The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-24
1T is THE END WHICH THE
PRESIDENT NOW HAS IN
VIEW.
SPAIN IS NOT UNWILLING
BUT INSISTS THAT THE INSUR-
GENTS WILL NOT ACCEPT THE
CONCESSION.
TREATY URGENTLY DEMANDED.
The Existing Agreement Between
the Countries Is Roth Obscure
and Out of Date.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-Whatever
course congress may finally take with
respect to the Cameron resolution, the
insistent efforts of the present admins
tration, at least, will continue to be ex-
erted in behalf of an autonomous gov
ernment for the Cubans. During the
correspondence between the govern
ment and Spain, the Canadian sys-
tenn has repeatedly been referred to
as a model which Spain might do well
to follow in granting home rule to her
Cuban colonists. The objections, how
ever, have been made, and with some
reason, it is admitted, that system
which would work admirably with her
majesty's subjects in Canada, might
utterly fail ifapplied to the Cubans. That
Spain has intimated that under certain
conditions she would not be averse to
granting a reasonable measure of home
rule to the Cubans is beyond question.
She, however, insisted that nothing less
than disastrous defeat in battle will
cause the insurgents to heed such prop
ositions and it is regarded in Madrid
as useless to attempt any of the re-
forms suggested until Weyler strikes
decisive blow
This government, however, does not
fully agree with that view of the
case, and undoubtedly it is making
some progress in it's contention for
peace on a basis alike reasonable and
honorable to the Cubans as we'll as to
Spain. One of the principal motives
which has actuated this government
in the course it has taken in this mat
ter is the protection of the persons and
property Of citizens of the United
States now engaged as tobacco and
sugar planters in Cuba. Although the
planters generally are said to sympa-
thiZe with the Cuban cause informal
ton has reached this government that
as a rule they entertain serious doubts
of the ability of the native Cubans. if
wholly successful, to maintain a stable
and satisfactory government. What
the planters most desire is annexation
to the United States, but as the admin
istration, as plainly made evident, re-
CARDS this as out of the question, the
planters next favor an autonomous
government under the executive super
vision Of Spain.
Should Spain consent to allow Cuba
to legiSlate as to her own internal af-
fairs, the United States, as stated by
Mr.. Olney in his report to congress,
would consent to become responsible
to Spain for the faithful observance of
the conditions Of the treaty between.
the two countries. The idea of this
government is that this agreement
could be made a part of a new treaty
between the United States and Spain,
the necessity for which is admitted by
both governments.
NEW TREATY NEEDED.
The Spanish authorities, it can be
stated, share the feeling, strongly en-
tertained by the United States, that the
present treaty has long outlived its use
fulness. It was ratified and proclaimed
in 1895, and bears every evidence of its
antiquity. AT that time Florida and
Louisiana belonged to Spain and good
part Of the treaty relates to the boun-
darieS between the United States and
the Spanish colonies, which have now
become American states. The old doc
ument has been added to from time to
time nthe form of protocols, conven-
tions, ETC., but the original remains as
the basis and main treaty. Not only
is it antiquated, but in the lapse of
time disagreements have arisen as to
the text and at present the version in
Spanish used by the authorities at Mad
rid is said to be materially different
from that in English at Washington.
So far as Slain is concerned, there
is reason to believe she will welcome a
new treaty as a means of securing
| changes which the present war has
shown to be VITAL but will insist on de-
laying such treaty revision until Cuba
| is pacified in large measure at least.
The two main features which Spain
| feels the need Of rearranging by treaty
are, first, the naturalization of Span
| iards Gncluding Cubans) after brief res
| idence in the United States, and, sec
| ond, commercial relations respecting
! the rate of duty and methods of ex-
! change on the sugar and tobacco of
| Cuba and Porto Rico, and on the man
| ufactured products Of the United States
going to the Spanish colonies.
The change as to naturalization is re
garded as of chief Importance by
Spain, which asserts that the protec-
| ton of American citizenship is infre-
| quently invoked by genuine American
| citizens, but is used very frequently by
persons who become nominal American
| citizens for the sake of the protection
| it affords and then return to Cuba,
! where they thenceforth continue to re-
! side. Spain will seek to overcome this
! by seeking to secure a provision that
| Spanish citizens, including Cubans,
who come to the United States must
remain here for three years as actual,
bora fide citizens, before they can ap-
! ply for American citizenship.
The commercial features of a new
treaty will be of Importance, owing to
| the enormous trade between Cuba and
the United States. The Cuban sugar
export reaches $4,000, 900 tons annually
in times of peace, and most of this
comes to the United States. The to-
bacco shipments are equally extern
sive. On the other hand the nearness
of Cuba to our shore makes the island
dependent on this country for manu-
factured goods, machinery and bread
stuffs. Under the reciprocity clause Of
the Mckinley law an arrangement was
made July %, 1891, for mutual ex-
| change of goods at reduced rates OF
duty. Under the present law, which
repealed the reciprocity clause of the
previous law, the reciprocity conven-
ton was denounced. Since then the
| high rates on sugar and tobacco have
been a serious disadvantage to the
| producers of the island, while Spain
has retaliated by putting in force the
high rates previously existing against
| American manufactures and products
| sent to Cuba A treaty adjustment on
the lines of the convention of 1891 it
is believed would be acceptable TO
| Spain.
1T is said that under the new treaty
nothing could be done to restrict fill
! clustering. although this has been one
of the most serious causes of trouble
| developed by the war, since it is sub
| ject covered by International law
rather than by treaty.