The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-22
CUBA ~ LOST TO SPAIN.
Royal Government Finally Must
Yield to the Insurgents.

The press dispatches from Havana
bring convincing evidence that the new
autonomist cabinet is taking things into
its own hands and opening negotiations
with the insurgents without regard 10 the
policy or the preferences of the ministry
Al Madrid. 1t is reported that Il mem
rs Of the autonomlst party held meet
ing yesterday and adopted a resolution
to open negotiations with the insurgents
In the belief that the Instruction cannot
be suppressed by force. The conditions
- be rendered are very radical in their
character. and are practically a surren-
der of the authority OF Spain. The Span
ish army Is TO De withdrawn, the voiun-
teers dsbanded and a militia of Cubans
Will be formed TO keep the peace. In which
the officers OF the insurg ut army are 10
be recognized II this Is adopted IL places
the military control OF the island in the
hands Of the insurgents.
Secondly, Is is proposed that Cuba shall
assume Sl0U. 10000 Of the colonial debt,
and that $500 002,oJ0 shall be charged 10
Spain. This is the most important prop
osition of all. for there can never be peace
on the island until the question Of debt is
adjusted but the amount is SO large
reaching nearly 5000 600 On} that Cuba nor
Spain can ever pay il. and Ii Is ques-
tion which shall assume the responsibility
Of reputation. Under the proposed plan
Cuba Is to fix her own taxes and collect
revenues, paying Spain 100000 in tribute
annually This would relieve the Cuban
taxpayers Of a great share OF the bur-
der they are now carrying. for more than
that amount is stoler In the custom house
annually by the officials that are mt
over from Madrid and all the revenues
that are turned into the treasury are not
sufficient to pay the interest upon the
public debt In making the tariff and
commercial treaties the products of Spain
are 10 have a preference OF 10 per cent in
duties over those OF all other countries.
An armistice Of fifteen days Is proposed
IN ORDER that the insurgents may have an
opportunity to discuss these propositions
and II they accept them Il Will be upon
the assurance that none OF the persons
now engaged IN the rebellion shall b.. pun
ished by death or even by Punishment
snd that the actual insurgents in the field
are 70 be allowed three out Of the nine
III mbers IN the cabinet.
The Importance and significance II
these propositions cannot be overeStimat-
ed II il is true, as reported. that they are
approved by a majority OF the present
cabinet ard by all the leaders u the au-
tonomist party except four
The department OF stat. was made
aware some times aga that many Of the
Cuban officials appointed by the autono-
mist government were in direct communi-
cation with the Insurgents IN the field
end were even furnishing them aid and
ENCOURAGEMENT in the way OF supplies and
food clothing ard medicine ard there.
fore the propositions above rec!tea VIII
probably nor come 10 the Insurgents ne
a surprise. The government AZ Madrid.
however cannot approve Them without
abandoning IFS he'd upon the island
II this plan Is agreed 70. Cuba is lost TO
Spain The payment OF 100000 Of trib-
ute VIII be the only tie
- -
meet puhiNiv 80 favsnl ard discuss snch
propositions illustrates how weak Span
ish authority h3- n'r~3 w become \
year ago every nan wna attended The
meetings would nave bsen sent lmrne39-
ately TO The Cabaaas dungeons erf the
man who proposed he negotiations would
undoubtedly have been shot. No ncwspa-
per in Cuba would cave dared mint =
suggestion 81 the aTrange'n s1t. and the
censor would never have allowed the fact
20 20 over the cable
Tire Cuban extss IN washington regard
this as tire beginning - the end They
Viii HSe al their Influence q persuade
Prs dent Nasso ard Generals Gomez and
Garcia - accept TIRE conditions and iAy
down their arms. as they believe such an
arrangement would be- a step toward n
dependence. ard mat actual Independence
would follow fr very short tius
y this movement meets WIEN ;fe an
prevail % The ministry az Madrid the
spanish armies might as vel De with
drawn is aissppFova' however. ~ Z not
De- - Consequence - e IS true THAI a ma
tortty cf rhe s1tonornist cabinet sanctions
tne proposition. SaGasfa placed the au-
the-tty q government N tie hands o. the
zUtoucTnists. from whom IL csnnot nov Re
Withdrawn. aa6 any attempt - coercs
them VII excite a rebellion IN Havana
% which ire present fnssHrecrsou VIII -
Only a circumstance Ire Cuhan exfleS
here regard this movement as the most
encouraging Sign fhst has appeared since
TIE revolution began