Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-09
MESSAGE PLEASES SPAIN
Ministry Accepts President McKinleys As
surances of Good Will.
Senior Moret, However, Resents the
Implied Threat of Intervention I'm
Case Autonomy Fails.

A dispatch from Madrid to the New York
Evening Telegram yesterday says: Taken
as whole, the impression created here
by President McKinleys message Is very
good.
Although individual ministers refused to
give personal opinions on the matter, dip
lonatist who enjoys the entire confidence
Of the cabinet-the same who replied so
effectively la the Herald to Estrada Palma
made the following statement for the
Evening Telegram:
Il am only echoing the opinion of the en-
tire cabinet when 1 say that the message
is regarded as extremely favorable to
Spain.
1T recognizes, amply, her rights. 1t rem
ders justice to the efforts of the present
government to restore order, peace and
prosperity to the island.
1T expresses plainly the opinion that the
autonomy contained in the decree lately
issued is generous and ample, and admits
quite as plainly that the insurgents have
no further excuse fer opposition and claim
ing recognition of belligerent rights.
Il am certain that the ministers of the
cabinet arc gratiied TO degree, and re-
gard the message as a most hopeful indi-
cation Of the ultimate success of SPANS
efforts.
ministers feel certain that certain clauses
in the message call for some protest"
NJ. Moret is believed to be among these
latter. The Giplomatist says:
President Mckinley says under certain
conditions that if Spain, after having IA
fair chance to put the reforms into opera
tion. is without complete success. the
United States, in the cause of humanity
and in the interests Of commerce, will be
compelled to interfere.
Now, what does a fair chance mean
Does 1t mean. as we Spaniards hope it does,
that the insurgents will understand that
nilbaster1ng Will be suppressed? That those
found guilty of fOmentirg resistance will
be severely punished?
In this case Spain asks nothing more
for the success of her efforts there
There are thousands, in fact, a majority
OF the population Of the island, who ardent
~ long for peace. who desire only to en-
JOY the liberty granted them now. If those
who remain intractable find all hope of help
hand and are opposed, on the other hand,
by the remainder. the war will be totally
at an end within two months.
But suppose they think by keeping in
arms the United States will interfere with
II n certain time? The geographical con-
ditions of the island and the nature of the
conditions prevailing there might enable
them to keep up scattered, desultory war;
fare for an Indefinite period. In fact, the
hope Of future help from America would
be premium on insurrection.
Remember that a large number of the
insurgents are not any more infa tua ted
with independence than with autonomy.
They remain UP in arms because the con-
dltions of peaceful labor are what they
nate most.
Therefore. l repeat. President McKin-
leys message in reference to "a fair chance
means that, say. for perhaps a year the
lnsurgeHts will be cut off from every form
of help. If. in short, Spain is left to deal
with her own people in the fairest spirit
OF humanity and desire for reconciliation
and justice the instruction in such event
must Gle out within a couple of months.
This Interpretation of Presiden McKin-
leys message is not accepted.
1T is believed the references such as
above. were intended by the President to
pacIfy certain section in Congress-