The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-12-24
IN FAVOR OF CUBANS
SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COM
MITTEE ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS.
Matter VIII De Allowed to Rest, 1t
Is Believed, Until After the
Holidays.

Hpects. 1t resulted in an agreement to
report the Cameron resolution for the
recognition of CUBAN independence. and
it developed through the statement of
Secretary Olney the administration S
policy in regard to the Instruction in
Cuba.
The secretary occupied the greater
part of the time of the meeting in an
swering the questions and suggestions
made by the committee. He and Sem
ator Morgan engaged in several spirited
colloquies. Mr.. olney made two points
against the Cameron resolution, as fol-
lows:
That the Cuban insurgents have cs-
tablished no government. That the right
to recognize new state rests with the
president Independent of congressional
action.
He commended In elaboration of the first
point that the government of the island
was without habitation.
Suppose you recognize the indepen-
dence of the island" said he. what are
you going to do with It'll"
Il, for one" said Senator Morgan,
while advocating this recognition, want it
understood that am opposed to annexa-
ton"
How then would you maintain its in
dependence?" asked the secretary, him
self becoming interlocutor.
How would you, for instance, prevent
Spanish domination over the island?"
II would" replied the Alabama sena-
tor, establish. If need be- protectorate
would follow much the same policy we
are pursuing with regard to Hawaii, and
l would send an army of occupation to
the island, If necessary, as we did in the
case of Mexico"
The secretary made the impression
upon some of the members of the COM
mittee by the way he pursued this line
of inquiry that while he was disposed
to hold out strongly for the presidential
prerogative, he was not nearly so strongly
opposed to Cuban independence as he had
been year ago, and that he would be
entirely reconciled to 1t If satisfied as to
the future course to be pursued. He did
not dissent strongly from a point made
that his report showed a sufficient cause
for action, and he admitted that a state
of affairs which permits the killing of
American citizens and the destruction OF
American property was deplorable.
They are" he said, 1.-The incidents OF
war"
Not OF war properly conducted, but OF
anarchy" was the response
The secretary set ut rest the story which
had been industriously circulated that
Consul General Lee has provided the
state department with an elaborate re-
port on the condition of affairs In Cuba
1t is not true,' he said. General Lee
has made no general written report. He
has made reports on several special cases
but not on the situation as whole"
1t also developed that the government
has made no demand in the case of the
Competitor and other cases OF a similar
character beyond requests for informa-
ton.
While the committee will report the
resolution as agreed on Monday, It is not
expected that the question will be pressed
until after the holidays. The disposition
of the committee win be to press the
resolution TO a speedy determination as
soon as possible after the question is once
taken up for debate.
The Cameron resolution was as fol- |
lows:
Resolved. by the senate and house of
representatives of the United States of |
America, In congress assembled:
Section 1. That the independence of |
the republic of Cuba be and the same is |
hereby acknowledged by the United |
States of America.
Sec. 2. That the United States should
use Its friendly offices with the govern
ment of Spain to close the war between |
Spain and Cuba
The committee changed the Cameron |
resolution so as to make II more emphatic. |
The title was changed to read:
"A joint resolution acknowledging the
independence of the republic of Cuba.
the words the republic" being inserted
Instead of declaring the United States
should use Its friendly offices, the resolu-
ton was made to read the United States
will" do SO.
Secretary Olney, 1t is claimed by men, |
bers of the committee who favored The
action, did not have any new informa-
ton to present. Secretary Olney urged
that no action be taken at present. and
pointed out that there is no real gov
eminent to recognize.
The agreement to report the Cameron
resolution was reached Immediately after
Secretary Olney left, without division or
expressed difference of opinion The only
division was as to the time the resoh
ton should be reported to the senate
senator Cameron moved its report Mon
DAY next Senator Sherman suggested
tnat the report be not put in until after
the holidays. The Cameron motion nre-
vailed by a large majority.
The members of the committee are rati-
cent as to what Secretary Olney said
but 1t is certain he advised against any
action like that contemplated, as 1T womb
involve war with Spain. One member OF
the committee said: 'Of course Sno,,
will fight, but there is no danger of Other
countries getting In our wav No oA,a |
European country wants to fight us. and
we would wind up a war with Spain IN
short order''
The opinion was expressed that f,leve-
land would veto the joint resolution. II
is understood the main point raised Inv
the secretary was that covered in the
presidents message, viz: There is no
actual government in Cuba to recognIze
Another member of the committee said
ne believed In case the president should
veto the resolution 1t would pass over
the Veto as more than two-thirds of both
the senate and house favored it, II
senator Cameron's report to accompany
the resolution deals at length with prece-
dents In the matter of recognition of in
dependence and Intervention, beginning
with the great revolution and coming
down to the present time. Senators who
heard the report say 1t goes over the en- ,
tire ground.
The Cameron resolution, as modified ;
and agreed upon by the foreign relations /,
committee is as follows:
resolved, by the senate and house of | r
representatives of the United States of | ;
America, In congress assembled. That the | :
Independence of the republic of Cuba be
ana the same is hereby acknowledged by