Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-02-25
C,llDAA,
Terms Cuba Would Accept
On Basis Of independence, She
viii Pay Indemnity to Spsia'

NEW YORK, Feb. 25.-Tbe World
published today, under the head d
iTbe Most Important Document on
the Cuban war" an autograph letter
written 20 that paper by Sslvator
Cisneros, president Of the provisional
government Of the Cubans, and cOun-
terslvned by Maxine Gomez, the gen.
leraI-ln-chIef. The letter was sp-
proved by the so-called cabinet Of the
provisional government, and bears the
seal OF the infant republic. 1t is as
follows:
at the request Of your correspon-
dent, we have the greatest pleasure
in answering the following question::
"'Dv you btlIeye that the war can
he ended on the basis 0f Independence
on the payment Of 40 Indemnity by
Cuba 10 Spain. with The UnltedStates
~ arbitrator
"On the basis of Independence, II
SIll be possible u enter int negotia-
tions. They should provide for the
evacua tion Of the island by the Span
isb, and for the new Cuban republic.
"We believe, also, there should be
included an indemnity TO be paid
Spain, provided the amount Is reasOu-
able. This would be honorable, prac
ticabIe and good for all.
but, u done, IL should be done as
soon as possible. The idemnlty should
prevent the further loss Of blood aud
OF money, and It would save the
economic resources Of the people who
have sworn 10 the complete destruc-
tlon Of the island before they would
submit anew 10 the dominion OF
Spain.
Each day that passes causes fresh
hatred and devastation. Soon the
producing capacity ofthe country will
be destroyed. Cuba can pay less as
the time passes, not only because
each moment she earns less, but 1t
will be Increasingly dlficult for her TO
fulfill the stipulation and agreements
she is now able TO make.
THE ldemnity to Spain should
take the form OF acknowledgement by
Cuba OF a part Of the debt already
contracted by Spain, or the payment
OF sum In bonds or money 10 Spain.
1--WE would not deem 1t inadvisable
for the United Safes TO intervene as
as arbitrator or semIotilcally as the
friend Of both sides, providing always
that the island OF Cuba shall not sac
rIfice thereby her own sovereignty.
1--WE are yours In the greatest con-
slderation,
SALVADOR CIsNERos, f. B.
"MAxMo GOMEZ.
Diagonal, Sancti Spiritus, January
27, 1897"
This letter, which is forwarded by
Sylvester Scovel, the Worlds cores
pondent now ia prison at Sancti
Spiritus, was, 1t Is stated, obtained
exactly one week before he was caught
while trying 10 reach the seacoast.
He had forwardeda copy by a paci-
flco, TO be cabled 10 his paper. This
messenger was also captured by the
Spanish aud the contents OF his dis
patches were cabled 70 Senior de LONE,
Spanish minister atWashington. The
original documents, including the
letters in the original Spanish, were
only received this afternoon. In his
letter accompanying them, Sylvester
ScoVal writes:
"The Cubans can afford 10 pay a
very large amount, and am In po-
sitlon 10 state that they will do SO.
Cuba viii accept any peaeeable means
laid down by the United States that
will secure their Independence. Last
year, General Gomez authorized the
statement that In his opinion the
Cubans would even 20 50 far as To
allow the United States 10 administer
the finances OF the island until such
time as any loan secured from or In
that country should be repaid"
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