Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-12
Captain General Blanco, stating that tn

Captain General Blanco, stating that the
Cuban cabinet had designated Senors Sc
vallios. of New York, and Barilla, secretary
of the Havana chamber of commerce. to
act with Senior Angulo in negotiating
commercial treaty between the United
States and Cuba. The minister referred in
cidentally to this fact, as he regarded it
as another evidence of the complete auton-
omy which Spain had granted to Cuba
Although Senior Polo will be the plenipo-
tentiary in arranging a Cuban treaty. the
Cuban delegates above named by the Cuban
cabinet will have entire control Of the
terms of such treaty.
Autonomy In Cuba.
Speaking of the present policy of Spain
in giving autonomy to Cuba, the minister
said:
1.-The government has granted autonomy
on the broadest and most liberal lines. 1t
is designed to give the Cuban people the
complete direction of their internal affairs,
thus gratifying the honorable ambition of
the Cubans, while at the same time main-
tanning the historic allegiance of Cuba as
a colony of Spain. The government is not
executing this plan grudgingly. or with any
technical restrictions, On the contrary, it
appreciates that the largest degree of pros
perity for the island MAY be expected from
such a measure of reform as will meet the
cherished expectations of Cubans loyal to
Spain. Already much has been accom-
plished, and there is the fullest confidence
that the plan will be carried into full exc
cution.
Naturally, with an insurrection drag
ging towards its close, there are difficulties
in the way of a complete realization of
plans SO comprehensive as to embrace the
entire internal machinery of Cuba. The
Mt CT cot ic
hands is the direction of the domestic af-
fairs of the island pending the meeting Of
the Cuban parliament The date for the
parliamentary elections and for the as
sembling of the senate and house have
been fixed, as Senor Moret, minister of the
colonies. told me just as was about to
sail, that the decree fixing the date of the
election in Cuba was about to be signed.
Says Cuba Will Govern Herself.
with the elections held, Cuba will have
for the first time parliament of her own
capable of dealing with all her domestic
affairs. Thus a complete plan of local gov
ernment will be in operation with an exec
utive branch and a legislative branch. The
full meaning of this should be appreciated
THE governor general. who is the repre-
sentative of Spain in Cuba. will no longer
govern in the complete sense. but 1t would
be more accurate to say that he will reign
under the restrictions placed on a consti-
tutional executive.
1.-THE naming of Cuban delegates to come
to Washington and arrange commercial
treaty shows how fully the plan of au-
tonomy grants to the Cubans control of
their own affairs. These delegates will
have in their own hands the making of this
tariff arrangement and without them
could do nothing. In short. Spain has
adopted this plan of autonomy. believing it
to be the surest means of bringing peace
and prosperity to the island, and it is
putting the plan into operation with the
utmost dispatch. confident that in the end
it will accomplish the good purpose for
which 1t was designed
Says Spain Does Not Want War.
When Senor Polo's attention was drawn
| to recent critical phases of the Spanish sit
| uation. he spoke with much reserve. The