Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-01-07
SPAIN ASKS OUR HELP
iNvOxES MEDIATION OF UNCLE
SAM REGARDING CUBA.
Canovas Weary of War-He Also Ac.
knowIed.es Heavy Loss to American
Trade-Great Reforms Promised
Island to Be Granted Full Autonomy.
Government to Re by Council.


It is reported in Washington that an
important dispatch has been received at
the Spanish legation from Senior Cano-
vas, the Spanish premier, in which propo-
sitions are made looking to mediation on
the Cuban difficulties. According to this
report Senior Canovas accepts the good
Offices of the United States, and states
the terms which Spain will concede to
the insurgents upon the conditions to be
proposed by the United States. 1t is said
that Senior Canovas assures this govern
ment that Spain fully appreciates the loss
which the commerce of this country has
suffered on account Of the Cuban insur-
rection and deeply deplores it, and that
a proposition is to be made for the nego-
tiation of a treaty of commercial recip--
rocity between this country and Spain
which will deal mainly with Cuban prod
ucts and which will be framed in terms so
advantageous to the United States as to
fully compensate the commerce of this
country for the losses which have been
sustained.
1t is said that Senior Canovas also
states clearly that the Spanish Govern
ment cannot agree to anything which
would place Spain in the attitude of hav-
agreement with the Cuban rebels, but
that the good offices of the United States
will be accepted to guarantee to the in
surgents amnesty and the enforcement
Of the reforms which will be granted.
These reforms are to guarantee to the
Cubans the full limit of independence
which can be granted without absolutely
severing the bonds between the island
and the home government.
Senior Canovas has made it clear that
the Spanish Government cannot entertain
any propositions for such complete au-
tonomy as is given to Canada by the
British Government, and, in fact, does
not at this time propose any concessions
in advance of the reforms voted by the
cortes in 1895. These reforms propose
a council of administration which shall
control the yearly accounts of the ex-
chequer, all matter pertaining to the COM
merce of the West Indies, and all esti-
mates upon the general taxation and ex-
penditure Of the island.
The council is to consist of thirty men,
bers, of whom fifteen are to be appointed
by the crown and fifteen are to be elected
by voters having qualifications to vote
for provincial assemblymen. This coun-
Gil 10 10 coHtIoi puplc WoFhS, posts anu
telegraph, railways and navigation, colon
ization, public instruction, charities and
the health department. and is to vote ap-
preparations for all the public depart
ments in Cuba. It is to have deciding
voice in all matters appealed to the gov
ernor general by the provincial generals,
and in the matter of the suspension and
removal of aldermen and mayors. The
communication from Minister Canovas
Is said to say further that the laws of the
municipalities and provinces have been
heretofore amended to harmonic with q
new act, that they are in accord with the
decentralization demanded by the auton-
omist party in Cuba and Porto Rica,
and were passed by the cortes and would
have been enforced in Cuba in March,
1895, but for the insurrcction,