The San Francisco call., 1897-05-13

mittee of the Senate were in conference
this afternoon and tonight on the CUBAN
question. The administration is prepar-
ing to outline its Cuban policy and as
preliminary step the President IS ANXIOUS
to secure the utmost harmony OF actlon
between the State Department and Con-
gress and also 10 have the pubic 1ully
understand the facts upon which he Will
base that policy.
The debate in the Senate during the
present week on Morgan's joint resolu-
ton providing for the recognition OF bel
ligerency and maintenance OF neutrality
has not been entirely satisfactory either
to the friends or opponents of the resolu-
ton, mainly because of the reported
charge that the State Department has not
fully advised the Senate OF the nature OF
all reports Oil nle in the State Department
from representatives OF the United
States in Spain and Cuba.
1t is maintained by the opponents of
the resolution that the State Department
is doing everything possible to meet the
expressed views of Congress, but they are
not able to deny the charges brought
by Morgan, Allen and others that conf
Dental communications received from
Consul Lee and other agents OF
the United States, of utmost importance,
have been withheld even from mem bers
OF the Foreign Relations Committee.
1t is now proposed to meet this charge
by sending to the Foreign Affairs Com
mitiee, in confidence, every scrap of in
formation in the files of the State Depart
ment IN relation to the Cuban question.
Then, as q second step in the policy, the
Morgan resolution-whichb by general con-
sent went over to-day pending conference
between the President and Senators-ls to
be referred to the Com mittee on Foreign
Relations, who will thereupon decide
what part of the Information to make pub
lie. The President told the Senators to-
day that the Senate should i'm mediately
be put in possession of every report re-
ceived by the State Department.
For several days past the State Depart
ment officials. under the direction of
Judge Day. First Assistant Secretary, have
been pre- pairing this information for trans
mission to the Senate committee, and to-
night it was laid before the members OF
the sub-com mittee, who to-day talked
with the President. This committee met
at the residence of Secretary Sherman,
and it is thought that as a result of their
conference the bulk of the State Depart
ment reports will be made public, perhaps
tomorrow. Although no defnite state
ment has been made by any responsible
official of the administration IL is gener-
ally believed that the President will not
proclaim his Cuban policy until Special
Commissioner Calhoun returns.
One mportant reason for the present
activity of the administration and the
Committee on Foreign Relations in their
attempt to map out harmonious Cuban
policy is their desire to counteract the ef
feet of Foraker's speech in the Senate yes
terday. 1t is learned from those who
talked with the President to-day that he
was very much surprised at what the Sem
ator had to say about the attitude of the
administration on the Cuban question and
was inclined to be annoyed at some of
Foraker's statements, chiefly because they
might be accepted as being inspired by
the President himself.
Sherman is understood to be particu-
larly annoyed at Foraker's statement that
the President has sent duly authorized
agent TO Cuba The administration has
been very desirous of creating the impress
sion that Calhoun's mission was simply to
investigate tne murQer OF Or. hQ1Z ana
the circums tances attending his trial.
With this understanding the Commits
sioner goes to Cuba with the sanction of
the Spanish Government; but of course
Calhoun will Investigate all the phases Of
the Cuban question, and it Is fair to pre-
sumo that the President VIII be guided
largely in his course toward Cuba by the
facts and recommendations of Calhoun's
report.
Foraker has been a member of the Com.
mittee on Foreign Relations since Satur-
day last, and is, therefore, regarded as ex.
cusable Tor speaking with a candor not
generally exhibited by a Senator of longer
service upon committee dealing with i'm
portant questions of diplomacy. His
statement, however, is generally accepted
as a semi-oficial announcement that no
action on the Cuban question will be taken
by the administration until Calhoun re-
turns.
In the meantime there is reason to be-
lieve that the administration and senate
will act with such entire accord that the
public will be placed in possession of all in
formation on The CUBAN question proper TO
be made public, and that its publication
will be followed by the prompt passage of
the Morgan resolution. 1t is probable
moreover, that influences will be brought
10 bear in the House insuring the passage
OF the resolution by that body so that it
can be signed by the President during the
present session.