Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-10
Today's Cabinet Meeting Develops
No Action.
CORRESPONDENCE With MADRID
Possible Broadening Of the Monroe
Doctrine in Cuba's Cause.
MANY MORS RIFF E

As predicted in yesterdays Star, the reg
ular semi-weekly meeting Of the cabinet
was held at the White House as usual to-
day. The news from the Presidents fam
lily at Woodley this morning was to the
effect thar Ruth, the eldest child. has been
stricken with the measles, and that Esther,
the first victim of the infection, is progress
sing favorably toward recovery. Marion,
the baby, is carefully isolated from her
two invalid sisters. and it is hoped to keep
her free from the disease. The meeting of
the cabinet was comparatively brief, and
if any action of Importance was taken 1t
had not developed up to a late hour this
afternoon 1t is understood that the Gu
ban question was referred to, but that 1t
was not. presented in any form requiring
serious consideration.
From the best information obtalnable
that question has been discussed by the
President with the Secretary of State only,
and the impression is growing that 1t Will
be made the basis of diplomatic correspon-
denoe with the Spanish authorities at
Madrid. conducted through the United
States minister at that capital, with view
to reaching an agreement for speedy set
tlement of The Cuban troubles.
President Against Recognition.
1t is now accepted as final that the Presi-
dent will not recognize the belligerency Of
the insurgents under existing conditions,
and it is said that he is satisfied that the
Spanish authorities would promptly reject
aBy overtures on the part Of the United
States locking to the remuneration of Span
ish rule over its most valuable possession
1t is therefore believed that whatever course
of action the administration has decided
upon in this matter is along an altogether
different line The Presidents action in
Offering his good offices for the mediation
cf the troubles between China and Japan,
and his course N the boundary dispute be-
tween Great Britain and Venezuela, has
led many officials to the belief that he
cCntemplateS a somewhat similar policy Tor
the termination of the Cuban struggles.
correspondence With Madrid.
In that event his correspondence would
be directly with the Spanish foreign Office
at Madrid, and not with the Spanish min
lister at Washington. Consequently, if any
communication has already been sent to
Madrid on the subject, the minister here
would not necessarily know of it until the
fact vas Cabled back to him, or unless he
was taken into the confidence of the State
Department in adyar ce of the receipt OF
the communication at Madrid.
AS stated yesterdays Star, it is i'm
possible to obtain any official information
as TO what the policy of the administration
in this matter actually is. but at the same
time, however. there is reason for the be-
lief that the first authentic news on the
subject will come from the Spanish capital,
and at no very distant date, either.
Capitol Rumors.
The Only information members of the
foreign affairs committee have concern
ing the Cuban matter points to delay OF
a month before any action is taken by the
President. Rumors are persistently cir
culateG that message is to be sent to
Congress ,and that radical steps are to be
taken in behalf of the Cubans. 1t is quite
certain that these rlImOrS emGnate from
administration sources. but it is impos-
toll VI fhav fOraShadnW r..
tion or are put ahoat for some purpose not
disclosed.
1t looks as if the administration were
trying to prepare the public for more radi-
cal action than was contemplated by the
resolutions of Congress. The inference of
n en- in Congress who are interested In the
matter is that Mr.. Cleveland does not want
to follow the lead of Congress, and will
either go further In the matter, or will do
nothing al all until different circumstances
arise Many of the foreign affairs experts
in Congress VINO are favorable to the rec
ognition of the belligerents are strongly of
the opinion that the conditions now exist
frg In Cuba do not warrant the recognition
OF independence. and that for the President
to take that step would be simply courting
trouble with Spain.
Enlar3fnE the Monroe Doctrine.
1t appears. however, that the State De-
partnent is possessed of information not
In the knowledge of Congress. A theory
Tennessee. one of the Presidents friends
In the House. during the closing debate In
the House may indicate the administration
attitude 1t was that the Monroe doctrine
might be applied to prevent the retention
of territory in this hemisphere by a foreign
country thro Ugh force of arms, when the
people Of the territory practically a
unit in demanding independence. This
theory recognizes the theory that people
cannot be governed except by their own
consent, and is an extraordinary broad
ening of the Monroe doctrine.
Mr.. Patterson in speaking Of the propo-
sition afterward said that he was not pre-
pared to say at this time that the theory
should be applied to Cuba now, but he re-
garded the proposition as logical and fully
warranted by the American theory Of gov
ernment.
The suggestion Is made that the Presi-
dent Will wait until the Spanish have sus-
pended military operations on account Of
the rainy season, and, the Cubans being
then for the time in undisturbed posses
sion Of that part of the island which they
have occupied. he will regard this as sufi-
cient evid dence of independence.