The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1896-12-26
THE FIRST STEP
Towards Recognizing Cuba as an
Independent Republic.
Senator Cameron's Resolution to That E0d
Ordered Favorably Reportedb by the
Senate Committee on Foreign
Relations.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The senate
committee on foreign relations, by e
practically unanimous vote, ordered q
favorable report to be made to the
senate, Monday, on the Cameron reso-
luton recognizing the independence OF
the republic of Cuba. A verbal change
was made in the text of the resolution
SO that, as finally agreed to, it reads as
follows:
RGSolred, By the senate and house OF repre-
senratives OF the United States of America, in
congress assembled, tina: the independence OF
the republic OF Cuba be and the same Is here
by acknowledged BY the United States of
America.
Section2 That the United States will use
its friendly offices with the government of
Spain to bring to q close the war between
Spain ana Cuba.
Secretary Olney, who had been re-
quested to appear before the commit
tee by Senator Sherman, was present
for one hour and laid before the COM
mittee all of the information in the
possession of the state department. He
stated to the committee very fully
the policy of the administration
in its present attitude towards the
insurrection in Cuba. No member
of the committee is willing to make
any statement as to what Mr.. Olney
said, each one looking upon his state
ment as a confidential matter between
the secretary and the committee.
Sufficient is known, however, to show
that Mr.. Olney admitted before the
committee the information received
from Consul-Gencral Lee and other
sources that has been st~eadfastly kept
from the general public.
The secretary was accorded the
greatest respect throughout, and the
dialogue was friendly.
Mr.. Olney's argument did not appear
tee. il it was against the passage of
the resolution. for immediately upon
his withdrawal, the resolution was laid
before the committee for action. There
was no yea and nay vote. but the reso-
luton was agreed to without Il dis
s%enting voice. The only point of diff
ference was as to whether the action
of the committee should be made pub
lie at once or withheld until Monday.
One senator thought action of any
sort should be postponed until after
the holidays, but the will of the ma
jority prevailed and there was practi-
cal uTanimity in the vote. Senators
Gray and Daniel were both absent, but
it is said that both of them are favor
bic to the action taken by the COM
mittee.
Senator Camera n was instructed to
prepare the report that will be sub
mitted to the senate. As a matter of
fact the report was written and was
submitted to the committee. 1t is
looked upon as an exceedingly strong
document, and goes into the diplomatic
history of the United States very fully
to show our policy in the matter of
recognizing new states. Some few adj
ditions and alterations were suggested
by other members of the committee,
but the report as drawn by the sena-
tor is practically complete.
This report will be made to the sem
ate Monday, but, as stated before in
these dispatches, there is no prospect
of decisive action in either house of
congress before the holidays. Mean
while the situation in Cuba, as it d.
velops during the holidays, will I'M
doubtedly affect the final action of
congress On the resolution. Only two
adverse suggestions were made in the
committee on the Cameron resolution.
Both of these counseled delay until
came, it is understood, from Senators
Hale and Sherman.
News of the action of the committee
spread abroad rapidly. The house
was in session and the Cuban sym
pathizers crowded to the 'front.'. The
parliamentary programme for the
Cameron resolution is to pass the SEN
ate and the house, not until after the
holidays, however, and then go to the
president, where it is a foregone con-
clusion u veto awaits it. In the COM
mittee on foreign relations the senti-
ment was quite general that the presi-
dent would veto the resolution. 1t is
believed the senate and house will
both pass it over the veto, if the
Cuban cause does not receive a seri-
GUS setback during the holidays.
But it is expected thai a long debate
Will be held on the resolution in both
house and senate, and the day when
the resolution will reach the president
for his action is several weeks ahead.
In the present temper of congress-,
with public sentiment growing rap
idly in favor of Cuba, there seems to
be 10 doubt in the minds of the
friends of Cuba of their ability to pass
the joint resolution over the veto of
AIR. Cleveland.
ONLY URGED DELAY.
Cautioned the Foreign Relations Commit
tee to c. Slowly.