Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1898-08-20
The CUBAN QUESTION
Continues in a Tangle-Must Pre-
serve Order in the Island.
Commander at Santiago Faces a Situation.
Insurgents Show an Ugly Spirit.
Order Given to Hold the In
surgents In Check.

WASHINGTON, Aug. i6. AS result Of
today's cabinet meeting the policy of
the administration in regard to the Gu
bans and future government of Cuba is
now well defined.
Law and order will be maintained a,
all hazards, even if it becomes neces-
sary to use the whole United States
army to do it. There will be no recog-
milton Of the independence of Cuba un-
til there is stable form Of govern
ment, established through the medium
| OF the ballot box, for the United States
to recognize. The United States, mean
while, will maintain military form of
government, and while dealing justly
and literally with the Cuban insur-
gents, will not permit any interference
with the laws and edicts laid down by
this country for the maintenance of
peace and order throughout the island.
Instructions have today been issued
from the office of the acknowledgement,
having the object in view of preventing
riotous or disorderly conduct in Cuba.
This is the dispatch sent to Gen. Ii. W.
Lawton, the commanding general of
the department of Santiago:
Replying to your telegram for instruc-
tions. the president directs that you be in
formed that the United States is response
ble for peace and must maintain order in
the territory surrendered and in your de
partment, and must protect all persons and
their property within said jurisdiction.
Interference from any quarter will not
be permitted. The Cuban insurgents should
be treated justly and liberally, but they,
| with all others, must recognize the military
occupation and authority of the United
States and the cessation of hostilities pro-
claimed by this government. You should
see insurgent leaders and so advise them"
Swift and Anomalous.
This swift and anomalous change in
the relations of Americans and Cubans
and Spanish has given rise to IA question
which has puzzled the administration.
Previous to the sending of these in
structions to Maj Gen. Lawton, there
had been earnest conferences between
high officers of the government on the
attitude of the United States, not only
toward the insurgents, but toward the
territory still under the jurisdiction of
Spain.
am safe in stating that it is the
opinion of no less an authority than
Secretary Day that the administration
of the war department will not come in
to effect until evacuation has taken
place and according to the terms of the
| protocol, and until our military forces
are is possession. 1t is the opinion Q.
the authorities that the present admir-
istration OF foreign affairs of Spain il
Cuba in places not yet in actual posses
sion of the military forces of this gov
crnment will continue until arrange
ments are made by the commissioners
1t will be noticed that in the instruc
tions sent by the secretary of war order
is enjoined only in the territory sur
rendered" | am, however, assured t.
high official Of the government that
under the terms of the proclamation
issued at the time of the surrender OF
Santiago, there is sufficient latitude to
enable the president to take measures
against riotous or disorderly conduct in
the rest of the island also.
am informed that relations had be
come very much strained between the
Cubans and our forces, and that the re
quest for instructions by Gen, Lawtor
came as result of provocation,
The Porto Rican situation is simple
one, but that in Cuba is badly tangled