Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-19
AGREES TO RECOGNIZE CUBA
Cameron Joint Resolution is Made Even
More Emphatic.
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS ACTS
Resolution VIII lie Reported TO the
senate Next Monday and
Taken Up After the
.l Holidays.


the senate committee foreign relations
today was important in two respects 1t
resulted in an agreement to report the Cam
eron resolution for the recognition of Cuban
independence and it developed, through the
statement of Secretary olney the
administrations policy in regard
to the insurrection in Cuba.
The committee changed the resolution so as
TO make 1t more emphatic. The title was
changed 20 read, Joint resolution acknowl-
edging the Independence Of the Republic of
Cuba" the words "the republic Of being
inserted Instead of declaring that the
United States should" use its friendly
Office 1t makes 1t read the United States
win do so.
The resolution as amended is as follows:
Resolved, BY the senate and house of
representatives OF the United States of
America in congress assembled, That the
Independence of the Republic of Cuba be
and the same is hereby acknowledged by
That the United States will use its
friendly offices with the government OF
Spain to bring to close the war between
Spain and Cuba.
Secretary Oney occupied the greater part
Of the time of the meeting answering ques-
- tons and suggestions made by members of
= che committee. He and Senator Morgan
engaged in several spirited colloquics. Mr..
Olney made two points against the Cameron
resolution, follows
l. That the Cuban insurgents have estab-
lished no government.
2. That the right to recognize new state
rests with the president, independent of con-
- gresslonal action.
y lie contended, in elaboration of the first
point, that the pretended government of the
island was without habtation.
Suppose you recognize the independence
of the island, what are you going to do
with it?"
II. for one" said Senator Morgan while
advocating this recognition, want it under
stood that am opposed to annexation"
How, then, would you maintain its inde-
pendence?' asked the secretary, himself be-
coming iuterlocutor. "EIow would you for
instance prevent Spanish domination over
the islands"
II would" replied the Alabama senator
Establish, II need be, protectorate.
would follow much the same policy are
pursuing with regard to Hawaii, and | would
send an army of occupation to the island II
necessary, as we did in the case Of Mexico"
OLNEYS OPPOSITION MILD.
The secretary made the impression upon
some of the members of the committee, by
the way he pursued this line of inquiry that
while he disposed to hold out strongly
for the presidents prerogative, he was not
nearly so strongly opposed to Cuban inde-
pendence as he had been year ago. and
that he would be entirely reconcled to 1t If
satisfied as to the future course to be pur-
sued He did not dissent strongly from a
point made that his own report showed a
sufficient cause for action, and he admitted
that n state of affairs which permits the
killing of American citizens and the de-
structlon Of American property was deplor-
able. They arc. however," he added, the
incidents OF war"
''No; OF war properly conducted but OF
anarchy" was the response.
The secretary set at rest the story which
has been very industrlously circulated that
4 40
department with an elaborate report on the
condition of affairs in Cuba. ut Is not
true" he said General Lee has made no
general written report at all He has made
reports on several special cases, but not on
S4he situation as n whole" 1t also developed
1during the examination that the government
has made demand in the case of the
Competitor and in other cases of a similar
character beyond for information.
While the committee will report the reso-
luton as agreed upon Monday, 1t is not eX-
pected that the question will be pressed
until after the holidays. The disposition of
the committee will be to press the resou-
\ ton to a speedy determination as soon as
\, possible after the question is once taken up
for debate.
The committee was prompt in be-
ginning It's work at the specified
hour OF 1890 today, all the members except
Senators Gray and Daniel being present.
The meeting was for the express purpose
of continuing the discussion Of a policy on
the Cuban question to be recommended by
the committee, and Secretary Olney was
present for the purpose Of giving advice and
placing before the committee information in
his possession bearing upon the question.
The meeting was strictly private, Mr.. Olney
being the only person not member Of the
committee who was admitted to the con-
ference.
1t was early understood, however, that the
tendency OF the secretarys advice was
against precpitate action by the committee,
hn al Cameron
luton were not displaying any disposition
to change their determination to report It,
Secretary Olney, 1t is claimed by the
members of the committee who favored
action on Cuba, did not have any new in
formation to present and they say the COM
mittee knew as much about the condition OF
affairs in Cuba the secretary did. The
secretary counseled moderation and urged
that there no regular form of govern
ment established there.
CAME TO THE CAMERON.
The regular call Of the Cameron resolution
was reached Immediately after Mr. Olney
left the room at 1915, and was arrived at
without division or expressed difference OF
opinion. The only division was as to the
time that the resolution should be reported
TO the senate. Senator Cameron moved Its
report on Monday next Senator Sherman
suggested that the report should not be put
In until after the holidays. When the
question was put to the committee the
Cameron motion prevailed by large major
ity.
Secretary Olney did not make any state
ment regarding the attitude OF foreign gov
ernments in case the United States took
some action In favor of the Cuban revolution
lists. The secretary did not proffer very
much advice to the committee, but con-
fined himself mainly to a statement of facts
I'm possession OF the State department re-
garding the conditions in the island and
what the government had done These in
cluded information furnished by the Ameri-
can consuls and agents also information
furnished by the Spanish authorities.
The time of the committee was taken up
largely with Secretary olney's statement
Ssana with reading portions of the report on
the resolution prepared by Senator Cameron.
Mr.. Olney refused, after leaving the COM
mltttee room to reveal the nature OF his COM
munication to the committee.
"All that can say as to our proceedings,
said member of the committee, lis that we
adopted a motion to report the Cameron
resolution Immediately after Mr. olney left.
Another member of the committee is re-
Sponsbe for the statement that there was
~ no division on this proposition,
"Do you mean." he was asked, that the
committee was unanimous?"
"Yes; a amounts to that, There wac
anma dinaranpa of Oninion as 10 the time