New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-16
STILL WORRYING OVER CUBA
THE ADMINISTRATIONS PROGRAMME
SEEMS DOOMED TO DEFEAT.
SECRETARY OLNEY GREATLY ANNOYED AT
SPANS DELAY IN ACCEDING TO HIS sUG-
GEsTIONs-THE PRESIDENT ANXIOUS TO
ANNOUNCE ANOTHER DIPLOMATIC
TRIUMPY BEFORE HE RE-
TIRES FROM OFFICE.

and Mr.. Olney 1t was announced In these dis
patches last spring that the Secretary OF state
had written note to Senior de LONE, Spanish
Minister at Washington. urging. almost de-
mandng that Spain should institute important
reforms In Cuba. In his Message submitted to
Congress early last month the President was
forced to admit that Spain had not answered
this note The fact is now generally known that
since the Message was written negotiations have
been begin having as their object changes In
the administrative affairs Of Cuba. Spain seems
thus to have shown her gratitude for Mr.. Ceve-
lands considerable treatment Of the case of Cuba
In his Message.
Progress in the negotiations has been exceed
ingly slow however and the outlook Is not
encouraging to the Administration. Mr.. Oh
ney has admitted as much. and expressed
an earnest hope that the subject might be
disposed OF before March A. The probabi'i-
ties are that the negotiations now going on
will be so delayed that the Secretary VIII De
unabl, to carry out the programme he mas
in mind The outlook is for mucn dis
tress on the part Of both the President ana
the Secretary of State. The Secretary 1t Is I'M
derstood elated. somewhat. naturally. by the
success which attended his management OF the
controversy with Great Britain about the Nenez-
uelan boundary. is much annoyed that Spain
ing to his usgestions-practically demands
with respect to Cuban affairs
Secretary Olney and Senior de LONE have
been frequently in consultation of late over the
prospective Cuban reforms Mr.. Oney has pro-
rosed certain changes in the Spanish colonial
laws Some Of these Minister de LONE has ac-
cepted and others he has rejected. 1t Is known
that only a few days ago Mr.. Olney suggested
to the Spanish Minister the Importance OF
speedy conclusion of the negotiations under con-
sideration The Secretary Is particularly direct
-nerhaps blunt-in his intercourse with foreign
Minister'S He said to Senior de LONE that II
was highly important that the negotiations
should be concluded before the end or TINS
month as it was the hope Of the President pe-
| fore leaving office to be able in Message, 10
inform Congress that Spain had agreed to GER
tain reforms In Cuba which had been suggested
| by the Administration. to say what those re-
forms were and to say that the Administra-
ton was then endeavorng to induce the cuban
insurgents to agree to peace, with the under
standing that such reforms should be imme-
| diatelv instituted In other words, the Admin
| istra.ior wanted to retire from office with
| loud blast Of trumpets.
sNAGS IN THE ADMINISTRATIONS WAY.
Rut two formidable obstacles stand In the
Secretary of state will probably have to face
| defeat in the Cuban case Spain may IT. time
| consen, to autonomy for Cuba. She may In the
| raar future institute certain reforms In parts
| ~ the island But she Is not likely to grar-
| autonomy so long as the insurgents in any large
| numbers keep their arms. In the last repeiiion
she Insisted that the insurgents must give up
their arms before she agreed to any OF their de-
| nrands There is no question that the Mauriu
| Government is now insisting on the same condi-
| lions preliminary TO the establishment or new
forms Of administration in Cuba
No well-info-rned person here believes that
| CT ain will Immediately institute new order
q, things in few provinces Of the island. In
the first place according to the latest informa
ton from trustworthy sources in Cuba. none OF
tho nrovinces i'm revolt not Havana. are
nacifed Notwithstanding the claims of General
Wevl.r II would be absurd to expect Spain to
institute reforms in sections Of the island
where even occasional fighting is going on
Therefore the statement seems warranted that
until the rebels lay down their arms the Madrii
Government will establish general reforms
II cu,, and until warlike conditions in all the
provinces disappear she will make no expert
ments In any sections or portions OF the island
If Secretary Olney had it in his power to do
en- he would IL is assumed, compel the rebels
70 surrender and permit the Administration to
win n diplomatic victory. a Few days ago ne
cabed To Minister Taylor to make every exer-
zion TO influence the Spanish Government 10 act
favorably and promptly on the recommends
| tions Of the State Department The American
| Minister is aware OF the anxiety OF the NuIni'-
istration to clear up the diplomatic docket pc
Zorro March f. II Is said by person VINO ouSht
10 know that Mr.. Olney has specifically m
structed the Minister or this point: FROM Whal
| can he learned Mr.. Taylor's eXertions nave not
hoon attended with any more success tha'i
have those Of Mr. Olney in Washington Nego-
tiations are going on. but they have been gong
on since tie early part or December Denhi'e
conclusions are nearly as far off now as then
II IL true that agreement on some points
has been reached. but Spain has nor conceus go
autonomy for CUBA ana sile ~ "'t ""''S ~ Nv
so Immediately.
C1rpANs WILL NOT ACCEPT AUTONOMY.
There ia anothe serious obstacle to the execu-
,,or of the programme Of the Administration. The
cubans have repeatedly and positively declared
tho, nothng short of absolute independence
from, snanish rule will be acceptable TO them
They have not asked for autonom". nor nave
they requested or authorized the Administration
10 obtain autonomy for them senator sa'u
to-day that the Administration seemed 10 io'se'
that the Cubans were not American supJe'''
and that this country could not make the" ac
cent ANYTHING in the form of government WHICH
they did not want This Senator also sad 'ha'
the President and Mr.. Olney appeared u oe
hent on carving out the Hawaiian poilcy IN
cub, and Of forcing the Cubans govern
! ment which they had repudiated and when they
Z are giving up life and treasure 10 oNe VEIN ' wW
, Even il Spain should grant autonomy! VINO WI
+ accent IL the Senator asked. There IS iood loi
,hought in the suggestion. Mr. Quesada, charge
dAffaires OF the Washington pralch oi ~, Wv
cuban Junta has said with emphasis tha' th'
,nsurrents would reject any and all reforms pro
posed by Spain except the one for whch M M
p,ntrvnen we're struggling -independence He
, a;d again TODAY as earnestly as he could thai
aia Us Cuha's position to-day. and that there
was no possibility Of compromise
that Mr. Cleveand's feeling toward cuba If
-, ,,h,t II was toward Hawaii, and Is in
Y auenced largely by a desire to maintain The
| consistency Of his lamented tawaian pohcy
. yeas disclosed In an interview he had not Ions
400 with distinguished public man, who toof
60 sIon 10 congratulate him on uphoding th'
49,. Doctrine He replied To the congratula