The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1896-12-19
WAR CLOUDS
LOOM UP.
The Senate Foreign Affairs
Committee Recognize
the Insurgents.
The Adoption of the Resolutions
Expected to Irritate
Spain.
THE SITUATION IS VERY CRITICAL.
Effect Of the News In Spain AnxlousIy Awaited
In Washington Treasury Officials
Filled With Fear.
THE SyTUA7yONIS VERY CRITICAL.

Washington, Dec I9.-Yesterday al
ternoon the senate foreign affairs com
mittee agreed to report favorably tn
Cameron resolution, which recognize
the independence of Cuba. Great i'm
portance Is attached to this action. a
the committee Is composed Of the ables
meni In the upper house Before the agree
ment was reached, Secretary of Stat
Olney made a vigorous protest agains
any action on the part of the Legislative
branch OF the government.
The secretary Occupied the greater par
Of the time of the meeting, answering
questions and suggestions made by mem
hers OF the committee. He and Senate
Morgan engaged in general spirited col
Morgan engaged in several spirited col
loquys. Mr. Olney made two points
against the Cameron resolution, as fol
lows
i. That the Cuban insurgents have
established no government.
?. That the right to recognize a new
state rests with the president, inde.
pendent of congressional action.
He commended In elaboration of the first
point that the pretended government OF
the island was without habitation
suppose you recognize the indepen-
cence OF the island" he said, what are
you going to do with it?"
Il, for one" replied Senator Morgan,
while advocating this recognition want
1t understood that am opposed to an
nexation."
How, then, would you maintain it's
independence? asked the secretary,
himself becoming interlocutor. How
would you, for instance, prevent Spanish
domination over the island9"
Il would" replied the Alabama SEN
.,o. establish, If need be. a protec-
to.a. I'd follow much the same
80. wo.-. suing with regard
poi,cy that we are pu.- an army OF
to Hawaii, and would SEM. ,ssary,
occupation to the island, II neS~-
as we did In the case of Mexico"
The secretary -ynade the impression
upon some OF The members of the com
mittee the way he pursued this line OF
muir that, while he was disposed to
I'd out strongly for the presidents
prerogative. he was not nearly so
strongly opposed to Cuban indepen-
dence as he had been a year ago, and
that he would be entirely reconciled to
1t IL 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
permits the killing Of American citizens
and the destruction Of American prop
erty was deplorable.
"They are, however" he added "the
Incidents of war"
mot Of war properly conducted, but
Of anarchy" was the response.
The secretary set at rest the story
which has been very industriously cir
culated that Consul General Lee has
provided the state department with an
elaborate report on the condition of af-
fairs in Cuba.
1T is not true" he said.
General Lee has made no general
written report at all. He has made re-
ports on several special cases, but none
on the situation as a whole"
1t also developed during the examina-
tion that the government had made no
demand in the case of the Competitor
and in other cases OF a similar character
beyond requests for information.
While the committee will report the
resolution. as agreed. upon Monday, it Is
not expected that the question will bc
pressed until after the holidays. The
disposition % the committee will be &c
press the resolution to speedy deter
mination as soon as possible after, the
question is taken up for debate afterthc
holidays.
The effect OF the resolution in causins
an agitation, and possible uprising IL
In 10 fal hN ini lu 70 n.
most serious feature OF the situation a
the present time. The government au
thorities at Madrid undoubtedly hav,
been informed by the Spanish minister
here OF the action taken yesterday
There is no reason to expect any expires
sion of official displeasure. as the Span
iish authorities will be fully advised o
the long legislative procedure through
which the resolutions rsIst pass befor
becoming effective. but the mere deter
mination 10 report such resolutions, il 4
feared, will cause intense public feelin,
throughout Spain. and IL Is by no means
certain that the government can keel
this feeling within bounds. Ii is felt 4
endanger such outbreaks as occurred
year ago, when Rss radical resolution
were under consideration.
the way OF the resolutions becoming ef
fective the Spanish government itsel
will make no move at present. There 1
known to exist "A strong opposition II
the senate to the adoption OF the resolu
tons. Under the senate rules the de
bate can be protracted indefinitely
While no disposition To obstruct ha
manifested itself. yet IL is said TO b
| possible as one OF the means Of prevent
ing action. After action by the senat
there must be the debate In the house
with possible changes I'm the resolution
before they have TO run the gauntlet o
the presidential veto. III the ultimate re
suit should be the adoption OF the res
oluuons as the policy Of the Unite
States. then. officials say, war would b
inevitable. Until the matter advance
TO this stage no official action by Spail
10 expected. but II In said that Spain al
most certainly will accept the resolution
II a