Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-14


What that last card was no one knew
as the Spanish authorities were particu.
lar to humiliate themselves in advance OF
actual hostilities.
They waited until the preparations for
war on the part of the United States as
sumed such a character that there could
be no mistake as to the intentions Of this
government in regard to Cuba.
Within the last week the prospects for
serious report from the board OF IN
Quiry have become so threatening that il
seemed impossible to avert war unless
Spain should give evidence of a desire to
raise the white flag. All that was waited
Tor was the presentation of the new min
lister, SO that prompt diplomatic action
might be assured and the United States
could not hold back on the plea that there
was no one here with power to act in such
a momentous affair as peace proposals
on the part of Spain. -r
No time was lost, however, and to-day
was inausurated a negotiation coming
from Spain and proposing almost a COM
plete surrender to the insurgents and to
the United States In advance of the find
3ng of the board which had investigated
the destruction OF the Maine and the
death of its crew.
THE state department was prepared by
previous intimations for some sort of a re-
markable proposal. and these intimations
have been to large extent the basis of
the constant expressions of hope on the
part of the president that war would be
averted. Spain was forced 10 show its
hand by the extraordinary military opera
lions and the fear that some unexpected
event would precipitate hostilities and thus
cause II to lose even the shadowy SOW
ereignty which 1t hopes to retain.
The crisis was so imminent that to-day
the confidential representative of the Sa-
Gasta government through the direct influ-
ence of the Spanish legation here was
granted an interview with President, Nc
kinley, to whom he proceeded to unfold a
proposition for peace peculiarly Spanish. He
offered in behalf of Spain, and he backed
up his offer with proofs as to his authority.
10 end the wal, in Cuba on any basis short
of an independence which Should be ree4
ognized by foreign nations.
He proposed that Spain should abandon
every attempt to coerce the insurgents. and
should permit the island to- become prac-
ucally free to settle its own government on
any basis satisfactory to the people of Gus
ba; he agreed in behalf OF Spain to with
draw all her troops and ships and TO turn
over the island to the people. His idea was
that they should proceed 10 form a govern
intents and purposes a republic, retaining
only the faintest possible trace of allegiance
10 Spain. He offered to give them absolute
home rule on basis far beyond even that
OF Canada, with the single reservation that
the people of Cuba should acknowledge the
ownership of Spain in the island, although
they should be free from the direct SUPER
vision Of the monarchy and not made sub
oect TO laws enacted by the Spanish cortes.
Fear of a Revolution.j - =.
THE secret negotiations declared that the
existence Of the Spanish monarchy was at
stake and that absolute independence would
be conceded If it were not for fear of the
spanish people. He came bearing proposals
OF peace, he said, on the basis that Spain
would grant absolute Independence in,
everything but name, believing that II Gu
ba would agree to acknowledge allegiance
10 the crown the Spanish people could bein-
duced to look at 1t as a partial victory, and
therefore refrain from the revolution which
would be certain to follow upon the admis-
sion of political independence acknowledged
by the other nations of the earth.
president Mckinley at once recognized
the Importance Of the proposal, but he did
not give his Spanish visitor any assurance
mat the negotiations could be carried to q
successful issue, because everything de-
pended upon the attitude of the republic of
Cuba and the constitution of that republic
specifically provides that nothing short of
absolute Independence shall ever be made
the basis OF q negotiation for peace. t,F &
He listened attentively to the pitifuI sur
render and gave close scrutiny to the pro-
PosaI that Spain would be willing that the
United States should assume the power to
see that the offer was carried out and
should be given the right to interfere in
the future in case Spain ever assumed TO
exercise any real authority over the island
Inc president was at once impressed by
the lact that no satisfactory answer to
these secret negotiations could be made un-
Ill the insurgents themselves had been COM
municated with, for the course of the
United States could not assume to force
them to accept any proposals on the mart
OF Spain, as that would be direct inter-
Cuba. ~. - =,
Suggestion of the President.
THE president himself suggested that his
secret visitor should recognize the serious
ness OF the situation. and swallow his pride
sufficiently to put himself in direct COM
munication with the insurgent representa-
uves in the United States.
So far as can be learned the president
old not give any information as TO how he
would act in the matter beyond expressing
MS Willingness that Minister Sagasta's rep
Iesentative should conduct preliminary pro
posais Tor peace with the insurgents Them
selves.
After the secret envoy was dismissed
from the White House with expressions
OF good will and evidences of extreme colir-
tesy he made his way TO Senor Quesada the
accredited representative of the republic of
Cuba In Washington. The insurgent gov
ernment has never been accorded even bel
ligerent rights. Its independence has not
been recognized, ana, of course, its repre-
fptr hl. xff,x ...I
THE president and state department
could not treat with them officially To do
that would be TO recognize the Independence
oil Cuba al once. During the last admin
1stration they were not even permitted to
be received unofi:ctally at the state de-
partment. They succeeded in writing a
letter or TWO. and one OF these letters was
transmitted 10 the senate. but only in re-
sponse to peremptory request. Since
President McKinley's Inauguration all this
has been changed. The Cuban representa-
tives have been given the right TO visit the
state department as private citizens of a
foreign country. in spite OF the fact that
under the laws of Spain their lives We
forfeited FOR high treason against the
queen regent and her infant son.
Oficiaiiy they were treated as refugees
only, but practically they were recognized
as the representatives OF an armed force,
with which this country might sooner or
later have to deal.
When the insurgent government was
formed in September 1895, Tomas ESTRADA
Palma was elected delegate plenipotentiary
and general agent abroad of the new re-
public and his credentials were duly signed
by Salvador Cisneros Betancourt.' the first
president of the Cuban republic. and by ali
the original officers of that Organization
Armed with these credentials. General Pal
ma came TO this country exactly as Rcnia-
min Franklin Went abroad I'm behalf of the
infant United States of America over a
century ago.
Legation Opened mt Washington.
he opened legation here at the Raleigh