Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-19

Question That Is Raised by Ac.
ton at Washington.
CUBA RECOGNIZED AS A NATION

S800ID
Committes-Olney's Statements Have -
E9eet to Deter the Senators, Who Adope
Cameron's Resolutions Opinion Largely
Held That It Means War Between the
United States and Spain.
Washington, Dec. 1s.-The meeting Of
the senate committee on foreign reia-
tons yesterday was important in two
respects. 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 administrator
policy in regard to the insurrection in
Cuba. The secretary occupied the
greater part Of the time Of the meeting
answering questions and suggestions
made by members Of the committee.
He and Morgan engaged I'm several
spirited colloquies. Olney made two
points against the Cameron resolution
as follows: THAT the Cuban insur-
gents have established no government
Z-That the right to recognize n new
state rests with the president. inde-
pendent of congressional action.
He contended in elaboration OF the
first point that the pretended govern
ment Of the island was without habita-
ton.
How Morgan Would Manage Things.
Suppose you recognize the inde-
pendence of the island" he said. what
are you going to do with it,"
Il for one" replied Morgan. while
advocating this recognition want It I'M
derstood that am opposed to annexa-
ton"
How. then, would you maintain its
independence" asked the secretary,
himself becoming interlocutor. How
would you. for instance. prevent Span
ish domination over the island?"
Il would" replied the Alabama sena-
tor, establish, if need be. a protector
| ate. / would follow much the same pol
| icy that We are pursuing with regard to
Hawaii. and 1 would send an army as
we did in the case Of Mexico
Secretary Appears ''Coming Round"
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 fer the presidents
prerOgative he was not nearly SO
strongly opposed to Cuban independence
L
would be entirely reconciled to it II
satisfied as to the future course to be
pursued. He did not dissent strongly
from a point made that his own report
showed a sufficient cause for action
and he admitted that a state of af-
fairs which permits the killing Of Amer
lean citizens and the destruction OF
American property was deplorable
They are, however," he added. "the
| Incidents of war;
Not OF war properly conducted, but
of anarchy" was the response.
Sets at Rests q Special Story.
The secretary set at rest the story
| which has been very industriously cir.
culated that Consul General Lee has
provided the state department with ar
elaborate report on the condition OF
| affairs in Cuba. 1T is not true" he
said. General Lee has made no gen.
eral written report at all. He has made
reports on several special cases. bu
not on the situation as q whole" Il
also developed during the examination
that the government had made no de
mand in the case OF the Competition
and in other cases of a similar char
acter beyond requests for information
Friendly Slap In the Face.
\ Wnlle the committee Will report tn,
resolution on Monday as agreed upor
it is not expected that the question
will be pressed until after the holidays
The disposition of the committee vii
be to press Tho resolution to a speed,
determination as soon as possible afte
the question is once taken up for de
bate. The Cameron resolutions, which
are considered almost equivalent to ,
declaration of war by many, wer
amended slightly before passing, blu
In the direction of making them harde
for Spain to swallow. The propose,
friendly" offices which we are to offe
after recognizing the independence O
the Cubans will not make the actio,
little bit more agreeable to Spain.
Resolutions That Are To BE Passed,
The resolutions are as follows. tn
words republic or in the first reso
luton were put there yesterday by tn
committee. In the second resolution
the word should was changed I
will use friendly" etc.
Resolved by the senate and hous
of representatives Of the United State.
in congress assembled. that the indie
pendence Of the republic of Cuba b
and the same is hereby acknowledge
by the United States Of America.
That the United States use II
, friendly offices with the government G
, Spain to bring to a close the war be
y tween Spain and Cuba"