Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-02
REFORMS FOR CUBA.
OF SPAIN IN REGARD
TO THE NATTER.
ALREADY APPLIED TO PORTO RICO.
conveniently Enlarged, To BE EN-
tended i'm Due Time" to the Antii-
lean "Gcm"-"A Genuine Home Adj
ministration," Says Tetuan.

WASHINGTON, January l--senor DE
Lone. the Spanish Minister, resident here
furnishes to the Southern Associated
Press the following copy Of a telegram
from Foreign-Minister Tetuan:
"In the Council Of Ministers. presided
over to-day by her Majesty. the Queen
Regent. a royal decree was signed. which
will apply to the Island Of Porto Rico
the law Of reforms voted in the Cortes on
the 18th Of March. 1s95
"The preamble to this decree is of the
greatest importance because Of the state
ments it contains regarding Cuba. 1t be-
gins by explaining the reasons why the
reforms are applied to-day. and wherefore
this has not been done before. Amongst
other paragraphs. it contains the follow
ing. which. owing to their Importance, 1
copy i'm their entirety:
In the actual circumstances. the gov
eminent considers that the proper time
has arrived for giving to the world ample
proof of its firm resolve TO fulfil the en-
gagements voluntarily contracted by the
nation by implantiug and carrying into
system Of government and civil admins
tration voted by the Cortes and sane
toned by her Majesty. and which, con-
veniently enlarged and extended, will be
applied in due time to Cuba.
I'm unfolding the bases of the reforms
with scrupulOus care which the complex
nature Of the case and its many and va
ried problems demand. the undersigned
ministers have been inspired with sense
of the necessity OF ample administrative
decentralization. and have proceeded TO the
utmost limit which the actual law allows,
without diminution of the inherent s0ver-
eighty of the nation. At the same time,
true 10 the solemn promise made before
Parliament by its President the govern
ment proposes 10 give more ample scope
to the reforms when. as a herald Of peace,
the happy moment arrives for the definite
application of the reforms 10 both the An
TILES As soon as possible her AIaiesty's
Government will hasten 20 apply 10 Cuba,
not only the reforms which form the
groundwork of the law applied to-day 70
Porto Rico. but also will extend 10 both
provinces the reforms which have been
offered with the view OF comforting upon
both Antilles an Administrative and eco
nomic personnel of a local character;
which shall facilitate the complete inter-
ventiOn of the country In its ..WD affairs,
maintaining. at the same TINS intact the
right Of sovereignty and the conditions
necessary TO the maintenance OF that
right. as was stated in the words her Ma
iesty deigne, 10 address to the COrtes, by
the advice of her responsible government,
upon the opening Of Parliament
These amplided reforms can be partly
| put into practice by means Of the power
! possessed by the Executive Government
and partly viii require the consent OF
| Parliament. The government is confident
that IL will no. encounter insuperable OBJ
stacles to It's rapid action In this sense
! looking to the patriotic uniformity Of
opinion respecting the fundamental IDEAS,
which underlie the application Of the re-
| forms
Briefly. the law Of reforms voted by
/ the C0rtes and sanctioned by the Crown
] which is to-day 70 be applied 10 Porto
| Rico. will form the foundation-stone Of
| the new regime; but an additional de-
cree an account of which will be given
| 10 the Cortes. will amplfy 10 such an
/ extent these reforms that genuine home
| administration will be constituted In our
! Antilles. i'm he first instance for Cuba,
| but 10 be extended 10 Porto Rico as soon
and at the same time as IL may be- posi-
| BILE to apply it TO the former island.
| C5igneO IEIb AN
Minister of Foreign Affairs