The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-17
TWO CUBAN RUMORS.
France to Recognize the Insurgents
for a Commercial Treaty.
TO MONOPOLIZE THE ISLANDS
TRADE.
England to Loan Spain Money and Take
the Custom Houses.

England to Loan Spain Money and Take
| the Custom Houses
washington Sun Jan. 14.)
| Within the past sixty hours the Cuban
situation has assumed complexion oil
somewhat serious Importance to the
United States if the rumors afioat are
true. 1t was reported last week that the
representatives of the Cuban government
had received overtures from France look.
ing to the arrangement of plans whereby
the French republic would recognize the
right Of the belligerents in the island.
The invitation, it was said, provided fol
the reception of commission from the
Cuban government, equipped with full
authoity to enter into broad reciprocity
treaty between France and Cuba in re.
turn for the recognition of the latter by
the European republic.
| AS stated here, this treaty was intend
ed to be even more generous than any,
thing of the kind ever entered into be-
tween nations, and was to be practically
the esta blishment of free trade between
the countries. France thus to secure a
virtual monopoly of the Cuban tobacco
and sugar trade. These negotiations are
still in progress, it is said.
! ENGLAND TO LOAN SPAIN MONEY.
Another and more serious part of the
oomplicate condition, however, is found
in the statement being freely made that
I'm ola ind has OfforoH IN nj
er loan coupled with provisions that are
extraordinary. The provisions under
which England is said to have offered to
restore the depleted exohequer of Spain
and enable her to continue the war
against the reyolutionists are that she is
houses of Cuba and hold them as Sc
our1ty for the payment OF the interest
and principal of the loan. 1t is pointed
out that no other country, and particu-
larly the United States, could object to
England thus taking possession of the
custom houses, as she would hold them
merely as a creditor, just as she did the
custom house of Corinto, Nicaragua, re-
Gently, which she seized in order to as
sure the payment of the indemnity, and
which She held until that debt was paid.
This government did not interpose any
objection to the course of England in
that instance, even when tho COrinto
custom house was forcibly taken, and it
is held that tie United States could not
object, if it desired to, to Great Britain
CONTROL OF the Cuban ports when 1T was
tween herself and Spain
THE INTEREST IN OFFICIAL CIR
Giles
Naturally this new phase Of the question
is receiving thoughtful attention in
official circles, and. coupled with the
growing sentiment all over the country
and an increasing belief on the part of
Representatives and Senators that the
war being prosecuted by the revolutionists
is something more than mere uprising,
there are many who believe that political
exigencies,' as they are called, cannot
very long withhold the recognition of the
Cubans' rights as belligerents by the
United States.
Those who are open and ardent in their
demand for such action point out that
the Spanish government is evidently pow-
erless to put down the revolution, and
that any bargain with England which
would give her another possession in the
West Indies which would be practically
the result o. her taking possession of the
Cuban ports. would be an additional
menace to the sovereignty of the United
States in the American continent. 1t is
considered highly probable, therefore,
that Cuba and its affairs will receive a
great deal more attention by the admins
ration and Congress than has been hither-
to the case.
A CUBAN REPRESENTATIVE ON
THE SUBJECT.
Mr.. GonzRlo de Quesada, who is one of
the Cuban representatives here, in COM
pany with President Palma, was asked
by Star reporter today if there was any
foundation for the rulnors that France
was negotiating with the Cuban revolu-
tionists to recognize them as beligerents
in return for reciprocity treaty with
their govern ment when it was finally es-
tablished. Nj. Quesada said that he did
not feel at liberty to say anything on
that subject. especially in the absence of
President Palma.
In relation to Spain entering into nego-
tiations with England regarding the Gus
tom houses of the island, Mr.. Quesada
called attention to the visit Of some rep
1esentatives of an Anglo French syndicate
to Cuba, several months before the reyo-
luton, for the purpose of ascertaining the
condition of the island, and see if it was
Advisable to make any loan. MIR. Quesada
said that the representatives reported that
some sort of home rule must be given to
the Cubans otherwise revolution would
come. This led, he continued, to so-called
reforms granted by the Spanish govern
ment, and he quoted q paragraph from a
pamphlet published by the Cuban COM
mittee in London some tine ago in ex-
PLANTATION of them.
The paragraph states that under great
pressure the Spanish Cortes granted what
is known as the AbarZuza law with re-
gard to Cuba, which provided for p house
OF representatives in Cuba Of thirty men,
bers, of which fifteen were to be chosen
by election and fifteen by the Spanish
government.
''The captain general, a chairman,
with the decisive vote and right of veto,''
says the pamphlet, "was authorized to
dismiss any as far as ten of the members