The Butler weekly times., 1896-12-24
INDEPENDENCE OF CUBA.
Resolutions Pass the Senate
Committee.
SECRETARY OLNI ENTERED
PROTEST.
No Dau5i That II Wifi Pass Ro'b
HnuS-s af tnu.r-~S


of representatives of the United
States of America in congress assem-
bled, that the Independence Of the
republic of Cuba be, and the same is
hereby acknowledged by the United
States of America,
Section , That the United States
will Use its friendly officers with the
government of Spain to bring TO Il
close the war between Spain and
Cuba"
Washington. d. c., Dec. 1s.-The
senate committee on foreign relations
to-day voted TO recognize the inde-
pendence OF the Republic of Cuba.
1t did SO over the protest of Secretary
of State Olney. The resolution will
be reported to the senate Monday.
There is little doubt that il will pass
both houses of congress with almost
unanilnity.
The committee meeting to-day was
Important in two respects. 1t result
ed III al agreement to report the
Cameron resolution for the recogni-
tion Of Cuban independence and it
developed through the statement of
Secretary Olney the administration $
policy in regard to the insurrection
in Cuba.
The secretary occupied the greater
portion of the time of the meeting in
answering questions and suggestions
made by members of the committee.
He aud Senator Morgan engaged in
general spirited colloquies. Mr..
O.ney made two points against the
Cameron resolution as follows:
First-That the Cuban insurgents
have established no government.
Second.-That the right to recog-
niZe new state rests with the presi-
dent, independent of congressional
action.
He contended in elaboration of the
| first point that the pretended govern
| ment of the island was without habi-
tation.
Suppose you recognize the inde-
pendence of the island," he said,
"what are you going to do with it?''
| 81 for one" said Senator Morgan,
"Whiie advocating this recognition,
want it understood that l am oppos-
ed to annexation"
GLOW, then, would you maintain
its Independence" asked the secre-
tary, himself becoming interlocutor.
GLOW would you, for instance, pre-
vent Spanish domination over the
island?"
| 81 would" replied the Alabama
senator, establish if need be, a pro-
tectorate. Iwould follow much the
same policy that we are pursuing
with regard to Hawaii, and | would
send an army Of occupation to the
island if necessary, as 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 TO,
the presidents prerogative he was
not nearly so strongly opposed to
Cuban independence as he had been
a year ago, and that he would be en-
tlrely reconciled to it if satisfied as te
the future course to be pursued. He
did not dissent strongly from a point
made that his own report showed a
sufficient cause for action and he ad
mltted that state of affairs which
permits the killing of American citi
zens and the destruction of American
property was deplorable.
"They are, however" he added
''the incidents Of war"
| Not 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
had provided the state department,
with an elaborate report on the con
dition of affairs in Cuba. "It is no,
true, he said. General Lee ha,
made no general written report at all
He has made reports of seyera
special cases, but not on the situation
as a whole"
1t also developed during the exam
alton that the government had mad.
no demand in the case of the Com
petitor, and in other cases of a SINH
lar character beyond requests 70,
information.
While the committee will report
the resolution as agreed upon Mon
day, 1t Is not expected that the cues
tlon will be pressed until after the
holidays. The disposition of the com
mittee is TO press the resolution to 3
speedy determination as soon as DOS
slbie after the question is once taker