The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-15

He Says Senior CeballOs Is Not EN-
powered to Settle CuI,an, ARnirs

He Says Senior CebaIIOs Is Not EN-
powered to Settle Cuban Affairs.
| WASHINGTON. March 14-The Spanish
| minister, Senior Polo Bernabe received
number of dispatches to-day from the min
lister of state at Madrid and from Captain
General Blanco. Those from General
| Blanco were reassuring in tone, and stated
| that the situation at Havana and through
out Cuba was quiet and satisfactory The
| minister of state cabied in substance: 1.-The
uprising in the Philippines is so insignifl-
cant that it will be ended by the time you
receive this
! Senor Polo did not have occasion to visit
the State Department to-day. At II o'clock
he made his first formal CALL by appoint
ment, on tho French ambassador, and at IL
o'clock on The British ambassador. Infor-
NAL social exchanges had previously been
made, but the calls to-day were in the ma
| ture of the formal meetings of the repre-
sentatives of two governments.
The minister asked that an emphatic de-
nial be made in his name 10 the reports
that Senor Juan Ceballos had been in
Washington as commissioner from the
| Spanish government to make overtures for
| terms of settlement with the Cuban insur-
| gents. "Senor Ceballos is not a commits
sioner of Spain," said the minister, "nor
| has he any authority, directly or indirectly,
to speak for the Spanish government The
only person qualified to speak for Spain in
the United States is her accredited minister.
I wish to make the denial as broad and en-
phatic as possible"
1t was explained by the minister that Sc
nor Ceballos had recently been named by
the autonomous Cabinet of Cuba as an aid
to him in framing the proposed commercial
treaty between the United States and Cuba.
This was in accordance with the autono-
nous plan by which the Cubans themselves
were given control of their tariff affairs.
But in naming Senor Ceballos, the minister
pointed out, he and his associates were to
assist him as the plenpotentary of Spain.
Whether Mr.. Cebal1os on his personal re-
sponsibility, made overtures here is not
known at the legation. He did not call
there, and it is said that anything he may
have done was without consultation or
sanction which would give it the slightest
status as the act of the Spanish govern
ment.
Senor Polos attention was called to the
reports from Spain as to the prospective
sailing of the Spanish torpedo feet for Ha-
Vana, and to the significance which had
been attached in this country to this move
ment. The minister said that the movement
or torpedo craft had been long contemplat-
ed, and even before he left Madrid the
Queen Regent had bid bood-bye to the cap
tain of the fleet. Their coming had no rela-
ton whatever, he declared, to recent condi-
tions as they were wanted for work along
the Cuban coast. Some of them. he said
were designed for use in the Cauto river
while others, being swift, could be used as
dispatch boats between shore points. in case
land communication was interrupted.
The minister has received no intimation
as to the findings of the Spanish naval COM
mission, which is investigating the Maine
disaster He says this commission is pro-
ceeding with the same formality and secrecy
as the United States court of inquiry, and
that no intimation of it's findings will be
justified until the formal report is presented
to the Spanish government Mr.. Polo added
that his personal belief, however, was that
there is no doubt the Spanish commission
VIII report that the Maine explosion was
due to accident, and s: I'd he was convinced
that this, also, would be the conclusion
reached by the people in this country when
all the facts in the matter are made known.
Denial from CebaIIOs.
NEW YORK, March 14-J. NJ Ceballos.
general manager of the Spanish Transat-
lantic Company, made the following state
ment to-day: II regret to see my name
published in the morning papers in connec-
tion with negotiations looking towards
peace to be established in the island of
Cuba, and stating that 1 was acting with
full knowledge of the Sagasta Ministry, all
of which deny to be the case. Whatever
interest may take in this matter is solely
promoted by my desire to prevent a conflict
between Spain and the United States and
to establish, If possible. basis, as every
true American hopes to, that will give us
peace at an early date with honor for all
concerned"
Tomas Estrada Palma, of the Cuban revo-
luton party in this city, said to-day that
the proposition for Cuban pacifcation re-
ported to have been offered by Senior Cabal-
los was not satisfactory to the Junta ''Vre
will not consider any proposition for set
tlement of the war" he said, unless it
be based upon the absolute independence of
Cuba We are willing to pay Spain an in
demnity Of not more than one hundred mil
lion dollars. II this Is not satisfactory to
Continued ON Third Pagel