, 1896-04-29
And Gres53f Efseriy 10
Sic Believes the United star
should Cooperate TO sup
n ess the KebclllOn.

Madrid, April 2s.-Senor Moret y
~Prendergast. in an interview, says: Il
am a thorough liberal and have al
ways fought for Cuban liberties. When
| was minister for the colonies in 1870
| introduced two laws of which | am
very proud-onc for the abolition of
slavery, which is still called in Spain
the Moret law, and the other enacting
a constitution for Puerto Rico. which
was unanimously approved. and which
was in effect self-government. This
constitution was put aside when the
liberal party went out of power. l also
gave free trade to Puerto Rico. |
could not give the same to Cuba, as the
island was in a state of instruction.
Il am thoroughly in favor OF the ap-
plication of liberty to Cuba on three
points. l do not say autonomy for
the meaning which hat word conveys
is too vague. Everybody can interpret
and understand autonomy as he him
cNih ShoooCo. pASASL " u y
the reforms ! consider necessary.
"First-Economic reform. | mean
by this free trade. the guarantee Of all
foreign capital employed in Cuba. the
application OF alarssposeton ot.the Gu
ban revenue to the public works Of the
island, and unity or similarity of the
banking system employed, extending
to Cuba the national credit.
"Second-Administrative reform. The
formation of municipalities with proper
independence. 70 be submitted to the
referendum. and some kind of provin-
ciaI body to be called, let US say, the
diputacion. with proper faculties. and
power to administer all local interests.
'Third-Political reform. This is to
be the last to be applied and a conse-
Quence only Of a distinct understand
ing between the %peninsular and insular
peoples with regard to the two previous
points, and only after the complete pa
ciflcation of the island. The form that
this will take will be a subject for fu-
ture discussion and arrangement be-
tween the two peoples before being
submitted to the cortes. There are two
methods, either imperial federation, or
the present system Of sending deputies
to the Spanish parliament. The selec-
ton Of these will depend on the state
of mind at the time being Of the Cuban
and Spanish statesmen"
Senior Moret was asked whether, in
his opinion, these reforms could be en-
forced Immediately in Cuba, and
whether he thought there would be any
difficulty in doing so.
Yes he replied. economic and ad-
ministrative reforms could be enforced
at once, but not political reforms. To
my mind the existing war would offer
no obstacles. Difficulties might arise
from egotism or from personal inter-
ests, but I do not attach Importance to
these. They could be easily overcome.
My idea would be to propose them on
the assembling of the cortes, and they
could be approved in a fortnight"
Ought Puerto Rico to get reforms
without regard to Cuba?"
Most certainly; and l cannot under
why the government, with such
good field in which to display their
should not have granted
them already
Does your excellency agree with
Senior Sagasta that the Spanish people,
as a whole. would resent friendly over
from the United States?"
81 do thoroughly agree with him.
pride will not allow any inter-
from the United States. This
Is due chiefly to the language implied
in the senate and house Of representa-
my personal impression is that the
United States should cooperate with
Spain to suppress the insurrection in
Cuba, not in order to oblige Spain, but
the cause Of civilization and in the
|ntrests of the United States common
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