The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-23

Washington, Sept. 22-OhlciaI dis
patches received by one of the embassies
here from Havana confirm the reports
that the colonial government of the
island is taking a hand in shaping the
terms on which the evacuation shall be
executed. This, it is believed here. may
develop some new phases in the situation
The colonial government was established
by Spain shortly before the war broke
out. there being cabinet Of 1--WE ofncers
a. Havana, and a legislative body with
TWO houses. II carried out in measure
the long-DenuinS plan OF giving CuDd
home rule BY means Of an autonomous
government but while in name auton-
onous. it was contended by the lnSurSehL
element that genuine home rule was lack
ing and that this colonial regime was q
continuance of Spanish domination: II ap-
pears however that these colonial au-
thorities are taking very active part In
the present negotiations and that there IS
more or less cooperation between them
and the Spanish government. This Gre
ates q condition in which the United
States must deal not only with Spain, but
those who claim TO represent the island
itself, free from Spanish control.
The colonial or autonomous adminlstra-
ton is very thoroughly organized and can
exert much Influence 1t established Il
regular legation in Washington prior to
the war. with several prominent men Of
Havana on the staff. 1t numbers N its
ranks much of the wealth Of Cuba and
claims to stand for the educated classes,
as against the insurgents and illiterates
1t now seems clear. from the official, as
WSll as from the press reports from Ha-
Vaha and Madrid, that the autonomist
element is taking up the claim first ad-
~Eanced by Spain that many Incidental
questions as to Cuba must be settled be-
fore the evacuation begins. But the view
among government officials here is that
the Cuban autonomists. as well as the
SpanidrdS, have no questions TO advance
or settle before the evacuation is deter
mined upon. The time and place of G-->ac-
uation is looked upon by the AUTHORITIES
here as the only point involved and there
is likely to be a rude Weakening if the
pro-Spanish element, either as auton-
omiStS or as native SDaniardS, insists
upon bringing in the determination of the
Cuban debt, future forms of government
rates of tariff for Spain and many other
subjects as preliminary to evacuation.
The American commissioners, according
to the understanding here. will insist on
a strict adherence TO the protocol for an
evacuation of the island, and if need be,
will submit an ultimatum against taking
up subsidiary questions of Cuba'S future.
While the Cuban colonial government is
thus combining with the Spanish govern
ment in bringing forward these incidental
questions yet the opinion was expressed
today by a high diplomatic officer, based
serious issue would be aVerted, and that
the actual evacuation of the Spanish
troops from Cuba would begin within the
next month. But it appears that the
evacuation will cover a much longer time
than has been anticipated. There are
some 100 900 Spanish troops in the island.
Allowing LOCO men on a transport, and
a vessel leaving every day, ii will take 100
days, or over three months. for the evac-
uation. But the vessels are not available
days, so that the time for departure
would probably far exceed three months.