The Saint Paul globe., 1897-11-04
GEN. BLANCO'S POLICY.
He VIII Not Make War on Women
and Children.

HAVANA, Nov. 3.--Gen. Blanco, In
an interview outlining his policy, said:
81 cannot at present outline to you
in more detail than already published
the reforms that will be implanted in
Cuba because final arrangements could
not be made until 1 had thoroughly
studied the actual situation. But l can
assure you of this, that Spain will
grant all the reforms asked for by the
autonomists, reformists and the Liberal
party. The complete plan proposed for
the reforms will be made public here in
a few days, as soon as the minor de
tails regarding suffrage have been ar
ranged. Spain realizes now that the
Cubans are ripe to govern themselves,
and is willing to grant ample self-gOv
ernment. Spain, he claimed, had al
ways been good mother to Cuba. The
only delay now in putting the reforms
in operation was in ascertaining the
best system of suffrage and convincing
the Cubans that the offers were gen
uine.
Gen. Blanco said he thought the
rebels would alter their attitude to the
reforms. There could never be a gov
ernment of the country by the rebels.
Many CubanS, he thought, were salts
fed to accept autonomy, and without
the support of these the rebellion must
soon fail. Though he would not direct
ly negotiate with the rebels, because
such a course would not be consistent
with Spain's dignity, all the rebels who
came to him would be greeted with
open arms. the doors of his home would
be wide open, and all that had passed
would be forgotten. He is sanguine
that in the end all good Cubans would
return to allegiance to Spain. Spain"
said Gen. BlancO. has not been
brought to grant the reforms by out
side pressure, but because of a desire
to do Justice. But / am not here to
allow the Cubans to become complete
owners of this island. l should be very
sorry to shed Cuban blood, because [
am fond of the country and the peo-
pie, but if the Cubans do not accept
the peace proposals, then I am pre-
pared to return war for war
MY method of warfare" he said.
will never include RECOMMENDATION. I
fight the enemy, not women and chill
dren. One of the first things 1 shall
do will be greatly to extend the zones
of cultivation and allow the reconcen-
trados to go out of the towns to till
the SOIL
Gen. Blanco will, by the labor of the
reconcentrados and pacificos, rebuild
the small towns which have been de-
stroyed and will endeavOr to restore
them to normal conditions. Without
censurfng Gen. Weyler or his methods,
he differed with him. Gen. Blanco de-
clined to say anything regarding the
condition Of the Spanish army in Cuba,
but said he would devote his attention
to the welfare of the troops, and where
ever he found cOmmissariat or other
frauds he would punish with heavy
hand.
When asked his opinion as to the re-
lations between Spain and the United
States, Gen. Blanco smiled.
II do not anticipate any trouble" he
said when left Madrid the relations
of the ministry with Gen. WOOdfOrd
were most cordial" He thinks no oc-
casion will arise to disturb this friend
" feeling Gen. Blaneo expressed him
self as pleased with his reception, bur
declined to say anything about the con-
ference aboard ship with Gen. Wey-
ler. AS he shook hands with me at the
door he said: Whenever you doubt the
truth of any story come to me, and I
will be glad to tell you the truth and
be glad TO make it public"