San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-05
NOTABLE GATHERING OF Gu
BAN REPRESENTATIVES
IN NEW YORK.
A Most Interesting Interview With
Senior CanalejaS. Of Madrid
And The CutanS 1t Is
War To Death Or
Independence.

New York, Nov. 5.-The Herald says:
1t is too late to talk of autonomy.
Cuba is lost to Spain. Only indepen-
dence for the island will put an end to
the struggle devastating the colony
and running Spain.
That is what eight leading Cubans-
all of whom formerly favored autono-
my-told Senior Jose Canalejas in the
Fifth Avenue hotel. These Cubans
did not represent the junta, for the
juuta will discuss autonomy with no
one, but the conference is the more re-
markable in its result, because the
men who talked so firmly against any
proposition except independence were
formerly leading Autonomists who, in
view of recent developments, say that
even were they to listen to such a pro-
pOsal, the insurgents in the field would
simply scott at it, as an evidence, not
to SPANS good faith, but to her weak
ness and willingness to promise con-
cessions rather than prosecute a hope
less war.
Senior Canalejas was formerly a
members of the Spanish cabinet and Is
the proprietor of the Madrid Heraldo.
He comes to sound American feeling
and to inform himself by personal OBJ
servation of the state of affairs in Gu
ba. ~
Before his somewhat dramatic con-
ference with the Cubans who raped
autonomy so smartly at the Fifth Az
enue hotel Meeting, Senior Canalejas
was unable to obtain an exchange of
views with Tomas Estrada Palma, the
Cuban delegate and head of the junta.
Tell him." said Gen. Palma, to an
emissary who sought to arrange an
interview, tell him that when / was
president of the Republic of Cuba, l
assisted in making a law which is in
force today, and by which any officer
of the government who listens to any
proposition from Spain short of abso-
lutte independence is regarded as
traitor"
The meeting in the Fifth Avenue ho-
tel was in reality an accidental one.
Senior Canalejas did not then and has
not since his arrival posed as repre-
senting the Spanish government, but
it is known that his prominence in
Spain makes his mission here one like
ly to bear important fruit when he
goes home.
The Cubans present were DR.. Tam
ago, Raimundo Cabrera, Enrique G.
Varona, Nicolas Heredia, FideI G.
Pierra, Manuela r. De Monales, Car
los Panraga and Felix Yzenegal
They selected Senior Varona as
spokesman. Senior Canalejas remark
ed that he could not understand why,
if the Cubans had really been in ear
nest in asking for autonomy, they
now refused to accept 1t.
Senior Varona reviewed the history
of Cuba since 1878, and declared that,
with victory at hand, the patriots
scOrned the Spanish proposals. The
other Cubans present listened to Va
rOna's explanation of the position with
flashing eyes.
Senior Canalejas expressed regret that
their attitude was so uncOmpTOmiSing,
saying that it was impossible for Spain
to yield and that therefore the war
must necessarily be continued. Spain,
he added, and all the resources nee
essary to prosecute the war an as
sertion which the Cubans received
with doubt.
Senior Canalejas said he did not see
why, if autonomy would give to Cuba
all the advantages Of independence
without its drawbacks, they should still
prefer to continue the war. To that,
the Cubans thought Senior Varona's
setting forth of their position was an
ample reply.
There was some talk as to whether |
some of the Cubans named for impOr- |
ant posts by the new premier were |
more likely to Undue the insurgents
With the idea that Spain really intend
d to deal fairly by the colony.
Seniors Heredia and Cabrera said |
hese men were of such a character
hat they would be irritated rather
han soothed by their elevation.
The discussion was conducted with
marked courtesy. Its effect upon the
spanish representative was marked.