The record-union., 1896-11-26
SPANISH BRAGGADOCIO.
THE UNITED STATES CALLED A
NATION OF SHOPKEEPERS.
II Spain Loses Cuba This Country,
the Prime rlinister Says, Will
Pay Dearly for It.

NEW YORK, Nov 25.-The Sun" to-
morrow will say: In a pamphlet just
published in Spanish by the Cuban
journalist Senior Jose de Armas- Car
denas, the author relates two inter
views he had in Madrid during the
month of August with the Prime Min
lister of Spain, Senior Antonio Canovas
del Castillo.
After having consulted Senior Estrada
Palma, the Cuban delegate in the
United States. and knowing the opposi-
ton of General Gomez, Senior Armas
tried to learn also what Senor Cano-
vas would think about a peaceful ar
rangement of the Cuban question in
the form of a contract between the
belligerents. in which Spain should
grant Independence to Cuba, and the
Cuban republic agree to pay a war in
demnity to Spain.
In last May, and through an impor-
tant Spanish official, the Count of Casa
Miranda, Senior Armas, while In Paris
received news that the Prime Minister
of Spain was ready to hear him on the
subject, provided Senior Armas could
guarantee that in case the Spanish
Government could make such a pro-
posal the CubanS in arms would ac-
cept it.
Senior Armas had then another inter
view with Senior Palma, and the latter
offered to transmit the proposal to
the Cuban Government, and give his
personal opinion in favor of it, as well
as his guarantee that the Cubans in
arms would be willing to make such an
agreement, but knowing the Spanish
pride, he told Senior Armas not to act
as a representative of the Cuban reyo-
lutionists, because the Spanish Govern
ment would believe that they were
looking for peace and had found them
selves too feeble to continue the war
That Mr.. Palma was right is proved in
the pamphlet referred to in this article
Returning to Paris in August, Senior
Armas was escorted to Madrid by an
official specially sent for that purpose
by Senior Canovas, and under an as
sumed name, with a Spanish passport
In Madrid Senior Canovas received Sc
nor Armas, and the first proposal he
made was to grant home rule to the
island of Cuba. AS Senior Armas an
swered that such thing was out of the
question, the Prime Minister offered TO
grant independence, after the Cubans
had laid down their arms. ito satisfy
national pride"
Senior Ar1nas replied that in his posi-
ton, acting Independently for the ac-
complishment Of a practical end he
could not transmit such proposal, as
the Cubans would never believe a
promise of that kind made by Spain.
Here the Prime Minister grew angry
and with insulting expressions about
Cuba, obliged Senior Armas to make an
answer, which put him in danger of
immediate arrest.
The affair would have ended there,
but next day when Senior Armas was
about to leave Madrid the Prime Min
lister called him again to his office and
tried to convince him of the wisdom of
transmitting his plan to the Cubans,
but as Senior Armas refused to do it
without a guarantee of the Government
of the United States that Spain would
keep her promise, the Prime Minister
then said:
'The United States! Neveri Never!
A nation of shopkeepers to guarantee
the word of Spain? The United States
are alone responsible for what happens
in Cuba They are the true authors Of
the war. and I assure you If Spain loses
Cuba the United States will pay to
Spain what Cuba is worth. The Mora
claims begin to cost them dear. The
claims of Spain are now a hundred
times more. The United States threat
ems Europe with the Monroe doctrine.
and Spain. in the name of Europe. win
accept the challenge. Do not talk to
me about the United States. If they
like to Interfere, Spain will fight. and il
they like to take down the Spanish
flag In Cuba they can only obtain 1t
after a glorious Trafalgar in front Of
Havana"
When father tells his children that