Evening star., 1897-04-16
PLANNING A PEACE
Spain and Cuba Said to Be Nego-
tiating Terms.
RUMORED CONSULTATION IN THlS CITY
An indemnity to Be Paid and Ab-
soIute independence Granted.
INT E ESTING SSIP

When Senior Gonzalo de Quesada was
Eouncement that General Weyler's repre-
sentative, Senior Sandeval. who is now in
Washington, had come to this country for
the purpose of causing the arrest Of Tom
as Estrada Palma and himself, his answer
was an inscrutible smile. Further than this
he was not communicative.
1t is believed to be possible that Sande-
yars mission to this country is for other
purposes than those SO generally attributed
to him. The New York Sun today publihes
dispatch from Havana which states that
negotiations are in progress looking to the
establishment of the independence of Cuba
to be brought about through an agreement
with Spain, which includes the payment Of
an indemnity to the latter country by the
republic of Cuba
An Important Conference.
1t is said upon very good authority that
Minister Tomas Estrada Palma. Treasurer
Benjamin Guerra and Horatio S. Rubens
the counsellor of the Cuban revolutionary
party in this country, were in Washington
DAY before yesterday and during their stay
in this city held conference with repre-
sentatives of the Spanish government. Who
these representatives were 1t is impossible
to state with exactness, but from the fact
that Senior Congosto, the Spanish consul at
Philadelphia, and SenOr S6ndeval were both
here, it is believed that one or the other
OF them was in communication at least
with those e! gagged in the consultation. 1t
is said that the subjects under conside-a-
tion were what amount of money should be
given to Spain and what treaty rights
should be observed by Spain in the Cuban
republic. whose absolute dependence was
to be Proclaimed. Mr.. Rubens was the only
rt ,hn tcfo
ed at hotel, and. together with Senor
Palma and MIR. Guerra, left for New York
carly yesterday morning.
Cheering News From Cuba.
Senor Palma while here received a spe-
c1al messenger from President Cisneros.
who Is alive and well, who also brought
letters and documents from the government
council of the republic and from Gen
Gomez. President Cisneros and the gov
ernment council reported that the affairs
Oh the republic were in better condition
than they had ever been before, and that
the revolutionists were in better shape now
to continue the rebellion than ever. Gen.
Gomez stated that Weyler's policy in Cuba
had been proven failure beyond any uues-
tion, and that he, himself, and his troops
We're in good condition and able to hold
their own against all the Spanish soldiers
available in Cuba to be sent against them.
He greeted the approach Of the rainy sea-
son with much pleasure, stating that in the
present weakened and exhausted state OF
the Spanish soldiers they could not with
stand the siege of sickness to which they
would be compelled to submit until good
weather comes again. -'
Spain Sending Home Her Soldiers.
A bulletin sent out by the Associated
Press this afternoon announces that infor-
nation from trustworthy sources in this
city indicates the withdrawal of at least
part Of the great army that Spain has
maintained for several years in the Island
Of Cuba when the rainy season sets in,
within a few days.
The bulletin states that the initial move
ment will be the departure of 10000 Span
ish troops from Havana for Spain, and
within short time after that 10000 troops,
1t is undcrs:o ood, will follow. Whether tfis
movement is to be construed in favor of or
against the insurgents is not possible to
say. The Spanish insist positively that
1t means only that little or nothing re-
mains of the insur-ection; that Gomez has
only about so or 100 followers and that to
watch these under the conditions in which
the campaign has been necessarily con-
Quoted a few thousand men are quite as
effective as the army of 10000 men which
has been maintained in Cuba. The Cuban
contingent on the other hand insist that
the Spanish finahcial resources are ex-
hausted, and that the troops are to be
withdrawn because Of lack of money to
keep them in service.