The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-27

Washington. March 26-President
Mckinley talked freely with his con-
gressionaI visitors today. both in re-
gard to his plans for the future and his
appreciation of the situation with ref
erence to Cuba. His programme, as
thus outlined. is as follows:
To send the report of the Maine court
of inquiry to congress on Monday with
nut recommendation and without eX-
PLANTATION on his part further than TO
say that he has acquainted Spain with
the finding of the court.
To follow this, Tuesday or Wednes-
day. with d message dealing with the
condition of the non-combatantS in
Cuba, and asking for an appropriation
of 100000 for their immediate relief.
To present anew this condition to
Spain asking that country to make
provision for the care Of her own help
less people, and to com etO some terms
with the Cubans which will be salts
factory to them and put an end to the
war. This failing, TO fOrcibly intervene
on humanitarian grounds
PRESIDENTS ABIDING FAITH.
The president indicated to his callers
an abiding faith that peace may be
preserved, and a determination on his
part to accomplish that end if it NAV
be done with honor to our own country
and without disregaTding the demands
of humanity. He frankly and repeat
eddy avowed today his desire to pre-
vent conflict, while at the same time
indicating a firm purpose to secure re-
lief for the starving reconcentrados.
Indeed. the latter purpose appeared
-te be THE topic uppermost in the pres
ident's mind. He dwelt upon the fact
that the recognition of beiligerent
rights or of independence would not be
of any material service to these unfor-
tunates. He admits that such action
might be Of assistance to the men at
arms (the insurgent army. but they,
he said. have shawn a capacity to take
care of themselves. and do not stand
in pressing need of our kind offices.
MEET HALF WAY.
The president believes Spain will in
terpose no obstacles to our sending
succor to her INDECENT people, and he
viii ask congress to act promptly, that
the aid be given may not arrive too
late TO relieve the present necessities
This done. the president is hopeful
that congress will remain quiet While
the executive branch of the govern
ment continues its efforts TO secure
peaceful settlement Of the difficulty
He thinks it. not too late to do this,
and he made the assertion today that
Spain was willing to meet the United
States half way in adjusting the en-
tanglement without coming to blows
He referred only casually to the sail
ing Of the Spanish torpedo boats, leav-
ing the impression on the minds of his
visitors tn athecons idered that, so far.
in this matter. Spain is acting within
the bounds of her own rights. and that
no Just complaint can yet be made by
this country in regard to this course
ADMITS AUTONOMY a FAILURE.
He did not enter into details regard
ing the propositions ne may take, OF
may have made, 10 Spain, for undoubt-
eddy some are pending. but he left the
impression that he would be satisfied
with no settlement that would not give
the Cubans a very liberal form of gov
eminent. He admitted frankly that
autonomy had proved a failure, and eX
pressed the opinion that it would be as
difficult TO satisfy the Americans with
any settlement that might be made as
il would be 10 satisfy the Cubans them
selves. He reasserted the possibility of
securing an agreement on the part of
Spain To allow Cuba to conduct her own
affairs with absolute freedom, except
that the island should be required to
pay the mother country a specified
sum in the way of tribute every year
out of her revenues, seeming TO think