The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-12

Washington. March 11-Senor Luis
Polo Y Bernabe, the new Spanish min
lister, was seen at the Spanish legation
today by an Associated Press reporter,
and for the first time since his arrival
consented to speak concerning Spanish
affairs, observing such reticence on
certain phases as diplomatic propriety
required. Since the minister's arrival
! he has received a cablegram from Cap
| tain General BlancO, stating that the
| Cuban cabinet had designated Seniors
SevalliOs of New York and Barila, sec
rotary of the Havana chamber of
] commerce, to act with Senior Angulo in
| negotiating a commercial treaty be-
| tween the United States and Cuba The
i minister referred incidentally to this
| fact. as he regarded it as another evil
| Spain had granted to Cuba Although
Senior Polo will be the plenipotentiary
in arranging Cuban treaty, the Cuban
delegates above named by the Cuban
cabinet will have entire control of the
terms of such a treaty
AUTONOMY IN CUBA.
Speaking of the present policy of
| Spain in giving autonomy to Cuba, the
minister said:
THE government has granted auton-
omy on the broadcast and most liberal
lines. 1t is designed to give to the
| Cuban people the complete direction of
their internal affairs, thus gratifying
the honorable ambitions of the Cubans,
while at the same time maintaining the
historic allegiance of Cuba as a colony
of Spain The government is not eX-
cutting this plan grudgingly or with any
! technical restrictions. On the con-
I gnuFapiafaS that the Iar~c.a=T
degree of prosperity for the islands
may be expected. from such a measure
of reform as viii meet the cherished
expectations of Cubans loyal to Spain.
Already much has been accomplished,
and there is the fullest confidence that
the plan will be carried into full exc
cution.
Naturally, with an instruction
dragging towards it's close, there are
difficulties in the way of a complete
realization of plans so comprehensive
as to embrace the entire internal ma
chinery of Cuba. The autonOmist cab
met is organized, and in it's hands is
the direction of the domestic affairs of
the island, pending the meeting of the
Cuban parliament. The date for the
parliamentary elections and for the
assembling of the senate and house
have been fixed, as Senior MOret. minis
ter of the colonies, issued the demand
Just as L was ABOUT TO Sdll, I0dI the
decree fixing the date of the election in
Cuba was about to be signed. With the
elections held, Cuba will have, for the
first time, a parliament of her own.
capable OF dealing with all her domestic
affairs. Thus complete plan of local
government will be in operation, with
an executive branch, and a legislative
branch.
FULL MEANING OF IT.
The full meaning of this should be
appreciated. The governor general, who
is the representative of Spain in Cuba,
will no longer govern in the complete
sense, but it would be more accurate
to say that he viii reign under the re-
StrictiOnS placed in a constitutional ex-
ecutive. The naming of Cuban dele
gates TO come to Washington and ar
range a commercial treaty shows how
fully the plan of autonomy grants to
the Cubans control of their own af-
fairs. These delegates would have in
their own hands the making of this
tariff ARRANGEMENT, and without them
l could do nothing In short, Spain has
adopted this plan of autonomy, believ-
ing it to be the surest means of bring
ing peace and prosperity to the island,
and it is putting the plan into opera
ton with the utmost dispatch, conf
dent that in the end it will accomplish
the good purpose for which it was de-
signed
RECENT EVENTS.
When Senior Polo's attention was
drawn to recent critical phases of the
Spanish situation, he spoke with much
reserve The Lee incident happened
while he was on the ocean, and he
knew nothing. he said, of the circum-
stances, although he felt confident a
misunderstanding had grown out of
oil General To-
not meant as any intimation that his
recall was desired.
The mirister was then asked if he
viewed the present condition of affairs
between the United States and Spain
as indicating war. After moments
hesitation, ne answered, gravely:
NEITHER WANT WAR.
'I am sure that the United States
does not want war, just as l am sure
that the Spanish overnment does not
want war, and will do everything hon.
orable in its power to avoid such a ca
lamity"
Senior PolO's first official business af-
ter his credentials are presented TO the
president will be in connection with the
new commercial treaty between the
United States. Spain and Cuba
EIe comes fully instructed in this sub
ject and before leaving Madrid he talk
ed over the several plans with the
United States minister. General Wood
ford It is not yet determined whether
there shall be two treaties, with Spain
and Cuba. separately, or one with
Spain, which shall not include Cuba.
FORMALLY RECEIVED.
Senior Polo was formally received in
his official capacity by Secretary Sher-
man and Assistant Secretary Day at
the state department at IL o'clock this
morning. He was accompanied by
Senior Du Bose, who has had charge OF
the Spanish legation since the depar-
ture OF Senior de LONE, and was by
him introduced to the secretary and
assistant secretary of state.
The two gentlemen came at the hour
indicated by appointment, and were