New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-10
SPAIN GRASPS AT STRAWS.
TOO LATE FOR AN ARMISTICE.
PARTIAL ELEvENTH-HOUR CONCESSIONS
NOT LIKELY TO AVERT WAR.
NEITHER THE UNITED STATES NOR THE INsuR-
GENTS WOULD CONSENT TO A MERE TEN
PORARY TRUCE IN CUBA-HARMoNY
BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT
AND CONGRESS pRACTr-
rAT.LY ASSURED.


fpY TELEGRAPH THE rrTErNrl
Washington April o-Talk from Madrid to-
day Of certain eleventh. hour concessions 10 the
demands Of tho United States which the Sa-
gasta Cabinet had been considering lightened
with vague tnge Of optimism the belief al
ready accepted here. that tho virtues Of diplo-
macy have been exhausted and that open
rupture between Spain and this country Is now
orly a matter OF davs or even hours Most OF
this talk about Spain's purpose to abandon az
the last moment the feeble shadow Of her sover-
,ignty over Cuba was based on the assertion
that the Ministry was on the point OF announc-
Ing an armlstice with the insurgents, with
view to arranging immediate terms Of peace.
If the Spanish authorities alone could make
an arnisticc eTectual 10y simply declaring their
willingness to grant It, serious importance might
he attached 10 any programme on their part
which included the arranging Of truce ana
the opening Of full and free negotiations with
the nsurrectonary Government for the re-es-
tablshment Of order and civil Government In the
island. But as no arrnistice can be proclaimed
or enforced without the assent OF the rebel
leaders and as that assent could hardly be Sc
cured now under any circumstances the hollow
ness Of the Spanish Cabinets rumorel scheme
II concession and compromise. and It's power
lessnoss to check or satisfy the peremptory de-
mand Of this country for the definite termina-
.tion Of Spanish military or civil rule In Cuba.
become on closer consideration painfully appar
cnt
THIS GOVERNMENTS COURSE FIXED.
Even were the insurgent leaders to accept the
talked-of offer Of a truce. to be followed by ne
gotations for peace the United States would
scarcely be deferred from adherng to the policy
Il seems 10 have adopted deliberately and
absolutely-ths policy which insists upon the
expulsion Of the Spanards from Cuba as the
first and surest guarantee Of the restoration OF
order there. n the time has come to defend
American interests and promote American ends
in Cuba. Intervention will be no less opportune
and necessary simply because the two factions
which have reduced the island 10 anarchy think
II cxpedient TO acknowledge exhaustion and 10
agree 20 temporary truce.
40 change therefore. has occurred or seems
likely - occur In the attitude this country has
taken toward Cuba and Spain. Intervention. 10
he succeeded by display u force and by actual
hostiliues perhaps for brief period. IS still the
settled programme Of the Administration. which
does not look with any confidence 10 diplo-
matte surrender on Spain's part. Such sur
render IL perhaps stl vaguely possible. but no
one I'm Administration circles sees any -eason 10
coun, On the enforcement Of the Intervention
policy except through
WON OVER TO THE PRESIDENTS VIEW.
Much additional progress has been made to-
day IN Congress toward an agreement on the
form 20 be given 10 American Intervention in
cuban affairs Tho Foreign Relations Commit
,,c u tho senate has now been won over 70 the
Presidents view that recognition Of the inde-
rcndonce and sovereignty II the present insur-
roctionary Government ia for the present un-
desirable ana lucxpcdent. Senator Clark. Of
Wvorning a member ~ the committee who has
been strongly In favor OF recognizing the In
surgenta before undertaking intervention. had
a talk with the President to-day and subse-
qucntly declared himself satisfied that lnterven-
ton should come first and recognition after
ward The Republicans in the two houses are
likely 10 lie forced 10 make the Presidents pro-
eramme a party one for Mr.. Bailey and other
democratic leaders show signs Of a readiness 10
usc the demand FOR recognition to divide the
Republican ranks and 10 embarraSs and ham
per the Administration.
The House Committee Foreign Affairs has
decided 10 draft and report resolution idcnu-
cal with that reported TO the Senate 50 that the
RcpuhlIcan le ders are now hopeful that the
same unity and harmony may characterize the
action Of Congress next week on the Presidents
sive response to his appeal for funds six weeks
ago with which TO put the country into proper
state Of defence.