The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-14
SPAIN BECS.
Submits a Proposal For Peace
in Cuba
To the Insurgents Through
President Mckinley.
FREEDOM Is PROMISED
If Permitted to Retain a Nom
inal Sovereignty.
Proposition is Declined by the
Cuban Junta.

Chicago March IA special to the
Tribune from Washington says:
Spain has shown the white feather.
1.-THE supposed naughty Spaniards
have at last been impressed by the hos
tile preparations of the United States
and have begun secret negotiations to
withdraw their troops from Cuba and
to restore peace there. A secret agent
of the Spanish government is now in
this country for this purpose.
He had an interview with President
Mckinley today and proposed that the
insurgents should accept independence
in everything but name. He proposed
that Spain should withdraw her troops
and permit the inha bitants of Cuba to
form a government to suit themselves,
retaining only a ShadOWy allegiance to
the mother country. His offer was dis
tinctly a preliminary surrender, and it
was intimated that it's object was to
let down Spain easily and permit of
actual independence after affairs had
quoted down in Cuba
President Mckinley declined to con-
slider the offer until he knew how the
insurgents looked upon it. The pres
ident himself referred the secret envoy
to Secretary Quesada, who represents
the Cuban republic in this city.
1.-The Spanish agent swallowed his
pride and sued for peace from the rebel
representative His offer was declined,
with the statement that the Cuban re-
public would not accept loyalty to
Spain even in name only.
SPANS peace commissioner left for
New York to make a final appeal to
Estrada Palma, the Cuban delegate to
this country, and head of the junta.
The objects of his journey have been
telegraphed to Palma and there is little
or no doubt that the representative of
the Spanish monarchy will be further
Inundated by the diplomatic agent OF
the republic of Cuba.
Spain has gone down on her mar
row bones to the insurgents and whined
for peace like a whipped dog. For the
first time since the rebellion broke out
the insurgents have been automatically
recognized by Spain. The insurgents
are in a position to demand absolute
independence, and this is what they
have done 1t looks like the beginning
of the end, for if Spain fights now it
must be for an empty name and Moth
ing more.
this remarkable news, for the cores
pondent of the Tribune learned the
facts from one who knew all about
them On the same steamer with the
new Spanish minister, Polo Y Bernabe.
there was well known resident of
Madrid, whose wealth, political afilia-
tions and confidential relations with
Prime Minister Sagasta are beyond
question. He had authority from the
queen regent of Spain to conduct the
preliminary negotiations looking to-
ward peaceabIe settlement of the Gu
ban question.
There is no doubt as to the author
ity under which he acted or the fact
that he came here for the specific pur-
pose of acknowledging the defeat of
Spain and begging for peace, with the
single proviso that it should come in
such a way as not to touch to the quick
the sensibiIities of the Spanish people,
and thus induce them to overthrow the
monarchy or force the country into a
war with the United States, which the
Spanish government knew would have
but one ending.