The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-17
CUBA'S CHANCES in CONGRESS
SENATE COMMITTEE MAY REPORT
IN FAVOR OF RECOGNITION.

The Committee, However, Not In
4 cIined to Pursue the Fire-Eating
Course Demanded by Senators Call
and MiIIs-If a Resolution Is Re-
the One Introduced by Senator
Cameron.
Washington, Dec. 16.-The Senate COM
mittee on foreign relations, with all the
members present but Senator Lodge,
Daniel and Gray, discussed the Cuban
question this morning for one hour and a
half and without taking action of any
sort, adjourned to meet in special session
on Friday morning, next
Senators Morgan and Mills advocated
the vigorous resolutions introduced by
them, but it was apparent that the COM
mittee was not prepared to follow such
radical leaders. The drift of the, discus
sion showed that possibly majority of
the committee might ultimately be per-
suaded in reporting a resolution pattern
ed after that of Senator Cameron This
resolution recognizes the independence of
the republic of Cuba by the United States
and declares that this government should
use its friendly offices with the govern
ment on Spain to bring the war between
Spain and Cuba to an end.
The phraseology of this resolution does
not appear to be altogether satisfactory,
but how best TO frame it the committee
was unable this morning 10 decide Even
this resolution is fraught with grave re-
suits, for as one leading member of the
committee said after the committee ad-
Journed, the mere recognition of the indie
pendence of Cuba means a diplomatic run
ture with Spain, if indeed it does not lead
to more serious consequences. No definite
conclusion was reached, but members ex-
press the hope that within few days the
committee will be able to meet on common
ground. The fact that the committee will
meet in special session Friday instead of
letting the matter go over until the regular
meeting next Wednesday is accepted as a
favorable sign by the friends of Cuba. No
outsiders were present.
Senator Cameron expects to have his
resolution favorably acted upon by the
committee on Friday, and if this is done
it will be called up promptly after the
holiday recess.
One prominent conservative senator dis
cussing the matter after the meeting,
said: Il should like to see more explicit
denials from Spain of the alleged treach-
cry accompanying Maceo's DEATH The
Duke of Tetnan. Weyler and the Spanish
minister all assert that Maceo died in
loyal fight whatever that phrase may
mean in American-Spanish. OF course,
he died fighting as any brave
man would when trapped into
an ambuscade, just as Custer
died at Big Little Horn. But how did he
get into the ambuscade / want an ex-
plicit statement from Marquis Ahumada
that he did not, in colusion with Maceo's
physician lthe only man of Maceos staff
who miraculously escaped slaughter) in
duce Maceo to cross the trocha, and per-
haps give him safe conduct to do so on
the pretext of meeting him for a parley
The fact that the Cuban revolutionists re-
covered Maceo's body, even If true, proves
nothing. According to the official Span
ish account Maj Cirujeda was in possess
sion of his body long enough to search it
and take off Maceos silk underwear and
his jewelry. What were the Cubans do
ing meanwhile? Until / hear some au-
thentic and substantial evidence to the
contrary, l shall continue to believe that
Maceo was lured into an ambuscade un-
der flag of truce, and was then shot
down and that his compatriots, attracted
by the sound of the firing, came up in
force and rescued his body. l want to
hear from Marquis Ahumada whether he
authorized this doctor to propose a par
ley or whether he knew of or tacitly sane
toned any such plan"