The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1898-10-01

NEW EVACUATION PHASE.
Autonomists In Cuba wapt to Take
Part In Negotiations.

Autonomlsts In Cuba WaQt to Take
Part In Negotiations.
Offcal dispatches receiver by one
Of the embassies at Washington
from Havana confirm the reports that
the colonial government Of the island
is taking hand IN shaping the terms
on which the evacuation shall be exc
cuted. This, it Is believed, may
develop some new phases In the situa-
ton in Cuba
The colonial government was estab-
lished by Spain shortly before the war
broke out, there being a cabinet OF FIVE
officers at Havana and q legislative
body with two houses. 1t carried out
in measure the long pending plan of
giving Cuba home rule by means Of
an autonomous government, but while
in name autonomous, it was contended
by the insurgent element that genuine
home rule was lacking and that this
colonial regime was continuance Of
Spanish domination,
1t appears, however, that these col
onial authorities are taking very act
i've part In the present negotiations
and that there is more or less cooper
alton between them and the Spanish
government. This creates condition
in which the United States must deal
not only with Spain, but with those
who claim to represent the island it.
self, free from Spanish control. The
colonial or autonomist administration
is very thoroughly organized and can
exert much influence. 1t established
regular legation in Washington prior
to the war with especially prominent
men Of Havana on the staff. It num-
bers in its ranks much OF the wealth
Of Cuba and claims TO stand for the
educated classes as against the insur-
gents and illiterates. This makes two
distinct Cuban classes-the autono-
mists, who are cooperating with Spain,
and the insurgents, who are opposed
to Spain.
It now seems clear from the official
as we'll as from the press reports Of
Havana and Madrid that the autono-
mist government is taking up the
claim first advanced by Spain that
many incidental questions as to Cuba
must bs settled before the evacuation
begins.
But the view among government
officials here is that the Cuban autono-
mists as we'll as the Spaniards have no
questions TO advance or settle before
evacuation is determined upon. The
time and place of evacuation is looked
upon by the authorities here as the
only point involved and there is likely
to be rude awakening IL Che pro-
Spanish element, either as sutonomists
or as native Spaniards, insists upon
bringing In the determination Of the
Cuban debt, future forms of govern
ment, rates of tariff for Spain and many
other subjects as preliminary to
evacuation.
The American commissioners, &C.
cording to the understanding here, will
insist upon strict adherence to the
protocol for an immediate evacuation
of the island, and If need be, will
submit an ultimatum against taking
up subsidiary questions on Cuba's
future. While the Cuban colonial
government is thus combining with
the Spanish government in bringing
forward these' incidental questions, yet
the opinion was expressed by
high diplomatic officer based on re-
cent advices from Havana, that q Sc
rious issue would be averted and that
the actual evacuation Of the Spanish
troops from Cuba would begin within
the next month.
But it also appears that the evacua.
ton will cover much longer time
than has been anticipated. There are
some 100, 900 Spanish troops in the
island. Allowing 1000 men on a
transport and vessel leaving every
day it would take 100 days, or over
three months, for the evacuation.
But the vessels are not available for
trip every day for 100 consecutive
days, so that the time for departure
would probably far exceed three