. For the President to
adopt the full recommendation of the
resolutions would, it is believed, result
inevitably in the liberty of Cuba. but if
the resolutions retain their present con-
current form the President will not be
compelled to act on them if he does not
want to, or he may delay action for some
time and then take the steps suggested.
The question is so delicate and doubtful
that most every Representative and Sena-
tor questioned on the subject declines to
be quoted. Representative Money of Mis-
sissippi, a member of the Foreign Affairs
Committee and authority on internationa;
law, said to-day:
"The adoption of the resolutions by
Congress will benefit the insurgents to this
extent-as an indication of the sentiment
of the Government of the United States
and temper of the people, and may abso-
lutely prevent Spain from borrowing the
money necessary to prosecute the war.
The insurgents themselves may be able to
float loan on the strength of the moral
effect of the resolutions and equip navy.
''The adoption of the resolutions will cer-
tainly give great ENCOURAGEMENT to the in
surgents and stimulate them to further eff
forts. AS to the binding power of concur
rent resolutions upon the executive, there
is none in fact. They do not bind him to
do anything"
The members of the Cuban revolution
ary party now in Washington were nat
urally very much pleased with the course