The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-12-19
RECOGNITION FOR CUBA.
Senate Committee Decides to Re-
port the Cameron Resolution.
THE EFFECT OF THE PROPOSITION.

Should 1t Be Adopted As the Policy Of
This Country It Is Almost Certain That
Spain VIII Answer with Declaration
of War.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-The meeting Of
the senate committee on foreign relations
yesterday was important In two respects.
1t resulted In an agreement to report the
Cameron resolution for the recognition Of
Cuban independence and 1t developed
through the statement Of Secretary Olney
the administration policy in regard to
the instruction in Cuba.
The secretary occupied the greater part
of tho time Of the meeting answering
questions and suggestions made by mem
bers of the committee. He and Senator
Morgan engaged In general spirited col
loouies. Mr.. Olney made two points
against the Cameron resolution, as fol-
lows: That the Cuban insurgents have
established no government. That the right
to recognize new state rests with the
president, Independent Of congressional
action.
He contended in elaboration of the first
point that the pretended government Of
the island was without habitation. Sup
pose You recognize the Independence of
the island" he said, what are you going
to do with it9"
IT for one," replied Senator Morgan,
"while advocating this recognition want
1t understood that / am opposed to annex.
alton"
"How then, would you maintain its in
dependence?" asked the secretary, him
self becoming interlocutor "How would
you, for instance, prevent Spanish domi-
nation over the islandP"
II would" replied the Alabama senator,
Establish, If need be, protectorate
would follow much the same policy that
we are pursuing with regard to Hawaii,
and would send an army Of occupation
to the island II necessary, Us we did in the
case Of Mexico"
The secretary made the impression upon
some of the members of the committee by
the way he pursued this line of inquiry
that while he was disposed to hold out
strongly for the presidents prerogative he
was not nearly 80 strongly opposed to
Cuban independence as he had been
year ago, and that he would be entirely
reconciled to 1t II satisfied as to the future
course to be pursued. He did not dissent
strongly from q point made that his own
report showed sufficient cause for action,
and he admitted that state of affairs
which permits the killing of American
citizens and the destruction of American
property was deplorable. "They are, how
ever" he added, ''the incidents of war"
mot of war properly conducted, but of
anarchy" was the response
The secretary set at rest the story which
has been very industriously circulated
that Consul General Lee has provided the
state department with an elaborate report
on the condition of affairs in Cuba. ut
Is not true" he said General Lee has
made no general written report at all, He
has made reports on several special cases,
but not on the sitaution as whole"
1t also developed during tho examine
ton that the government had made nc
demand in the case of the Competitor and
In other cases OF similar character be-
yond requests for information.
While the committee will report the
resolution as agreed upon Monday, it is
not expected that the question will be
pressed until after the holidays. The dis
position of the committee will be to press
the resolution to a speedy determination
as soon as possible after the question is
taken up tor debate after the holidays.
The effect of the resolution in causing
an agitation and possibly uprising IN
Spain is felt by officials to present the
most serious feature of the situation at the
present time The United States gov
ornment authorities at Madrid undoubt-
sdly have been informed by the Spanish
minister here of the action taken There
Is no reason to expect any expression of
official displeasure, as the Spanish au-
thorities will be fully advised of the long
legislative procedure through which the
resolutions must pass before becoming
effective, but the mere determination to
report such resolutions, it Is feared, will
cause intense public feeling throughout
Spain, and it is by no means certain that
the government can keep this feeling
within bounds. 1t is felt to engender such
outbreaks as occurred year ago, when
less radical resolutions were under con-
sideration.
Owing to the legislative difficulties in
the way of the resolutions becoming Of
fective the Spanish government itself will
make no move at present. There is known
to exist strong opposition in the senate
to the adoption of the resolutions. Under
the senate rules tho debate can be pro-
tracted indefinitely. While no disposition
to obstruct has manifested itself, yet it is
said to be possible, as one of the means Of
preventing action. After action by the
senate there must be the debate in the
house with possible changes in the resolu-
lions before they have to run the gauntlet
of the presidential veto If the ultimate
result should be the adoption of the reso-
buttons as to the policy Of the United
States, officials say war would be inevita.
BILE. Until the matter advances to this
stage no official action by Spain is ex-
pected, but it is said that Spain almost
certainly will accept the resolution as a
casus belli Immediately that they become
the policy Of the government.