The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-12-19
OLNEY AND THE COMMITTEE.
Points Made by the Secretary Against
the Resolution.


WASHINGTON. Dec. 1s.-The meeting of
the Senate committee on foreign relations
to-day was important in two respects. 1t
resulted in an agreement to report the
Cameron resolution for the recognition of
Cuban independence and it developed,
through the statment of Secretary Olney,
the administrations policy in regard to the
insurrection in Cuba. The secretary occu-
pied the greater part Of the time Of the
meeting answering questions and sugges-
tions made by members oil the committee.
lie and Senator Morgan engaged i'm sew
eral spirited colloquies. Mr.. Olney made
two points against the Cameron resolu-
ton, as follows: First, that the Cuban in
surgents have established no government;
second, that the right 20 recognize
state rests with the President. independent
of congressional action. He contended, in
elaboration of the frs point that the pre-
tended government of the island was with
out habitation. Suppose you recognize the
independence of the island" he said, what
are you going to do with it?'
II for ONE replied Senator Morgan,
while advocating this recognition, want it
understood that 1 am opposed to annexa-
tion.'
How. then. would you maintain its in
becoming interlocutor. How would you
for instance, prevent Spanish domination
over the isand?"
Il would replied the Alabama senator,
establish, if need be. a protectorate. l
would follow much the same policy that
we are pursuing with regard to Hawaii.
and / would send an army of occupation
to the island. if necessary, as we did in
the case of Mexco"
The secretary made the impression upon
some of the members of the committee by
the way he pursued this line of inquiry,
that while he was disposed to hold out
strongly for the Presidents prerogative, he
was not nearly so strongly opposed TO Gu
ban independence he mad been a year
ago and that he would be entirely recon-
ciled to it If satisfied as to the future
course to be pursued. He did not dissent
strongly from a point made that his own
report showed a sufficient cause for action,
and he admitted that state of affairs
which permitted the killing of American
citizens and the destruction of American
property was deplorable. They are how
ever" he added, "the incidents of war;.
Not Of war properly conducted, but of
anarchy" was the response.
The secretary set at rest the story which
has been very industriously circulated that
= Consul General Lee had provided the State
| Department with an elaborate report on
| the condition of affairs in Cuba. 1t is not
true he said. General Lee has made no
| general written report at ALL He has made
reports on several special cases, but not
on the situation as whole"
| 1t also developed during the examination
! that the government had made no demand
| in the case of the Competitors crew and
in other cases of similar character be-
| yond requests for information.
THE RESOLUTION.
While the committee will report the Cam
| eron resolution as agreed on Monday, it is
| not expected that the question will be
| pressed until after the holidays. The dis
| position of the committee will be to press
| the resolution to a speedy determination as
| soon possible after the question is once
| taken up for debate. AS modified the reso-
| luton reads:
Resolved. by the Senate and House of
| Representatives of the United States of
| independence of the republic of Cuba be
| and the same is hereby acknowledged by
the United States of America
| Section 2 That the United States will
use its friendly offices with the govern
ment Of Spain to close the war between
| Spain and Cuba"
Mr.. Olney entered the committee room
about 10:3O a. m. and left it at 1915. The
| agreement TO report the resolution was
reached at once without division or ex-
pressed difference of opinion. The only di-
vision was as to the time that the resolu-
| ton should be reported to the Senate.
Senator Cameron moved its report on Mon
day next. Senator Sherman suggested that
| the report should not be put in until after
| the holidays. When the question put
to the committee the Cameron motion pre-
! vailed by large majority Mr. Olney re-
| fused. after leaving the committee room, to
reveal the nature Of his communication to
| the committee.
''All that / can say as to our proceed
| ings," said member of the committee ''is
| that We adopted motion to report the
Cameron resolution Immediately after Mr.,
Another member of the committee is re-
| sponsible for the. statement that there was
do you mean" he was asked 'that the
| committee was unanimous?'
erenne nf opioon io fhat y, There t6 t
| that the report should be made some OF
the members holding that the question
after the holidays.
| Senator Cameron's report. to accompany
the resolution, deals at length with the
| question OF precedents in the matter of the
| recognition of independence and interven-
| ton of whatever nature by the United
States, beginning with the Greek revolution
and coming down to the present time. Sen
| ators who heard the report say il is very
| thorough in this respect and goes over the
| entire ground.
| Members OF the committee are very
| reticent as to what Secretary Olney said oI
what advice he gave. but 1t is very certain
that he advised against any action, and es-
| pecially action like that contemplated. a.
| no doubt expressed that such actor
| would involve war with Spain. One mem.
ber of the committee said: ''Of course
Spain will fight. Those Spaniards do no
know any better. But there is no danger
of other countries getting in our way NJ
other European nation wants to fight us
and we would vino up war with Spain in
short order.
Another member of the committee sait
should veto the resolution il would pas:
over the veto. as he believed there Wer,
more than two-thirds of both the Senat,
and House in favor Of il.
THE RECOGNITION OF TEXAS.
In report made by Senator Clay of the
committee on foreign relations. in respec,
to the recognition of Texas, are the follow.
ing passages applicable TO the present case
THE right of one Independent power tc
recognize the fact OF the existence of a new
power about to assume a position among
the nations OF the earth is incontestible. II
is founded on another right-that which ap
pertains to every sovereignty TO take car,
of its own interests by establishing anC
cultivating such commercial or other rela.
tions With the new power as may bG
deemed expedient- It's exercise gives ne
Just ground of umbrage or cause of war
government of the United States In respect
to the new powers has been to act on tn.