The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-21
THE WAR MUST GO ON.
No Prospects Of Adjusting Troubles
In Cuba.
SPAIN MAKES NO PROPOSITIONS s
WHICH COULD BE ACCEPTED.

Matter Discussed in an Informal Way by
MI. DeLome and Secretary Olney- Gen.
Lee Urged not to Assume His Duties
Until Rainy Season is Over.
Washington, April 2o-In the oral dis
oussions Of Cuban affairs between the
Spanish minister and Secretary Olney,
during the last few weeks, an informal
memorandum Of fifty or sixty reform
measures, which, under certain, oon-
tingencies, the Spanish government is
willing to accord Cuba is understood to
have played an important part.
These concessions are entirely distinct
from the decree Of the 18th of March,
1895. promulgated by the Spanish Queen
Regent, seventeen days after the out
break of the insurrection and counter
signed by Buenaventura de Abarzuzza,
minister of the colonies, himself native
Of Havana. That decree provided a
system Of government for Cuba and for
the readjustment for it's civil administra-
tion, but left as now, absolute revision
ary power in the hands of the governor
general. At the very outset of the plan,
| 1t was provided that, whenever the
governor general shall Judge any decision
Of the council to be contrary to the laws
| or to the general interests of the nation
he shall suspend Its execution and take
| such provisional measures as the public
needs, which would otherwise have been
| neglected because of such suspension
may require Immediately submitting the
! ton Tn thn ,iJ,ir of ho
The proposals of reform are broader and
more liberal than this decree, they ap-
proach more nearly to practical
autonomy, but are accompanied by con-
ditions which apparently render their
adoption or even their consideration by
the insurgents an impossibility.
As in case of the ten years war. Spain
insists as preliminary to negotiations,
that the insurgents shall first lay down
their arms, as it is against the dignity OF
the Spanish crown to treat with armed
rebels. The Cuban leaders assert that
when they complied with similar condi-
tions in 1875 to secure reforms pledged
to them by Martinez Campos, the pledges
then made were chiefly left unfulflled
and they emphatically decline to be again
deceived in like manner. Consequently
the proffered measure of reform is likely
to fall to the ground as far as Cuba is
concerned, though some similar pro-
visions may probably be rendered Porto
Rico, where no rebellion exists. Nothing
suggested in the plan as 1t now stands,
holds out any prospect OF "a speedy termi-
| nation Of the war.
Private advices received from Havana
indicate that the hopes, at first expressed
| that the appointment of Gen. Fitz Hugh
Lee, as consul general to Havana, might
open up some way Of adjustment, have
died away. 1t is doubted whether Gen.
Lee will be able to take up his new
duties for months to come. This is the
BEGINNING of the most deadly siokly
season in Cuba. The cares and worries of
the responsibilities of the office OF consul
general at Havana, to an unacclimated
man of Gen. Lees portlY physique, it is
said, would be likely to bring on an at
tack of yellow fever, the chances Of re-
covery from which, might be doubtful
He could not take refuge in the noun.
tains, because of the hundreds of alleged
naturalized American citizens olamorina
for protection and reparation from
Spain, would render such escape i'm
possible. Friends Of Gen. Lee, long
residents in Cuba, are said to have
written him, strongly dissuading him
from attempting to take up his duties
until the rainy season Is over.