The San Francisco call., 1896-11-26
CANOVAS WARLIKE TALK.
THIS Nation of Shopkeepers Mast Fight
If 1t Imterfrres fn Cuba

THIS Nation of ShOpkeepers Mast Fight
If 1t ImterT-res in Cuba
NEW YORK, n. Y, Nov. 25.-The Sun
tomorrow will say:
In pamphlet just published in Spanish
by the Cuban journalist; Senor Jose de
Armas- Cardenas, the author relates two
interviews he had in Madrid, during the
month of August. with the Prime Minis
ter of Spain, Senior Antonio Canovas del
Castillo
After having consulted Senior Estrada
Palma, the Cuban delegate in the United
States, and knowing the opinion of
General Gomez, Senior Armas tried
to learn also what Senior Cano-
vas would think about peaceful
arrangement of the Cuban question in the
form of contract between the belligereuts
in which Spain should grant independence
to Cuba and the Cuban republic agree 10
pay war indemnity to Spain.
Last May, and through an important
Spanish official, the Count of Casa Mi
randa, Senior Armas, while in Paris re-
ceived word that the Prime Minister of
Spain was ready to hear him on the SUBJ
ject provided Senor Armas could guaran-
tee that in case the Spanish Government
could make such a proposal the Cubans in
arms would accept it.
Senior Armas had then another interview
with Senor Palma, and the latter offered
to transmit the proposal to the Cuban
Government and give his personal opinion
in favor of it as well as his guarantee that
the Cubans in arms would be will
ing to make such an agreement, but
knowing the Spanish pride he told
Senor Armas not to act as representative
of the Cuban revolutionists, because the
Spanish Government would believe that
they were looking for peace and had
found themselves too feeble to continue
the war. That Mr.. Palma was right is
proved in the pamphlet referred to in this
article.
Returning to Paris in August, Senior
Armas was escorted TO Madrid by an off,
cial specially sent for that purpose by
name with Spanish passport. In Madrid
Senior Canovas received Senior Armas, and
the first PROPOSAL he made was to grant
home rule to the island of Cuba.
AS Senior Armas answered that such a
thing was out of the question, the Prime
Minister offered 10 grant independence
after the Cubans had laid down their arms
Ito satisfy the national PRIDE"
Senor Armas replied that in his position,
acting independently for the accom- pIish. :.
ment of practical end, he could not
transmit such a proposal, as the Cubans
would never believe a promise OF that
kind made by Spain.
Here the Prime Minister grew angry,
and with insulting expressions about Cuba
obliged Senor Armas to make an answer
which put him in danger of immediate
arrest. The affair would have ended there,
but next day when Senior Armas was about
to leave Madrid the Prime Minister called
him again to his office and tried
to convince him of the wisdom of trans.
mitting his plan to the Cubans but as
Senior Armas refused to do it without a
guarantee from The Government of the
United States that Spain would keep her
promise. the Prime Minister said
THE United States? Never, never A
nation of shopkeepers to guarantee the
word of Spain? The United States are
alone responsible for what happens in
Cuba. They are the true authors of the
war, and 1 assure you if Spain loses Cuba
the United States will pay to Spain what
Cuba is worth.
1.-The Mora claims begin to cost them
dear. The claims of Snain are now a hun
dred times more. The United States
threatens Europe with the Monroe doc
trine and Spain, in the name of Europe,
will accept the challenge.
Don't talk TO me about the United
States II they like to interfere Spain will
fight, and If they like to take down the
;.A C,,t,, -
it after glorious Trafalgar in front of
u