Evening star., 1896-12-02
Spain Given Three Months to End the
Cuban Rebellion.
MIR. OLNEY said TO HAVE so DECLARED
Probably the Result Of Consul
General Lees Report.
ABOUT WEYLER'S ACTIVITY

tive source To-Day to the effect that the
administration has taken a much stiffer
stand on the Cuban question than the
public is led to believe.
The intmation Is that early IN Novem-
ber Secretary Olney. at the instigation of
the President, gave the Spanish authori-
ties to understand that the United States
had waited patiently for the rebellion to
be crushed; that no progress appeared to
be making to that end. and that this gov
ernment would take positive steps within
three months if Spain had not succeeded
in putting an end to the war, practi-
cally ending 1t. This conveyed to
Spain in a courteous way, but amounted
to an ultimatum. The time fixed will ex-
pire in February, probably in the early
part, and nothing is expected 20 be done
until that time.
Quiet In the Meantime.
In the meantime, it is believed that the
administration will seek to iet .he impress
sion go to the country that nothing will
be done, and that a conservative course
is to be followed by this country without
interruption. 1t may even he quietly given
out that the administration believes that
Spain is crushing the insurgents and tEat
she will succeed in making he defeat final
This course, it is limited, may be pursued
to prevent undue excitement between now
and the time fixed for the Spaniards to
carry out their part of the agreement. The
President does not desire Una. the busi-
ness interests of the country shall go
through any long fright again. Holding
this view he is willing that the impression
shall go 10 the country that SPAN is 10
be allowed to pursue her own way i'll Cuba
for an indefinite length of time, without
interference of any kind.
Probably the Eject of Gen. Lees Re-
port.
The intimation outlined to The Star re-
porter did not go into details as to what
brought about Secretary Olney's ultima
tum, but it is apparent, if this was the
case. that the Secretary was informed
through Gen. Lee that the rebellion was
dragging along without anything being
done. and that there was no prospect that
anything would be accomplished. The
Secretary, it is thought. notified the Span
ish authorities that there must be speedy
action to crush the rebellion; that II there
was not, this country would Interfere at
given time. The Spanish authorities prom
ised to adopt active measures The fact
is that they did so. Gen. Weyler took the
field and began activities. About this time
Gen. Lee left Havana and came here to
confer with the administration. About the
same time the stories obtained circulation
that Spain was preparing for war with this
country.
Putting the occurrences of the last month
together, it will be quickly seen that they
lead back to movement of some kind that
has been made. After the preliminary
moves had been made, appeared some
what unusual activity in the war and navy
departments of both countries. What more
natural, it is asked, than this, with both
countries aware that three months might
see the beginning of hostlities? Each had
to do this in quiet way, and each did not
wish the motives understood by the world
at large. Spain could not afford to let 1t
lie known that she bad been forced to her
utmost efforts in Cuba or take the chances
of ict yx-tth
ministration did not be caught un-
prepared for the worst. Quietly orders
could have heen sent out for certain work
to be done in the navy. and the administra-
tion could announce that this meant moth
ing. The supposition is that If the course
outlined was actually taken none Of the
authorities of this country could afford TO
admit il.
The One Drawback.
The one drawback to the plan now given.
il is admitted, is that the utimatum would
carry the probability of war almost to the
beginning of the administration of Pres
ident-elect Mckinley. 1t might even
60 to the new President and his adj
ministration to take the first decisive
steps. This. however. it is said, would not
affect the probable course of events II is
believed that Secretary Oney has con-
suited with the foremost republican Sena-
tors and that he has outlined his propos
tions to Spain to them. They have in
GCrsed his action, and promised that the
new administration. far it lies in
their power to commit it. will carry out
whatever ne had begun. The simple rai-
in:.t the present administration is
short-lved, it is argued would be TO rea-
son why it should leave Cuban affairs en-
tirely for the next administration to deal
with. 1t is further argued that it is not a
question of administration in this matter.
hut question of Americanism which Mr.
Olney would have dealt with. he prob
ably has even had his administration been
shorter than IL is.
Mr.. Olney's Congregational Callers
The interest felt by Congressman in the
attitude assumed by the administration to-
ward the Cuban insurrection is evidenced
by the number of calls Secretary Olney is
receiving from such of the Senators anN
members of the House as have arrived in
Washington in anticipation OF the assem-
bling of Congress next Monday. Naturally
the SecIetary's visitors take advantage Of
their call to seek the latest official news as
to Cuba, but far can be learned the
department has little information on that
subject to communicate. These callers
come away with the impression so far as
they make their remarks known, that the
administration contemplates no change in
the line of policy 1t has pursued since the
beginning of the insurrection two years
ago.
That part of the Presidents message
yet been finally reduced to form. The
events of the past years campaign proba-
bly, will be rapidly reviewed, with the pur-
pose of showing that the insurgents SO far
have failed to meet the requirements orig
inally laid down by the President as essen
tial to their recognition. They have fought
no general engagement to a successful is
sue, have not established permanent seat
of government and have no seaport
In other words, they have not sensibly
changed their condition from what it was
a year ago. so that by the same line of
reasoning laid down by the administration
in the statement semi-officially published i'm
The Star last spring, the policy of non-n-
reference SO far pursued by the admin
istration. will be defended. 1t Is presumed
however. that in addition to a statement TO
this effect. the President will not hesitate
to deplore the continuance of the present
unsatisfactory conditions in Cuba, injurious
as they are to American interests. 1t may
be that under cover Of his message he will
give to Spain notice of the necessity for a
termination of existing evils at a reason
ably early date. This reasonably early
date may be three months from date as in
dicated above.
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