The times., 1897-05-24
Mr.. M'KINLEY AND CUBA
His Finesse Viewed by the In
Surgent State Department.
SPAIN HAS The WHIP HAND
Inside Information as to the Presi-
deni's 1emporizing With MIR. DE
LONE The Insuiar Republ as
a New Faetor-The Queens Dipia-
matte Use of Cuban Heroism.

A good deal of speculation has been in-
dulged in as TO the precise nature of the
negotiations pending between this Admin
istration and STan for the settlement OF
the Cuban question. The burden OF most
OF the con lectures rests on tie suggestion
which unwittingly escaped Senator Hoar
in debate that it was not impossible that
-AIr. Mckinley might be trying TO negotiate
on the basis OF the correspondence between
Mr. OlDey and Senor Dupuy de LONE. IL
was pointed out by the opposition that the
ultinatum OF absolute submission by the
rebels was what Spain meant, speaking
through Mr. de Lone four months ago, and
that all the circumstances pointed to Spain
still maintaining that position
Information was obtained last evening
from very trustworthy authority, that,
while there is truth in the reopening OF
negotiations between Spain and this
country they are of a totally different
character from those SO far published. The
story is that Mr.. Mckinley, IN order to re-
Eeve himself of much OF the odium that
has attacked his Administration already,
Has DSSh Oh thC HJAS- w 81
tinguished predecessor as Gen. Grant.
This idea, he assumed, would be popular
from Grants name rather than of its
equity viewed in the light of the present
rebellion and it's great success.
Grant proposition 10 Spain, it will be
recalled, was for the payment of about
one million dollars, and this proposition
was made at a time when the ten years
20
Since thea the war debt was multiplied
nine times, and TO the old war debt is
TO be added the immense debt of the cur
rent war.
Mr.. Mckinley, it is believed, was en-
boldencd to make the proposition on
money basis, for the reason that his be-
lief, shared in by most Americans at
present, is that if the war is continued
Cuban independence viii be achieved, and
the Madrid government will be minus even
the, formerly suggested million dollars
Mr de LONE, it was said ON good author
ity, had not replied to this proposition, and
for very peculiar reason
1t was stated that the Cuban Republic
does not propose, with its government es-
tabished and three-fourths OF the island
in it's control, to be treated as chattel,
OF a shuttlecock, for the two nations now
assuming to settle its destinies. The Re
public must be consulted in these negotia-
tions, and, so far, there does not appear
to he any disposition to take any agent
OF the Republic into the confidence of the
negotiators. They say that the Republic
is entitled already to an agent here. The
Republic now looks upon Spain, not as
subduiug a rebellion, but as trying to re-
conquer territory, tn rec fourths OF the
island, absolutely in possession of a for
cign power. to wit, the Cuban Republic
Spain knows the position of the state
department OF the republic, and it is in
no hurry to interpose objections TO a set
uemcnt, which even the republic would re-
gard as unjust and chimericaI. The reput-
lie, for in stance. would regard as IN just any
proposition to assume any Indebtedness
greater in the first instance than a pro-
portionaI share of the debt, not OF the past
war, lrt of the present war, The proper
tionate share, it was stated, should be on
the ratio OF the population of Spain 70
Cuba, or al about SO for Spain to one for
Cui,a. There are, however, equities 10 be
considered to reduce vastly this proper
tion. Cuba has already contributed mil
lions OF dollars to the expenses of the pres
ent war. 1t has paid the expenses, prac-
tically. OF the Spanish legation in this city
and other Spanish representations else
where, ard in fine the island has already
paid ten times the taxes hat any other part
OF the Spanish empire would have been
obliged TO pay.
The republic, it was gathered from this
source Of information, viii stand squareIy
across the path of any negotiations which
viii involve it in any Of the tremendous
sums, running up into the hundreds OF
Iaillious, given in speculative bases of
agreement in the interest of money max
eTs out Of the misfortunes of the island
Spain believes that the pressure behind
Mr.. Mckinley is in the interest OF those
who would make the basis of greement
as large as possible, and that so long as
his Administration is governed by such
moneyed interests, he will not lake propo-
sitions which will he agreeable TO the re-
public. II is hinted that the war has gone
so far and is SO rapidly appr oaching a
termination by force OF arms, that Spain
will he content in the end to accept in
demnity for her public buildings alone
without the good Offices OF any great
and good friend
While the plan Of Mr.. Mckinley, as It
is understood now, is modelled after that
of Grant. and which Mr.. Sickles failed
to negotiate. the sum OF 81 600 900 is
not specified On the contrary, IL is
believed that the sum is such a proper
tiou Of the old and present war debt,
as is utterly impossible of consideration
by the Cuban government
Tie suggestion of a settlement on the
basis Of proportionate population is not
one without precedent It was the agree
ment between Portugal and Brazil and
Mexico and Spain herself. Brazil being
the larger Of the coinponents OF the Portu-
gal dominions paid the greater share,
and on the basis of relative population
The South also did not pay the whole
of the civil war debt
From the foregoing statement OF the case
IL appears thatSpain is considerably ahead
in the diplomatic spectacular gallery
First, because of the fact that the re-
public viii not consent to the imposition
OF the burden OF debt, which Mr. McKinlev's
friends would regard as equitable"
Second, because she can regard as an
impcrtincnce. or at least rs folly. the