The Saint Paul globe., 1897-06-06
Policy of Sen0r Sagasta.
First Act OF the Spanish Liberals Would to Recall
Gen Weyler From Cuba.

NEW YORK, June G-The World
this morning prints q dispatch from
Madrid giving an interview with Senior
Sagasta, the leader of the Spanish Lib
erals.
I'VE would be more liberal III every
sense than the Conservative party can
afford to be-" said Senior Sagasta I'VE
would not hesitate to go much further
than Senor Canovas has gone in the
way Of a home rule policy for the West
Indies, in order to insure the loyalty
and friendship of the colonies there.
Our policy would entail change in
the supreme directions of Cuban af-
fairs, Of course The removal Of Gen.
Weyler would be immediate, and the
present policy Of excessive severity
and repression would be abandoned,
for that system is not calculated to
improve the prospects of pacification
which we earnestly desire. In regard
to the relations between Spain and the
United States, l am not acquainted
with what has passed recently be-
tween the Spanish and American gov
ernments. 1 have no reason to sup
pose that International considerations
or pressure influenced the decision of
Senor Canovas to resign. The Liberal
party wishes to maintain and improve
the cordial relations with the United
States, and hopes it's colonial policy
would help to do so.
But neither the Liberal party nor
any other Spanish party could tolerate
q suggestion of infringing on the rights
of Spain or implying the interference
of foreign powers in her relations with
her colonies. The Liberal party would
be as jealous as the Conservatives In
defense of the supremacy of Spain in
Cuba and Porto Rico
By order of the queen, Marshal
Campos has returned from Catalonia,
where he had gone for brief holi-
day. The queen wished to consult him
regarding the solution Of the crisis.
His opinion and those of MarShalS
Lopez Dominguez and Blanco are
likely to have a decisive influence. All
three make no secret Of their opinion
that the recall of Gen. Weyler is ex-
pedient both for the pacification Of
Cuba and for international considera-
tions.
1t is a singular feature of the present
crisis that the queens chief concern
has been to know the opinion Of all
the statesmen and generals consulted
on the advisability of the recall of Gen.
Weyler, and whether a change of pol
icy in Cuba and the granting of home
rule would be most likely to hasten
the termination of the war. Spanish
domestic politics has played second
part in this crisis. The whole drift of
the interviews of the queen with Mar
shals Campos, Blanco and Lopez De-
minguez and with Senors Padaz anu
Sagasta shows that all five are unani-
nous in considering it necessary in the
formation of new government to
have we'll defined, concrete plans for
carrying out Cuba home rule and for
endeavoring to strengthen the cordial
relations with the United States, and
all believe that the indispensable pre-
liminary step to this is the appoint
ment of a new governor general, who
would inspire foreign countries and the
Spanish colonies with confidence in
the sincerity Of the Spanish colonial
policy.
All the generals and statesmen who
approached the queen were much
struck by her anxiety and earnestness
in seeking a solution, giving the most
promise of a prompt pacification of
the colonies and an honorable, friendly
understanding with the United States.
She has granted hearings to most of
the authorized exponents Of the regu-