The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-21
REvIYAL or THE REPORTS
OF an Effort to Purchase FreedOm-opin-
ions of New York Financiers.

ions of New York Finanoiers.
New York. April, 2O,-The Evening
Post tonight says: Reports that eff
forts are being made to raise $1,000
900 through London and New York
bankers to purchase the freedom and
Independence of Cuba from Spain We're
renewed again in this city to-day, but,
so far Gs could be learned by a careful
investigation, they had no other basis
except the publication of some old cor
respondence on the subject. Bankers
having business with Cuba as well as
other International financiers, when
questioned on the subject, said that
while nothing of the sort had been sug-
gested to them during the present war,
such a scheme had always been re-
garded more or less as possibility
under certain circumstances although
it was not generally considered feast
BILE.
One of these bankers. speaking of the
matter to-day, said: THE amount to
be paid by Cuba need not enter into the
question Cuba could and would pay
$20O,0O0,000 as readily as $10O,OOO,OOO for
her freedom and independence. 1t is
not question so much of raising the
money, supposing Spain were willing
to relinquish her ownership of the IS
land, as to how such a plan could be
carried into effect. 1t would depend
to some extend on the government that
Cuba was to have, If Spain evacuated
the island, whether the money could be
raised fer the purpose of purchasing
her freedom. There is no reason to sup
pose that, if Cuba were left to herself
to-day, her government would be any
better, for instance, than the govern
ment of Hayti or San Domingo. For
the successful carrying out of any such
plan as the one proposed, guarantee
! ing of the payment of the bonds etc,
there would have to be established
some sort of protectorate and control
over the island by some other nations,
say by the governments of this coun-
try and Great Britain, for instance.
tThen there is another matter to be
considered, and that is what arrange
ment would be made about the payment
of the present Cuban debt. Spain has
borrowed large sums of money on
CUBAN DOnQS, ana is DONG SO now LOT
defraying the expense of putting down
the present rebellion. Some arrange
ment would have to be made that
would include a settlement of all such
claims. Of Cuba's ability, however,
and her Willingness to pay one or two
| hundred million dollars in exchange
for her freedom if she could have the
opportunity to do so. there is, as have
said, no doubt. She pays $40 now for
every dollar she gets, and she will be
taxed by Spain for every dollar spent
by that country in trying to put down
, the rebellion, if the Spanish forces are
ultimately successful which at the pres
ent appears to be very doubtful. 1t
should not be forgotten that if Cuba
succeeds eventually in winning her free
, dom by force of arms, all the persons
/ (and there are lots of them) who are
/. backing the Cubans now with money
and arms. and other material resources
of war, will turn up then as the owners
4 of valuable trading concessions in the
island, as well as of millions of dollars
of bonds of the Republic of Cuba"