The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-01-02
SPAIN'S SPECI0US SINCERITY
PROMISED REFORMS FOR PORTO
RICO TO BE INSTITUTED.


A PaIpable Attempt to Win the sympathy
of Nations--In Due Time Similar Re-
forms viii be introduced in Cuba-The
Main Plan is Local Government With
Spain's Sovereignty Acknowledged.
Washington, Jan. 1.-Senor de LONE,
the Spanish minister, has received the
following telegram from Minister Of
Foreign Affairs Teutan, at Madrid:
I'm the council of ministers presided
over by Her Majesty the Queen Regen.
a royal decree was signed, which ap-
plies to the island of Porto Rico the
laws of reform resolved in the cortes on
the 18th of March, 1895.
1.-THE preamble of this decree is, Of the
greatest Importance because OF the
statements it contains regarding Cuba.
1t begins by explaining the reasons
why the reforms applied to-day and
wherefore this has not been done be-
fore. Amongst other paragraphs 1T
contains the following, which, owing
to ,--~-. Importance, copy in their en-
tirety:
In the actual circumstances the
government considers that the proper
time has arrived for giving to the world
ample proof of its firm resolve to fulfil
the engagements voluntarily contract
ed by the nation, by implanting and
carrying into effect in Porto Rico the
reform of the system of government
and civil administration voted by the
cortes, and sanctioned by her majesty
and which conveniently enlarged and
extended, will be applied in due time to
Cuba.
In unfolding the bases of the re-
forms with that scrupulous care which
the complex nature of the case and it's
many and varied problems demand the
undersigned minister has been inspired
with sense Of the existing necessities,
and has proceeded to the utmost limit
which the actual laws allow, without
elimination of the inherent sovereignty
of the nation.
:" at the same time, true to the SOL
emn promise made before parliament
by its president, the government pro-
poses to give a more ample scope to the
reforms when, as a herald of peace,
the happy moment arrives for the def
mite application OF the reforms to both
| the Antilles.
AS soon as possible her majesty's
government will hasten to apply to COW
| er, not only the reforms which form the
groundwork of the law applied to-day
| to Porto Rico, but also will extend to
| both provinces the reforms which have
! been offered with the view Of confer
ring upon both Antilles an admins
trative and economic personality Of a
local character; which shall facilitate
the complete Intervention Of the coun-
try in its own affairs, maintaining at
the same time, intact the right of SOW
ereignty and the conditions necessary
| to the maintenance of that right, as
was stated in the words which her ma
| jesty deigned to address to the cortes,
! by the advice of her responsible gov
1 ernment, upon the opening of parlia-
ment.
These amplified reforms can be
partly put into practice by means of
1 the power possessed by the executive
government and partly will require the
sanction of parliament. The govern
ment is confident that it will not en-
counter insuperable obstacles to it's
rapid action in this sense, looking to
! the patriotic Uniformity of opinion re-
specting the fundamental ideas which
underlie the application Of the reforms.
Briefly, the law of reform solved
by the Cortes and sanctioned by the
crown, which is to-day to be applied
to Porto Rico, will form the foundation
stone of the new regime; but an adj
ditional decree, account of which will
be given to the Cortes, will amplify to
such an extent these reforms that a
genuine home administration will be
constituted in our Antilles, in the first
instance for Cuba, but to be extended
to Porto Rico as soon, and at the same
time as it may be possible to apply 1t
to the former island. (Signed)
"Tetuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs"