Evening journal., 1896-12-24
THE AUTONOMY OF CUBA
That Is What the President
Seeks to Accomplish.
TIE CANADIAN PLAN AS A MODEL
CieveianG's Administration Continues II,
Efforts at Mndrid-spaniards Want tc
Wait Until weyier Has Won His Long
Promised Victory.

WAsH1NGToN, Tee. 24.-Whatevor course
congress may finally take with respect tc
the Cameron resolution the insistent ef
forts Of the present administration at least
will continue 60 be exerted In behalf OF an
autonomous government for the Cuhans
During the correspondence between this
government and Spain the Canadian sys
tenn has repeatedly been referred to as a
model which Spain might do well TO fol.
low IN granting home rule to her Cuban
colonists. 4 he objection, however, has
been made and with some reason, IL Is
admitted that q system which would
work admirably with her maiesty's sub.
/ jects in Canada might utterly fail If ap.
! piled to the Cubans That Spain has init
mated that undcr certain conditions she
would not he averse to granting "a reason
able measure OF home rule to the Cubans
is beyond question. She, however, insists (
/ that nothing less than a disastrous defeat .
in battle will cause the insurgents to heed /
/ such propositions and it is regarded in /
Madrid as useless to attempt any of the I
reforms suggested until Weyler strikes a
decisive blow. This government however,
does not fully agree with that Wow of tho
case, and undoubtedly it is making somo
/ progress in its contention for pence on a
basis alike reasonable and honorable TO I
] NIh AuDNNN UH Mtll us 10 Cll1lns
One of the principal motives which has
actuated this government in the course it
has taken In this matter is the protection
of the persons and property of citizens of
the United States now engaged as tobacco
and sugar planters in Cuba Although the
/ planters generally are said TO sympathize
/ with the Cuban cause, information has
/ reached this government that as rule
/ they entertain serious doubts of the abili
/ ty OF the native Cuhans, If wholly success
/ ful, to maintain a stable and satisfactory
/ government What the planters most dc.
sire is annexation to the United States,
but as the administration, as plainly made
/ evident, regards this as out of the ques-
ton the planters next favor an autono
nous government under the executive SUI
peryision of Spain. Should Spain consent
to allow Cuba to legisate as TO her own
internal affairs the United States rs stated
by Mir. Olnoy in his report 90 congress,
would consent to become responsible to
Spain for the faithful observance of the
conditions of the treaty between the two
countries.
A New Treaty Required.
The idea OF this government is that this
1 agreement could be made a part of new
treaty between the United States and
Spain, the necessity for which is admitted
by both governments The Spanish an.
thorities it can be stated, share the feel
ing strongly entertained by the United
States that tac present treaty has long
outlived its usefulness. 1t was ratified and
proclaimed i'm l705 and bears every cvi.
dence of its antiquity. At that time blori.
da belonged to Spain, and a good part of
the treaty relates 10 the boundaries be-
tween the United States and the Spanish
colonies which have now become Amer
lean states. The old document has been
added to from time TO time in the form OF
protocols, conventions, etc, but the origi-
nal remains as the basis and main treaty.
Not only is it antiquated, but in the lapse
Of time disagreements have arisen as to
the text, and at present the version In
Spanish used by the authorities at Madrid
is said TO be materially different from that
in English at Washington.
So faras spain is concerned, there is rea-
son to believe she will welcome % new
treaty as means of securing changes
which the present war has shown TO be
vital but will insist on delaying such
treaty revision until Cuba Is pacifed in a
large measure at least
The two main features which Spain
feels The need Of arranging by treaty arc,
First, the naturalization of Spaniards in
cludlng Cuhans. after brief residence ~
the United States; and second, CONNER
cial relations respecting the rate Of duty
and methods Of exchange on the sugar
and tobacco Of Cuba and Puerto Rico and
on the manufactured products OF tho Unit
ed States going to the Spanish colonies.
The naturalization Question.
The change as to naturalization is rc
garded as of chief Importance by Spain
which asserts that the protection Of Amer
lean citizenship is infrequently invoked
by genuine American citizens, but Is uset
very frequently by persons who become
nominal American citizens for the sake OF
the protection il affords, and then return
to Cuba, whore they thenceforth continu
to reside Spain viii seek 70 overcome thi'
by seeking to secure a provision that Span.
ish citizens, including Cuhans, who come
60 the United States must remain here foI
three years as actual, bona flde'citizens be
fore they apply for American citizenship.
The commercial features of the new
treaty will be OF Importance, owing TO the
enormous trade between Cuba and the
! United States. The@Cuban sugar export
: reaches so, 600, 600 tons annually in times
: of peace, and most of this comes TO the
United States Tho tobacco shipmont9 arc
equally extensive. On the other hand, the
- nelrie-S OF AuuA 10 our eiOltS iudhtr Nlo
: island dependent on this country for man
ufacturcd goods machinery and bread
stufis
Under the reciprocity clause Of the Nc
r Kinley law an arrangementwas made Iu-
/, " 2S, 1891. for a mutual exchange oi
q goods at reduced rates OF duty. Under tho
Il present law, which repealed the reciprocity
s clause Of the previous law, the reciprocity
convention was denounced. Since then the
high rates on sugar and tobacco have been
a serious disadvantage TO the producers Of
/ the island. which spain has rotalaioi hy
G putting IN force the high rates previously
}. existing against American manufacture
" and products sent to Cuba. a treaty ad
iustmcnt on the lines OF the convention o
1891, il is believed, would bo acceptable e
Spain
If It is said that undor the new treaty
D, nothing could be dono to restrict illibus
e tering, although this has beon one Of tbs
J. most serious causes of trouble developed
by the war, since il IS subject covered by
International law rather than by treaty.