The record-union., 1896-03-05
In Case the Cuban Resolutions, Now In
Conference Committees, Reach Him?
Will He Issue Proclamation of Bel.
igerency to Insurgents?
Belief That He VIII Not Act Upon the
Matter for Several Weeks, If at All
The Senate Committee Favors the
1otal determination of Seals Unless
England Consents to Further Arbi-
tration.

WASHINGTON, March 4.-What
will the President do with the Cuban
resolutions, should they ever emerge
from the conference committees and
reach him?
The fact that it was an open secret
that the President and Secretary Oh
ney were disposed to proceed in a very
conservative manner in regard to Cuban
recognition, fully appreciating the many
ditficultiees surrounding the question,
was stated in the United Press dis
patches of February 2Sth last, and has
since been repeated and confirmed from
other sources.
It is well understood in Congress that
but for a knowledge of this fact, and a
consequent indisposition to embarrass
the Executive, a joint resolution in
stead of a concurrent resolution would
have been adopted by both houses. 1t
is felt by leading members of the House
that the President can be depended
upon to do what is proper, and that
the action of the two houses in passing
resolutions favorable to the Cuban in
surgents gives him the Endorsement of
those bodies should he deem it proper
to issue a proclamation of belliger-
ency.
But will he take such a step? That
question was put to-day by a United
Press representative to a number OF
prominent Republicans and Democrats
in the House. The Republicans claimed
to have no knowledge of the Execu-
tives intentions, and said the only per-
son competent to speak with intelli-
gence upon the subject was Mr. Cleve-
land himself. The Democratic leaders
We're equally uncertain. In their opin-
ion the President will study the situa-
tion carefully, and if he should be sat
isfied from the official correspondence
that Weyler proposes to inaugurate a
reign of terror in the island, he will in
cline more strongly to accord the in
surgents belligerent rights than would
otherwise be the case. 1t is not be-
lieved that under any circumstances
he will act upon the matter for several
weeks, should he do so at ALL
1t is asserted that the opposition to
the resolutions would have been greater
in the House had not a yea and nay vote
been taken. One Southern represent
ative of marked prominence said to-day
that the Legislature of his State had
passed a resolution calling upon their
members in Congress to support any
proposition expressing sympathy with
the Cubans, and that he voted for the
resolutions, therefore, because, as he
expressed it, he did not desire to fly
in the face of his constituents.
Other members recall the prompt
ness with which the Spanish Govern
ment expressed its regrets for the out
RACES in Barcelona on Sunday last;
their payment of the celebrated Mora
claim some months ago; the protection
afforded by them to American prop
erty interests in Cuba, and other evil
dences of a desire to placate the United
States, and regret that circumstances
forced them to take a position which,
in their opinion, places the Government
in the attitude of embarrassing a friend
ly nation already impoverished finan-
cially and struggling in the throes of a
civil war
On the other hand, the friends of free
Cuba are emphatic in their assertions
that Spanish rule in Cuba must be
ended at any cost.