San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-24
MESSAGE AND CUBA.
What The President Will
Present To Congress.
HE WILL DEFINITELY LAY DOWN
THE POLICY OF THE GOVERN
MENT OF THE U. S.
1t Will Be As To Cuba; Non Interyen-
ton Until Such Fine As The
Autonomy Policy Can Have
A Fair Trial-0ther
Late News.

New York, Nov. PA dispatch to
the Tribune from Washington, says:
Cuba and the currency will be the
leading topice in the presidents mes
sage. 1t is understood that the dis
cussion of the Cuban situation will be
comprehensive. 1t has already been
explained what the State department
has prepared a reply to the Spanish
note regarding filibustering. Whether
the president will incorporate the sub
stance in his message or leave il to go
in as part of the regular diplomatic
correspondence, may be determined
later, but the message will define the
Cuban policy of the administration af-
Tentatively Members of Congress,
with whom the president has talked
freely on the subject, have almost
without exception, urged that this be
done and Mr.. Mckinley has apparent
ly agreed with them.
The reason given for this course is
apparent. While a sincere hope is en-
tertained that the Sagasta ministry
may end the war at an early date, the
Possibility of its failure cannot be over
looked. In that event it is desirable
for the policy of this country to be
known. strong intimation is given
that in the failure of an end to the
present conditions in Cuba at an p, yY
date, no hesitation will be showIIa n
the United States making known its
position of ultimate Intervention. In
dustry and commerce may both be
made the grounds for this action. The
belief is that the Cuban problem may
be solved without danger of war bet
ween Spain and the United States and
will be solved through the good offices
of this country, but the expectation is
that these good offices will be eXerted
whiting a reasonable time after Con-
gress meets and after the prospects Of
the insurgents accepting or rejecting
autonomy are known beyond question.
If Cuba is actually pacified and inlus-
dustry and trade are resumed that
condition is expected to speak for it
self The refusal of a few insurgent
leaders to lay down their arms and
the continuance of a sort of bandit
warfare would not be interpreted by
the administration as the failure of au-
tonOmy. On the other hand, the con-
tinuance of the present conditions
would hardly be accepted as evidence
that the island is pacified.
Some misunderstanding is said to
exist in Spanish official circles regard
ing the position of the administration
after the decree of autonomy is gazet-
ted. The administration would not
under any circumstances undertake to
guarantee autonomy. That would be
making itself responsible for the colo,
NAL government of Cuba to the Span
ish authorities. But the presidents
good offices are .eXerted toward giving
the policy of autonomy a fair trial. |
The message is expected to make this |
point clear beyond the possibility of |
misunderstanding.
1t is the confident belief that the
presidents discussion of the Cuban |
situation will tend to strengthen the |
feeling that the administration will be |
able to meet every phase in a manner |
10 satisfy the conservative business in
-erests of the country and discourage |
-edical or precipitated action.