The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-18
DECLARATION OF War.
Senate Foreign Relations
Committee Votes for
Cuban Inde-
pendence.
0LNEY HEARD IN VAIN
Empty Talk About " Friendly Of
fees" Calculated to Intensity
Spanish Indignation.

WASHINGTON, Dec. IS, 1S96.-The SEN
ate Committee on Foreign Relations, by
practically unanimous vote, this morn
ing ordered a favorable report to be
made to the Senate Monday on the Cam
eron resolution recognizing the indepen-
dence of the Republic Of Cuba A verbal
change was made in the text of the reso-
luton 50 that as finally agreed to it reads
as follows:
Resolved. etc., That the independence
Of the Republic of Cuba be- and the same
Is ls hereby acknowledged by the United
Section 2-That the United States will
use Its friendly Offices with the. Govern
menei OF Spain to bring to close the war
between Spain and Cuba.
Secretary Olney. who had been request
ed to appear before the committee by
Senator Sherman was present for one
hour, and laid before the committee all of
the information in the possession of the
State Department He stated to the com
mittee very fully tho policy of the Ad-
ministration and the reasons that actu-
ated it in its present attitude towards the
insurrection in Cuba. No member of the
committee is willing to make any state
ment as to what Mr.. Olney said, each one
looking upon his statement as confiden-
tial matter between the Secretary and
the committee
Sufficient is known. however, to show
that Mr.. olney laid before the committee
the information received from Consul
General Lee and other sources that has
been steadfastly kept from the general
public.
Mr.. Olney's argument did not appear
to have much weight with the commit
tee, If 1t was against the passage of the
resolution, for Immediately upon his
withdrawal the resolution was laid be-
fore the committee for action. There was
no yea and nay vote, but the resolution
was agreed to without dissenting voice
The only point Of difference was as to
whether the action of the committee
should be made public today or with
held until Monday. One Senator thought
action of any sort should be postponed
until after the holidays. but the will of
the majority prevailed, and there was
practical unanimity in the vote. Sena-
tors Gray and Daniel were both absent,
but it is said that both of them are
favorable to the action taken by the
accfhiuiltee
Senator Cameron was instructed to pre-
pare the report that Will be submitted to
the Senate Monday AS a matter of fact
the report was written and was sub
mitted to the committee this morning.
1t is looked upon as an exceedingly strong
document and gees into the diplomatic
history of the United States very fully
to show our policy in the matter of recoe-
nizing new States. Some few additions
and alterations were suggested by other
members of the committee but the re-
port as drawn by the Senator is practi-
cally complete.
There is an impression among some of
the committee that the President will veto
the resolution, it being joint in its charac-
ter and requiring the Executive approval
or disapproyal. If Mr.. Cleveland should
enter his veto. it is claimed that Congress
would be able to pass the resolution by
the necessary two-thfrds vote.