The herald., 1896-11-28

Kf7sey-will follow the policy of Presi-
hcnt Cleveland in regard to Cuba ?'
Mckinley represents the republics
wealth and producing elements of the
country, and 1 cannot believe the man
who represents work, virtue and prosper
ity of his country can carry out policy
which would compromise the interests
entrusted to his talents and discretion
as a public man. Hence, 1 think Nc
Kinley will be guided by a just and
equitable policy. without passion and
with prudence such as is counseled by
the interests of the American people and
the cordial relations long existing be-
tween Spain and the United States"
"Is it true, geneyal." asked the corre-
spondent. that you propose to publish a
decree confiscating the property of the
Cuban insurgents?''
With a motion of ironical surprise
General Weyler answered: 1T is not
possible. for the rebels have nothing to
confiscate. They do not represent any
of the wealth of the country. However.
if you possess data. of their property let
me know. 1 will convince myself of the
truth of your information, and will tell
you If confiscate it or not. l, personally.
know only of about dozen farm owners
who are insurgents, and their property is
of little value, and. even then it is mort
gagged to double the amount of its act
ual worth with various creditors; conse-
quently if l decide upon confiscating it
it would be the creditors who would
suffer, and they are AL on the govern
ment's side. The revolution is upheld by
the insolvent element of the country,
hence it bears the stamp of anarchism,
which you must have observed, for the
reason that the insurgents are not carry
ing on war. but rather are lVlrsuing
policy of destruction and incendiarsm."
rs it fact. general, that you will not
allow the sugar crop to be made?"
Il don't feel inclined to permit the
gathering of the crop being commenced
known that the only resources the rebels
before February or March. as it is well
from the planters by threats of violence.
can count on will have to be exacted
and such means obtained would only go
to acquiring arms and ammunition to
be used in carrying on the war against
Spain. I am supported in this plan by
many of the planters, who agree not to
gather their crops rather than be victims
of such extortions on the part of the
rebels and see the fruit of their labors
employed against their country"
do you not think that by the prohibi-
tion of the sugar crop the commercial
interests of the island will suffer and i'm
pOrtant houses connected with the sugar
industry will be bankrupted:"
Il don't because up to the present no
failures. large or small. have taken place
n MAJ o,,fc OH fo. tl,,
idea gainst the crop. In relations be-
tween the planters and the merchants
in Cuba at present the singular feature
is that the planter lives more from the
merchants capital than from the act
ual products of his land and it may be
asserted that the immense majority can
only commence work with money ad-
vanced by the merchants. Therefore, the
commercial element finds it better just
now to keep this money under key until
the crop operations can be run undIr
normal conditions
1t is reported that the Spanish minis
ter of war intends to send another large
contingent of troops to Cuba in Janu-
ary'
Il do not know" replied General Wey-
Ter. Il only think 1 can assure you that
the nation is prepared to make all kinds
of sacrifices, both in money and men,
which has already been proved, to con-
quer in this undertaking and make
Spain's sovereignty respected before and
above everything All the money spent
and to be spent will be Spanish money
Cuba has been asked for nothing: neith-
er for men nor for money. Spain does
not hold Cuba to exploit her nor has she
had anything from her Her pride in her
great national historic traditions alone
impels Spain. and she will defend Cuba
and will exhaust her last dollar and her
last man in so doing. This is not only
the feeling of the government but also
of the Spanish people, as is shown by
the daily growing enthusiasm and sac
rifices by the nation
do you think that the recognition of
the belligerency of the insurgents by the
United States would be taken as an Of
fense by Spain?''
1t would be strange if any act direct
ly aimed at recognition of any chal-
lenge of Spain's right of sovereignty
here, which our people look upon as be-
ing beyond question, did not evoke an
explosion of popular feeling which it
would be impossible to check, excited
and ardent as public sentiment is now
on the Cuban question in Spain"
Finally, the correspondent asked Cen
eral Weyler if he would agree to a truce
in order to bring about an exchange Of
views between himself and the Cuban
insurgents.
He answered. "Such a step would
give the insurgents an importance which
cannot be conceded to them"
At 10 o'clock this forenoon Captain
General Weyler left Havana on board
the Spanish cruiser La Gaspi for Mariel
province of Pinar del Rio, where he will
resume personal command of the Span
1sh forces operating against the insur-
gents
Later in the day the correspondent of
the Associated Press called upon the
chief of staff and informed him that a
dispatch received in New York from
Jacksonville Fla, stated that General
Weyler during the recent campaign in
Pinar del Rio lost 700 men killed and
1900 wounded by the explosion of an in
surgent mine. and that 1000 men of the
Spanish forces We're killed in the Rubi
hills. The chief of staff distinctly stated