Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-22
SPAIN WANTS PEACE
General Blanco Holds Out OVertures
to Cuban Insurgents.
CABALLER0 MADE 4 G0BETWEEN
The Offer Believed to Have Been
Promptly Rejected.
DECISIVE BATTLE IMMINENT

from this city on Saturday last in order,
according to the official announcement to
take charge of the campaign against the
insurgents. He was accompanied by his
full staff and was escorted by a company
OF artillery. But it is stated on very good
authority that General Pando has been
commissioned by Marshal Blanco, the cap
tain general, to enter into communication
with the insurgent leaders, with the view
of arranging for peace.
This statement is based on an accurate
knowledge of all the facts in the case.
General Pando did not leave this city until
he had taken steps calculated to further
the object w.--ch Marshal Blanco has in
view. General Pando, after a consultation
with the captain general, first brought
about the release from confinement of
Damian Caballero, who has been impris-
oned on the Isle of Pines for some time
past. for. it is alleged. acting as spy for
the insurgents and bringing about disas-
ter for the Spanish troops at Cacao, prov
ince of Santiago de Cuba.
Agent for General Pando
General Pando furnished CabaIIero, who
is the godfather of Rabi looked upon as
being the backbone of the insurgent move
ment in the province of Santiago de Cuba
with a considerable sum of money and
caused him to be landed at Manzanillo
province OF SdntlaSO de cuba, where q
good horse was placed at his disposal.
General Pando's peace emissary was also
furnished with official documents empower
ing him to act in behalf of the Spanish
commander. and from Manzanillo, Cabal-
iero made his way secretly to the Jiguani
hills, where General Rabi has his headquar-
tiers.
General Pando instructed CabalIero To
offer General Rabi high rank in the
Spanish army and a large sum of money
10 De distributed among the other insur-
gent leaders of that part of Cuba, and in
ADDITION large amount of money for him
self, In the event of his succeeding in ar
ranging terms for peace. Besides this
Caballero was instructed to inform the in
sureent leaders that the Spanish authors
ties undertook to honestly establish the
new autonomist regime if the leaders of
the insurgents would accept the PROPOSE.
tions made them.
Caballcro Mission UnsuccessfuI,
Although Caballero has not returned from
Santiago de Cuba, confidential advices
which have reached the Spanish officials
mere seem to indicate that CabaIlero has SO
far been unsuccessful. 1t is added that
previous to leaving Manzanillo for the
interior of Santiago de Cuba the agent of
Cen Pando obtained letter of introduc-
ton from a well-known merchant Senior
SOILS OF Manzanillo. to Gen. Du Valon, the
frehch leader of the insurgents with the
view of inducing the latter as well as Rabi
to enter into negotiations with the Spanish
duthoIIIitS looking TO a peace settlement
ana the acceptance of the autonomist form
OF government proposed by Spain for Cuba
Cabailero. in due course of time arrived
safely at the camp of Gen. Rabi, where the
lnsurgent leader had been supporting Ca
Dal!eros family while he was in prison
But the arguments of Gen. Pando's agent
nave not. apparently, had the effect hoped
Tor by the Spanish authorities for ii is
understood Gen. Rabi has replied that he
believes successful ending of the war in
favor of the insurgents is approaching:
that the Cubans. with the aid of the United
States. will gain their Independence and
that, therefore, he prefers to continue fight
ing the Spaniards until the final victory IS
won.
There seems to be no intimat:on as IN the
result of Caballero's negotiations with Gen.
Du Valon. although it may be judged, from
@ ,he attitude assumed by Gen. Rabi that
IN Santiago de Cuba.
Other Irons in the Fire.
Cen Pando, in the meanwhile acting
after consultation with Marshal Blanco
has put other irons in the fire, In the hope
OF prevailing upon the insurgents to come
to terms. He has been and still is in ne
gotiation with three leaders of the Cuban
revolution, and has been endeavoring to
induce them to go to different insurgent
camps, there to use their influence to hiring
about peace. on the promise of Cuba being
accorded really autonomous form of gov
ernment- These three men were also Of
fered money for themselves and were to
have been furnished with large sums of
money to distribute among their friends
But II Is understood they have hitherto
declined TO become agents of Gen Pando
aieging as their excuses that they have no
influence with the insurgent leaders of the
present cdy and that they would be risking
their iiVe-' IL they ventured into the in
surgent camps
In some quarters it is believed that this
reluctance to accept the overtures of Gen
Pando is due to the fact that the insur-
gents are anticipating some strong step in
their favor when the United States Con
gtess meets 1t is generally admitted that
Gen. Pando is somewhat mortified at the
non-success of his plans I'D to the present
and has informed the three ex-insurgeiit
leaders referred to that he doubts their
sincerity, and he indirectly gave them to
understand that he was of the opinion that
they were opposed to the sovereignty of
Spain over Cuba, and had desire to as
sIst the Spanish authorities in the efforts
the latter were making to bring about a
peaceful settlement of the troubles
Claimed They We're Sincere.
The Cubans referred to protested that
they were sincere and repeated the excuses
they had alrady made for their noncom
pliance with the requests of the Spanish
general The latter, although somewhat
disappointed. Will. II is understood con-
tirue his efforts TO come to an understand
Ing with the insurgents. and the military
su,norieles s .ris oeheve the best way to do this
is 10 ihnict upon the enemy a signal defeat
which Gen. Blanco hopes to accomplish
On the other hand, 1t Is believed the in
surgents have similar plans though from
an opposite direction and with totally
different object in view. II current renorts
among the friends of the Insurgents are To
be believed. the revolutionary leaders hone
TO strike decisive blow at Spain before
Congress meets encouragement IN
their friends in the United States who are
urging a recognition upon the part of the
United States government Of the belliger-
epcy of the insurgents of Cuba
ConEOsto is Unpopular.
DIR. Jose Corgosto. formerly Spanish con-
sui at Philadelphia. and now secretary gen.
eral Of Cuba. Is continuing to lose ground
in public favor a result Of some extra
ordinary statements which he has made
to the Spaniards here Senior Sontos Gux-
man considers himself and his family much
insulted by certain remarks Of DIR. Con-
gosto, and 1t Is said that the new secretary