Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-15
TRICKY DIPLOMACY
Alleged Propositions Made by a Re-
ciprocity Commissioner.
NO THRILLING TO Be ALLOWED
Definite Developments Are Expect
ed This Week.
F FEELING IN CONG RESS

The Spanish source of the new auton-
omy'' proposition is disclosed by the fact
now made public that Senior Juan NJ Ce-
ballos. the so-called Spanish reciprocity
commissioner, laid the same proposition be-
fore the President or at least privately
represented that he had done SO, and
sought an interview with Senior Quesada,
secretary of the Cuban junta, who declin-
ed to talk with him.
1t is the same old autonomy decked
in a new yellow gown.
Just how much authority Ceballos had
for making the proposition is not disclosed.
and it is regarded as unimportant except
as further evidence that Spain has not
yet abandoned the idea that she may trick
the United States with diplomacy of a pc
culiar Spanish variety. Senior Quesada re-
fused to talk with any Spanish agent ex-
ctpt on the basis of absolute independence
for Cuba, and it is not believed that the
President was impressed by Senior Ceballos'
proposition, which was little more than
that this government should compel the
Cubans to lay down their arms and accept
autonomy administered by Spain.
Such propositions as this and all sorts of
suggestions presented for discussion are
veil understood in Congress to be simply
attempts to raise dust and obscure the
thing directly in front OF US, which is the
and demand for reparaton for the Maine
disaster, which resulted from Spanish
treachery.
No Trilins Allowed.
The disposition indicated by Spain to
trifie with this government is regarded by
the best informed men in Congress as in
creasing the probability of war. The situa-
ton is represented as being plainly this:
Satisfaction must be given for the. Maine
disaster and the independence of Cuba will
be recognized by this government A re-
sis;ance of this by Spain means war, and
her trifiing with the matter at this stage
is regarded as an evidence of an intention
to resist. The fear is expressed that Spain
is making the grave error Of persiSting in
the theory that President Mckinley is weak
and easily deceived If Spain would dis
abuse her mind of this idea the probability
of war would not be SO great, but there APP
pears grave danger that she will persist
in il too long. There is possibility that
if Spain could realize, before hostilitieS
have actually been entered upon or she is
committed to a course which will compel
her to make war, that she has but two
things to choose Observation-Disclosures to
our demands in reparation of the Maine dis
aster and our recognition of the independ-
ence of Cuba, or else war-she might make
choice that would avert war. A persist
ence, however in the idea that she can
trick out better terms for herself is liable
to lead her beyond the war point, her wis.,
dom coming too late.
The Cuban authorities have repeatedly
declared that they would not accept any
thing short of independence, and Senior
Quesada again reasserted it in refusing to
confer with Ceballos on any other basis.
The sentiment in Congress is so pronounce
ed as to be almost unanimous in opposition
to any effort on the part of this govern
ment to force the Cubans to accept 'auton-
omy' or to have us guarantee an assump-
ton of any part of the Spanish debt by the
Cubans. 1t is well underst TODD that the Gu
bans themselves would not decline to as
sumo a small part of this debt if they had
their independence, but this willingness on
their part does not overcome the opposition
In Congress to this government going Sc
curity for it.
No Adjournment Until Settlement.
There has been some talk OF a very early
adjournment of Congress. and it has been
intimated. If not directly declared, that
there was a desire that the Spanish ques-
ton should be kept open until after Con-
gress had adjourned, so that the settlement
might not be influenced by knowledge of
what Congress might or might not consent
to. 1t is believed that this suggestion is
inspired by a Spanish wish, and has no
substance in 1t. An attempt, by dallant
diplomacy, to delay action until after the
adjournment of Congress is regarded as
GER diu W ldli II ROulu Iall eVer II II were
not already certain that the President in
tends to act as early as is admitted of by
the receipt CT the report of the board Of III
Qclry. There Is a determination on the
part of a large number of the members of
each house, without distinct of party, to
see this Spanish question in the way of set
tlement before an adjournment shall be
had. This sentiment is particularly strong
in the Senate. The desire for an early ed-
journment Is universal, but there Is a de-
termination not to adjourn nile still in ths
dark as to this question. The belief is very
general that If no action We're taken else
where Congress itself would &c. befor, ad-
journing.
TEs view of the situation ouli BE- hard
ly worth discussing except to meet some
current gossip, for the reason that it Is
thought to be practically certain that the
President will make a formal announce
Eaent of his policy long before Congress
could get ready to adjourn, hurry as mucn
as Il. might.
Definite Developments Expected.
Definite developments are expected be-
fore the close OF this week. While no one
knows certainly when the report of the
board of inquiry will be received, the ex-
pectation Is that 1t will De received before
the close of the week. 1t IL the under
standing about Congress that the Presi-
dent will act on the Maize matter and the
general Cuban question at the same time,
and that the independence Of Cuba will be
recognized, whatever satisfaction Spain
and her men. AS long this recognition
will not BE- made dependent upon the action
of Spain 1t is expected to come simulta-
neously with the demand for reparation for
the Maine.