Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-21
THE PRESIDENTS NOTE
Said to Have Been Sent at Senior Palma's
Suggestion.
Friends of Cuba Divided Into Two
FactiOns-No Confidence in the
Promise of Autonomy.

There is an interesting story in circula-
ton regarding the reasons that moved the
President to send his note of mediation to
the Spanish government, through the
American minister at Madrid. 1t is said
that this note was a forerunner of a propo-
sition on the part of the President that
Cuba should be allowed to purchase her in
dependence from Spain, and that Senior
Palma, who is here to be made minister of
the Cuban government as soon as his coun-
try's independence is gained suggested this
plan to Mr.. Cleveland. telling him that it
would be satisfactory to the Cubans.
Two Parties Not Harmonious.
The friends of Cuba in this country are
far from being harmonious, 1t is said in
their efforts to advance the cause of their
native island. There are two factions, one
headed by Senior Palma, who is generally
regarded as the representative of the
Cubans here, and another faction, located
chiefly In New York, and said to be repre-
Sented here by Senor Aguirre, who has been
about the Capitol a great deal during the
debates on the Cuban question. When tho
above story was called to the attention of
Senior ASuirre he replied:
That will not be denied by Senior Palma.
FL have no idea that he will deny it. But
such proposition will not be approved by
the Cubans now fighting for the independ-
=
plan to Gomez myself some time ago and |
will never forget the look and reply he gave
me- He answered promptly that an op-
pressed people could only gain their indie
pendence at the point of the sword A
proposition to purchase their independence
Will be sDurned by the Cubans."
Not n New Proposition.
The report which comes from New York
that a syndicate of English and French
bankers have made an offer. to the junta
to take Cuban loan may indicate that the
proposition for the purchase of Cuba's in
dependence is not new, and that it has been
considered by friends of that people for
some time. This proposition was to pro-
vide money to purchase the independence
OF the island, unless the Cubans should
sooner become free from Spain, and in that
event the loan was to be floated for the re-
public of Cuba, in order that the govern
Hent might have the funds with which TO
establish itself on firm basis by providing
NSelf with a navy and supplying itself
with thS necessary means for conducting
the government in satisfactory manner
The Autonomy Report.
Cubans do Tot receive with any enthusi-
asm the report from Spain that that gov
ernment is ready to grant autonomy to the
island Friends of Cuba in this city look
upon such proposition merely ruse
OF the part of the mother country to put
a stop 10 the war carried on by the in
surgents, in order that Spain may tighten
her grasp on the island. They say they
nave enjoyed a certain degree of self
government 'on PAPER for some time but
that in fact they have been slaves to Span
ism rule. They say that only the Spanish
would be given power in any scheme that
Spain would adopt for the government of
the island, and no matter what may be the
pretended form of government, it would
in fact be no different from what the Gu
bans have had in the past. They insist
that the only way for the Cubans to govern
themselves will be through their independ-
ence.
A Star reporter called at the Raleigh to-
day to see Ser or Palma, in order to ascer-
tain whether he had approved the plan for
the purchase of Cuba from Spain, but
Senor Palma was not in the city