Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-10-26
Ex-MINIsTER HANNIs TAYLOR HAS A
PLAN FOR DOING 1T.
HIS VIEW OF THE SITUATION
PRESIDENT MKINLEY EXPECTS NO
TROUBLE WITH SPAIN.
Looks With Favor ON the Change of
Policy and Will Await Results
Before Determining His At
titude-Thc FiIibuster-
ing Question.

New York, Oct. 25.--Hannis Taylor. for |
the last four years American minister to
Spain. and who has just returned from
Madrid, is about to address an elaborate |
communication to the people of the United
States on the Cuban question. He has
reached the conviction that Spanish states
manship is impotent to solve this problem
and he feels 1t to be his duty to lay before
his countrymen his testimony upon the
whole subject matter. IN the hope that it
nay aid them In taking wise and just ac-
ton. In his communication, which will be
published in the November number of the
North American Review. he reviews the
matter from every standpoint. basing his
statements upon observations which he
made in the course of his negotiations with
the Spanish government. In summing up
the situation, he suggests Il plan whereby
the United States may speedily bring the
Cuban war to an end.
No Trouble Expected.
Washington. Oct Developments In
Cuba within tho next thirty days will deli
nitely determine President McKinley's at
titude on the Spanish question, but he ex-
pectS no trouble. Inc ADMINISTRATOR io'hs
with much favor on Spains change of pol
icy, and believes that the ministry IS sim
cere in it's endeavor to bring about a speedy
termination of the strife in Cuba by grant
irg substantial reforms.
While not fully advised as to Spain's re-
ply to Secretary Sherman's note presented
by Minister Woodford in September, Its
general character is known to the author
tiles here. and it is not anticipated by the
president that any friction will arise be-
tween the two countries as result of the
exchange of notes. There Is the authority
of cabinet officer for this statement.
| The prime object the president had in
| view when General Woodford went to
! Madrid was to bring about an improved
| condition of affairs in the island OF Cuba
| before congress reassembled. Spain's re-
! ply and her instructions to the new captain
| general of Cuba will show an advanced
step in that direction.
| The Change in Policy.
But the administration is more concerned
about the reported change of policy than
| 1t is about the character of Spain's reply to
| Minister Woodford's representations. They
have no reason to fear that Spain will make
| an aggressive. stand against the United
| States. On the contrary, they are sure of
| a note friendly and conciliatory in tone.
| The president realizes, however, the dan
| ger of further agitation by congress, and
| further disturbance of our business inter-
ests if something more substantial than the
] mere promises of Spain to grant genuine
| autonomy cannot be furnished when the
| new session begins.
1t is not doubted among officials that the
basis of the Spanish reply to Mr.. Wood
| fords note will be the charge that the Unit
| ed States has not observed the .requir Ire
meuts of international law in the matter of
| preventing filibusterng. In this case, the
!, state department will have some pertinent
facts to present, which, its officials believe.
| will completely ALLEVIATE from Spain any
sympathy that she may have attracted
from other European nations on that score.
| 1t IS asserted positively that in no single
case where the Spanish authorities have
| brought to the attention of our government
| the fact that an illegal expedition was
about to start from our shores for Cuba
has it neglected to use all the means per-
mitted by our laws to prevent the start.
In some cases our government has pro-
ceeded to extreme lengths, in restraint of
American commerce, on insufficient evil
dence furnished by the Spanish government
that has resulted in the preference of large
claims by American ship owners for illegal
detention of their ships.
Has Cost Uncle Sam Dearly.
trolls along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts
has been very heavy Every time the
state department has been obliged to call
| upon a collector at a port the result has
been a heavy bill of expenses for tugs
special officers and other charges. Unof-
fetal estimates place the expense the
. United States has been to to protect the
Cuban coast for Spain at about s2.GOO.0Oo
One naval officer, who is thoroughly cog
t1,r IL
, ment by the patrol, stated that it would
really be cheaper for the United States to
: send fleet to Cuba and blockade the
. coast there against incoming filibusters
than to try to stop them on our own ex
tensive coast line.
Altogether, the officials here are con.
fident of their ability to show that the
government has more than complied witt
| the requirements of international law. Or
this phase of the question, the correspond
ence may be kept alive between the stat.
department and the Spanish government
f until congress meets, but it is expected
=. that, unless some results in the directio;
of the suggestions of Mr.. Woodford ar
, forthcoming by that time the presiden
. will refer the entire matter to congress AIT
e | await its order.
No Search and Seizure Threat.
: A denial was made by an authoritative
9 source that Minister Dupuy DeLome hat
i; intimated to the state department tina
p Spain would resort to the search ant
a seizure of suspected American vessels OF
i the high seas if filibusterins expeditions
K | continued to leave this country. The re
port, it is believed grew out of visits mad
by the minister to the state department
=. last Monday and Thursday. AT these visit
. he called the attention of the officials L
! the circumstances of the departure of th
u alleged filibusterer Silver Heels, after thu
authorities We're put in possession of ex
i plicit information of the plans of the yes
II sci. Regret was expressed by the ministe
!. at this occurrence. as 1t was felt that i
II would create a bad impression at Madri'
at a time when the government was ma
It turing its policy. Beyond this, however
!. the minister made no reference to retalia
II ton upon American vessels. or t.
: searches on the high seas. 1t is said n pre-
: requisite to such action would be an an
nouncement by Spain of the blockade 0
l. all the ports of Cuba. and certainly y
a step along such radical lines has been pro
It posed thus far.