The San Francisco call., 1897-11-15
DESIRES TO AVOID STRAINED
RELATIONS WITH SPAIN.
More Can Be Accomplished as to Cuba,
the Chief Executive Will Point Out,
If the Jingoes in Congress
Are Restrained.

NEW YORK, Nov. I4.-The Herald's
Washington correspondent telegraphs:
President Mckinley has his annual mes
sage to Congress we'll under way, and
little remains to be done to it except such
minor changes as may be suggested by
events of the three weeks before the be-
ginning of the session.
Interest in the message centers very
largely in the feature relating to foreign
affairs, and to this the President will de-
vote most of his attention. Hawaiian an
nexation will occupy a prominent place
and the Senate be urged to speedily ratify
the treaty now pending before that body.
To no subject has the President given
more careful consideration than to the
Cuban question, and it will occupy con-
siderable space in his message. He does
not wish Congress to take any action
that might bring about strained relations
with the Spanish Government or in any
way interfere with his efforts to bring
about the termination of the war in Cuba.
The President feels that more can be ac-
complished if the administration is not
hampered in any way by Congressional
action which might nfame public feeling
in the United States and in Spain, and all
he wants Congress to do at present is to
restrain jingoes in both houses and await
results.
The message will point out that every
obligation toward Spain imposed by inter
national law has been discharged. 1t is
possible that by the time the message
goes in the President may be able to give
to Congress more authoritative informa-
ton than would now be possible as to the
effects of concessions from Spain and as
to the prospects of the scheme for au-
tonomy being accepted by Cuban leaders.
At any rate, he will urge that time be
allowed to give Spain a fair opportunity
scheme of liberal government.
Mr.. Mckinley recognizes as inevitable
the introduction of jingo resolutions in
both houses, and of warlike speeches in
the Senate, with possibly the passage of
resolutions by that body, but he expects
the House to be willing to wait for the
administration to carry out its policy.
On the subject of reciprocity the Presi-
dent viii be able to show that an arrange
ment mutually advantageous to the COM
merce of both countries is reaching
conclusion with France; that negotiations
for reciprocity with Canada are in progress,
and that it is expected that arrangements
will be made with various countries in
South and Central America.
The Nicaraguan canal will be touched
upon, but it is thought the President will
send special message to Congress on
this subject after he has received the re-
port of the engineer commission about to
start to Nicaragua.
The President will urge upon Congress
the necessity of adopting legislation for
the reform of the currency system along
lines recommended by Secretary of the
Treasury Gage. This plan involves the
of the national debt at ~ per
cent; the retirement of greenbacks and
treasury notes and the issuance of circu-
lating notes exclusively by national
banks, with provisions which would at
the same time insure the safety of the
notes and greater degree of elasticity in
the currency.
Alaskan affairs will be treated at some
length, and the President will point out
the necessity of immediate legislation for
this region.
Important recommendations for both
the army and navy will be made. The
continuation of the work of fortifying sea-
coasts will be urged, and attention be
called to the necessity for an increase in
the artillery arm of the service so as to
man the new defenses. The
continuation of an increase in the navy